Donkey Carts:”Local Buses”for the Farmers

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From ancient times till present, donkeys have always been one of the most important livestock of the Uygur farmers. In the agricultural zones in north and south Xinjiang, practically every family raises donkeys. Donkeys are adaptable to walk a very long arduous journey carrying heavy things. They are also able to transport things, pull the plough or grinding and especially a kind of dependable transportation to ride safely. In the villages of Uygur, Uzbek and other ethnic groups, almost every family has a rubber-wheel wooden donkey cart. Such a cart is very light, ingenious, and practical to utilize, which is also the best means of transportation for the family to go out, transport goods, load things, go to the Bazaar and entertain guests.

Nowadays, with the popularization of modern means of transportation, the traditional means still prevails and play a role in the pasturing, agricultural and mountain areas because of its convenience, adaptability, etc. Moreover, horse and donkey carts carrying strong ethnic characteristics have attracted much attention in the middle-sized and small cities such as Kashgar, lli, Hotan, Yarkant, Kuqa, Turpan and Toksun. These local”buses”may normally carry a dozen of passengers with request stops and are often rentable. Such movable”local buses”are flexible and convenient and are thus favored by the local people and other Chinese and foreign tourists. The continuously flowing “local buses”are often filled with smiling tourists.