Ancient city of Kashgar still a shopping haven
Turgunjan makes his living in a centuries-old tradition of his people, the Uygur ethnic group, by selling razor-sharp knives with decorative handles in the main bazaar in Kashgar city.
'In the cities some people carry knives, some people don't. In the countryside everyone carries knives, especially in the summer - for watermelon, for meat. But not for people,' he said with a laugh.
At his stand, two Uygur youths spent several minutes looking over several knives before choosing a matching pair with handles made of animal horn. Tucking the sheaths into their belts, they sauntered away.
Traditionally, the best knives come from Yengisar, just south of Kashgar, and the stall displays several examples - with prices of more than 1,000 yuan (HK$1,133) for one as long as a machete.
In a nod to modernity, some of the knives have features such as a small pen light.
Turgunjan also has a website to sell goods over the internet. Many customers are foreign tourists who descend on the market to bargain furiously with masters of the game before getting back onto their air-conditioned buses for the next attraction. 'They usually don't have time to talk,' said Turgunjan, who learned English at night school to communicate with tourists.
The bazaar, or 'Sunday Market' as it is called, has grown considerably in the past 10 years, but five years ago the operators assigned merchants for certain types of goods to designated areas, making it much more organised.
Turgunjan's booth, near the centre of the main building, is well located. Summer is always the busy season for selling his stock of knives, musical instruments, metal work and clothing.
Some of his goods come from neighbouring Pakistan, including pitchers made of copper. The shipments come by truck when the roads are passable.
Turgunjan said Friday was an important day for Muslims to worship, while Sunday was the day to visit at the bazaar, especially for rural people who came from their homes in the countryside to shop.
The bazaar is more than just a market place, it is a social gathering place. 'People have fun,' he said.
Turgunjan, 32, says he is a 'good Muslim'. 'I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't bother people,' he said - a description which also fits his casual approach to potential customers.
A Kashgar native, he has never left his homeland. One of his wishes is to travel to Egypt, a Muslim nation with a developed tourist industry, to study. 'If there is something good, maybe I can bring it back to sell.'
He is proof the ancient Silk Road - the bridge between east and west - still flourishes as he sells native Xinjiang goods to foreign tourists.
