巴扎，藏著關於新疆的故事

Sample a Slice of History at Xinjiang's Bazaar

從令人垂涎的羊肉串和手工樂器到皇家金製餐具，蓬勃發展的新疆集市是那些淘寶人的一站式商店。但是，可能最獨特的是巴扎的一種特殊古韻——深深植根於絲綢之路曾經繁華的貿易時代的特別文化和傳統。

From mouth-watering lamb kebabs and hand-crafted musical instruments to golden utensils that seem fit for royalty to dine in, the thriving bazaar of Xinjiang is a one-stop shop for those looking to get their money’s worth. But, perhaps, the most unique aspect of the market is its vibe -- deep-rooted in culture and tradition borrowing from the times when Silk Road was a bustling trade network.

中國的新疆，是古絲綢之路的重要節點，從古至今，往來東西方的商賈在此匯聚，形成了繁榮的城市商業文明，在新疆各地，都形成了獨具特色的集市形式——巴扎。“巴扎”，是維吾爾語，意為集市。早在公元前128年，張騫出使西域到達新疆喀什時，曾有描述：“這裡有很象樣的街道和市場店鋪，駝隊馬幫熙來攘往，雜貨分呈；穿著絢麗服飾的人們，所操各種語言……”貿易的繁盛，讓原本地處大漠放牧為生的西部人，轉而從事農業和工商活動。很快，他們成了漫漫絲路上最活躍的商人，巴扎也由此形成。

Xinjiang was an important node of the ancient Silk Road where businessmen from the East and the West converged, forming a prosperous urban commercial civilization. This gave birth to the Bazaar – Uygur for market. When Zhang Qian arrived in Kashgar, Xinjiang, as early as 128 B.C.,on a mission to the Western Region, he described the old Bazaar as: "The streets and market shops are very decent, camel bands and horse gangs bustle around, groceries and people in gorgeous costumes, who speak all kinds of languages are in abundance..." As trade flourished, people in the west who lived in deserts turned to agriculture and business activities. Soon, these erstwhile desert dwellers were the most successful businessmen along the Silk Road, often displaying their wares at the Bazaar.

巴扎遍布新疆城鄉，這裡是最有人氣的地方。每到巴扎日，方圓幾十裡氣的地方。每到巴扎日，方圓幾十裡的群眾紛紛前來“趕巴扎”。在這裡，你能找到想要的一切，民族風情的毯子、金光閃閃的器具、色彩斑斕的服飾，中西亞商品琳琅滿目；美食更是應有盡有--羊肉串、手抓飯、烤包子、各式烤饢，定能讓你大飽口福；最不能少的，是新疆當地的瓜果，這裡日照充足，果肉甘甜，曬製的乾果也別有一番風味，值得一嘗。

Today, almost every town in Xinjiang has a bazaar, where people from miles away flock to it to sample the vibrant clothes on display, blankets with ethnic work and a number of other goods from central and western Asia. The market is also a foodie’s delight. Aroma of kebabs, hand-grabbed rice, baked steamed buns and barbecued buns in the air is enough to tickle the taste buds. Those looking for a healthier alternative can try a local melon or two. The pulp is sweet and the dried fruit has a distinct flavor.

讓巴扎始終充滿生命力的還有那些傳統手藝人，或許你會看到燒製土陶的老爺爺、掄著錘頭千萬次捶打的銅匠、手工製造傳統樂器的少年......幾千年的技藝在這裡代代相傳，根深葉茂。

You can feel the vigor of a bazaar when you catch a glimpse of traditional craftsmen engaged in their art. One can spot an old man burning earthenware, swift maneuvers of bronze craftsmen with their hammers, and young men crafting traditional musical instruments by hand. Many of these are skills that have been passed on from generation to generation for a thousand years.

除了買賣貿易，巴扎也成為當地人的情感寄托。維吾爾族人民好歌舞愛熱鬧，常相聚在此，談天說地，消磨著時光。熙熙攘攘的人潮，叫賣聲討價聲歡笑聲甚至毛驢的叫聲交匯在一起，形成一曲最獨特的“新疆交響樂”，充滿著熱騰騰的生活氣息。當代，經濟建設的發展給古老的巴扎注入了新活力。烏魯木齊國際大巴扎以及喀什大巴扎等成為展示當地歷史文化、民俗風俗的窗口，是中外旅客體驗地域風情的最佳去處。

For many, this commercial hub also provides emotional sustenance. It gives a chance to people from the Uygur community to bond over singing and dancing. The bustling crowds, haggling sounds, chimes of laughter and even donkey calls braying converge to form a distinguished symphony that can only be found in the streets of Xinjiang. Now economic construction has injected new vitality into the ancient bazaars. Urumqi International Bazaar and Kashgar Bazaar have become windows to show local history, culture and customs and are the best places for domestic and foreign tourists to experience local life.

如果你到了新疆，一定不能錯過“趕巴扎”。

If you go to Xinjiang, the Bazaar is among the must-visit places.