China's Wild West

CHINA | Monday, 14 January 2013 | Views [611] | View Smaller Image

Food is a central part of the Uyghur culture. When Uyghurs meet with friends or family the generally share a meal, and if they don't share a meal they will at least have a snack of some sort. This stall was set up in the extreme heat of summer, so they are serving a favorite dish of cold noodles on the right, and on the left, a special treat for dessert or a snack - Uyghur homemade ice cream.

This was one of the first sights I saw when I arrived in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang. Most signs are bilingual with both Chinese characters and Arabic-based Uyghur script. The Uyghur people are a Central Asian ethnic group that live primarily in China's Northwestern province, Xinjiang.
The Uyghur culture has far more similarities with other Central Asian cultures than with the Chinese culture and this has resulted in a lot of tension and some clashes over the years.

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Food is especially special during the Uyghur festivals. This young girl is making Sangza; crispy, fried dough twists, which are one of the most important snacks for festivals as well as other special occasions such as weddings.
Foreigners like to call this snack

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China's Wild West

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