The small Uighur-dominated oasis of Yengisar (Yingjisha) is known throughout the western Chinese province of Xinjiang for its production of handmade knives. The Small Knife Factory (Pichak Chilik Karakhana / Xiadaochang) employs skilled local craftsmen producing fine knives with inlaid handles. Just about every Uighur man carries a knife, both as a sign of manhood and for the more utilitarian purpose of cutting up melons, and the most valued (and expensive) come from Yengisar.

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Photo credit: © Pictures From History / Alamy / Afripics
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Keywords: 2007, asia, asian, china, chinese, craft, david, factory, henley, knife, muslim, photograph, province, road, rural, silk, sinkiang, trade, uighur, uyghur, world, xinjiang, yengisar, yengishar, yingjisha