Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily (Reporter Jia Chunxia) news: On June 13, 2025, a 30-square-meter mud art and pyrography studio caught the eye on the blue-brick path of the wood bazaar in the ancient city of Kashi. Inside, it felt like stepping into a miniature art gallery. Shelves were lined with exquisitely crafted pottery, including traditional-patterned jars, tea sets resembling desert poplars, and colorful pyrography plates. Each piece exuded the earthy scent of clay and the ingenuity of its maker, drawing tourists to marvel and linger.

The studio's owner, Zulipkar Abubakri, skillfully crafted a clay teapot. The river mud in his hands was kneaded, shaped, and fired into an artwork that combined collectible value with the warmth of everyday life. As a representative inheritor of the Uygur pottery-making technique, a municipal intangible cultural heritage project, he has innovated designs such as the musical instruments of Twelve Muqam and traditional dwellings, breathing new life into this ancient craft.

"Visitors from other places love these regionally distinctive pieces. I just sent out over 30 items to a customer in Shanghai yesterday," he said, pointing to the stack of parcels in the corner, addressed to destinations all over the country. These parcels are a testament to the ancient craft's modern journey.

The ancient city of Kashi, a key town on the Silk Road for over 2,000 years, is a "living" testament to history. It has preserved the traditional wisdom of its people in architecture, ironwork, painting, wood carving, and silk weaving. The various bazaars are the beating "pulse" of the city.

Kashi has innovatively promoted the integration of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and tourism, turning "finger-tip skills" into a "finger-tip economy" and driving the creative transformation and innovative development of ICH work in the city. The master craftsmen of numerous ICH projects in the ancient city of Kashi have left tourists in awe with their exquisite skills.

At the Iron Commune of the Katman Bazaar, the rhythmic clanging of hammers fills the air. The walls are adorned with an array of blacksmithing tools, and display tables hold exquisite ironware such as grinding wheels, scissors, and pliers.

The ironworking craftsmen transform red-hot iron blocks into various tools. Their hammering echoes like a resounding drumbeat, turning farming implements and cookware into artistic treasures. The commune has evolved into a must-visit spot that combines exhibition and experiential functions.

Photo shows craftsman makes ironware in the ancient city of Kashi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Jia Chunxia)

On a street in the handicraft bazaar, the copperware shop of Mamatrexat Memetyiming is renowned for its exquisite copper pieces, which combine practicality with artistic value, attracting a constant stream of visitors. His family has been involved in copperware making for over 90 years, and as the fourth-generation inheritor of this craft, he has merged traditional copperware techniques with modern aesthetics. His pieces, which blend tradition and contemporary style, are highly popular among tourists. During the peak tourist season, his shop can earn up to 70,000–80,000 yuan a month.

"Crafting copperware needs no blueprints or moulds, relies entirely on the artisan's experience and unique sense of touch. Making a handcrafted copper pot takes at least two or three days and tens of thousands of hammer strikes," said Mamatrexat. Many tourists enjoy trying their hand at copperware-making and buy the pieces as souvenirs. He also receives orders from places like China's Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, and he continues to innovate to meet customer demands, attracting even more visitors.

Photo shows tourists from all over the country immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere at the food street of Khan Bazaar in Kashi Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo by Shiliuyun-Xinjiang Daily/Jia Chunxia)

Strolling through the ancient city of Kashi, one can witness the vibrant display of ICH skills. At the Flower Pot Bazaar, the pottery carries on the millennia-old “mud art” tradition. In the Wood Bazaar, carpenters carve exquisite living artworks with chisels.

The Medicinal Tea Bazaar warms visitors with its aromatic herbs. The Flower Hat Bazaar brings new life to the Atlas silk through embroidery. In the Khan Bazaar, over 70 varieties of local specialties are on offer. Tourists from all over the country immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Kashi.

Each bazaar is a living ICH museum, witnessing the perfect blend of tradition and modernity, and composing a symphony of craftsmanship and popularity.

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