Shopping in Shigatse

It’s still worth traveling in Shigatse whether you are fond of shopping or not. In Shigatse, visitors can buy most things that are sold somewhere else in Tibet. There is a famous fair in the north of Shigatse, where all kinds of daily necessities are available. Of course, visitors can easily find some special things like prayer wheels, Thangkas, stone pillar inscribed with Buddhist scripture, and some decorations.

Jiaxijiecai, a beautiful small village surrounded by lots of green trees, had built up a good reputation for its Tibetan handicrafts. Pottery pots, broadswords, water containers, as well as bracelets, Buddha figures, and necklaces of high quality are made and sold in the village, tourists can get the handicraft they want without difficulty here.

Shigatse is also well known for its national handicraft industry. There are a large number of handicrafts with unique characteristics of local nationality, many of which have earned high reputation all over the world. The most representative handicrafts in Getsang are: the practical gold-ware, silver-ware, bronze-ware and iron-ware used in people’s daily life, the classical and elegant “Songba” boots, silk cushion, ethnic costumes, Tibetan falchion in jade article, wooden bowl, articles made of bamboo and so on. The magnificent golden roofs of temple are also considered one of the best handicrafts.

With a unique weaving style, Tibetan carpet has bright, glaring and harmonious colors, which live lively, just as the decorative style of Tibetan architectural paintings. Tibetan carpet is durable, soft and fine. Its strong national feature of designs adds more value of appreciation, which brings it high reputation through out the world. It plays a significant role for the people who live in the highland area where is humid and cold, and always be the necessities for the herdsmen who always live in the pasturing area. Tibetan carpet, with patterns of footcloths, rugs and kang mats, on the basis of Tibetan minority traditional art, merging the essence of religious artists from the Han nationality and other countries like India and Nepal, becomes an elegant artwork with unique Tibetan art style.

Tibetan carpet has a long history of 600 years and it entered the international market under the brand name of “Tibetan Carpet”. Human spiritual power, intelligence and diligence, as well as wishes, expectation and fantasy for better life in the future are fully displayed in Tibetan carpet. The designs of Tibetan carpets embody a flavor of the religions, culture, economy and people. The aesthetics of the patterns are pleasing. With the increase of quantity and the improvement of technique, new designs are continuously created. Now there are not only designs of two dragons playing with a pearl, pictures of mountains and waters, dragons and clouds, dragons and phoenix, and other traditional designs, but also landscape designs such as MountQomolangma, the Great Wall, Yangtze River Bridge, the Potala Palace and so on. What’s more, Tibetan carpets also has designs reflecting culture of the Han nationality such as musical instruments, chesses, books, pictures, as well as some characteristic plants like plums, orchids, chrysanthemums, and bamboos.

Patterns of Tibetan carpets tend to be more traditional, as well as free in styles. “Ka cushion” means mini-cushion in Tibetan language. It’s the bedclothes of Tibetan families. It’s recorded in history that this soft, fine, and durable carpets with strong national feature had been created 600 years ago. “Ka cushion” is mainly produced in the town Gyantse, one of the famous cities gaining the reputation of “City of Tibetan Carpets”. Gyantse has long been praised by its handicraft industry. The newly built carpet factories in Gyantse produce hundreds of types of carpets, rugs, mini-cushions, lama cushions, arras, cushions for leaning on etc. Citizens in Getsang, young and old, are skilled at making carpets. 80% of the population there earns their living by making carpet.

Tibetan Carpets are always a hot seller both home and abroad. A Tibetan Carpet is an ideal purchase as a wonderful reminder of a trip to Tibet.

Tibetan knife is a traditional famous artwork with a long history and a longstanding good reputation in Tibet. Its distinctive feature makes itself popular with the tourists. The knife is an indispensable tool for Tibetan people who use it to cut meat, to defend themselves, and for special decoration. Generally speaking, Tibetan knives strengthen man’s courage, power and make girls look smarter and more swellish. Tibetan knife guard impresses people like the weak conquering the strong. It makes people feel safe, strong, and become full of intrepid national personality. Tibetan knives are much different in prices according to the materials and the handcraft. To buy Tibetan knives, visitors are strongly recommended to go to Shigatse, where the knives are meticulously made and decorated with delicate silver handles.