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Shigatse Shopping
In Shigatse, talisman, decorations, prayer wheel, Tibetan dresses and carpet, as well as various kinds of daily commodities are available almost everywhere. Particularly in a small village called “Zhaxijicai” in southern part of Shigatse, known as “Handicrafts Hometown of Tibet”, the tourists can feast their eyes on numerous local specialties such as bracelets, Tangka, Buddha figures, butter-oil lamps, a variety of jades, wooden and silver bowls, Tibetan knife, costume and a wide range of carpets.
Shigatse’s unique handicraft industry has a long history, and has won a high reputation both at home and abroad. At the mere mention of Tibetan handicrafts, what instantly comes to visitors’ mind are bamboo products, ethnic costumes, jade articles, silk cushions, the upscale “Songba” boots, the golden roofs of the architecture, the gold-ware, silver-ware, bronze-ware and iron-ware used in people’s daily life, etc.
Golden products here are mainly used for decoration, such as bracelets, earrings, head wears, rings and chest wares, and only a small portion is used for butter-oil lamps, gold statue of Buddha, and Tibetan medical gold needles.
Another well-known handicraft is Tibetan carpet with diverse styles. Whether rug, tapestry or “ka cushion”, Tibetan carpet has become a hot seller throughout the world.
The last worth mentioning local specialty is Tibetan knife. It is one of Tibet’s most popular knives, and is an absolutely necessary tool for local people. The knife could be used not only to cut meat and self defense, but also to decorate. Man’s knife is tough and sharp, while woman’s is fine and elegant. Tibetan knife is not very expensive, ranging from a few dozen to hundreds of RMBs.
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