The combination of modern machinery and ancient means of transportation

Uygur traditional means of transportation

Uighurs live in an oasis south of Tianshan Mountain, surrounded by Gobi Desert, so transportation is extremely important in people's daily life.

Before liberation, the traditional means of transportation of Uighurs mainly included horses, cows, camels, donkeys and various wooden carts. According to documents, the ancestors of Uighurs used horses and wooden carts as transportation tools very early. Historically, the ancestors of the Uighurs were called "Dingling with a high car", which was named after the use of cars with extremely high wheels.

This ancient means of transportation of Uygur ancestors is still used in some areas today. Besides horses and wooden carts, there are cows, donkeys, mules, camels, boats, rafts and rafts. Now, in addition to rafts and rafts, cows, donkeys, mules, camels and boats are still the main means of transportation for Uighurs in many areas.

First, cattle

Due to the heavy load of cattle, Uighurs first used cattle in agricultural production and used them to plow farmland. Later, it gradually developed into a means of transportation, pulling carts with oxen, carrying them with oxen, and sometimes riding them.

Second, the donkey

It plays an important role in the transportation of Uighurs. Because donkeys are easy to raise and use, donkeys are widely used as transportation in rural areas where Uighurs live in concentrated communities, and almost every household has donkeys. Due to the widespread use of donkeys, there is also a profession in Uighurs that uses donkeys as a means of transportation-"donkey porter", which is called "Ishakqi" in Uighur. People engaged in this profession range from eight or nine donkeys to more than a dozen or even twenty or thirty donkeys.

Third, mules.

Mainly used for riding, but also for pulling carts, often used for long-distance travel.

Fourth, camels.

It is also an ancient means of transportation for Uighurs. Uighurs used camels for long-distance transportation a long time ago, especially in desert areas, commonly known as "ships in the desert". In the past, camels were widely used in caravan transportation. The head and tail camels in the caravan usually wear bells around their necks, and they make constant noises when walking, which has become a great spectacle on the ancient Silk Road.

Five, wooden boat

Uighurs not only use wooden boats as fishing tools, but also as transportation tools. This kind of boat is made of a large piece of Populus euphratica wood with a chisel. In fact, it is a canoe, mainly used for water passenger transport. Sometimes it is also used to transport things. When it was used for freight transportation, several ships were tied together.

Six, kayaking

Several goatskins are inflated and connected together, and wooden boards are tied on them, which are used for water passenger transport and freight transport.

Seven, raft

This is a simple water transportation tool, mainly used to transport people, firewood and so on. Generally, two or three boards are connected for use.

Eight, wooden wheelbarrow

In the past, it was a large means of transportation for Uighurs. According to the materials used to make cars and the shape of wheels, they can be divided into three types: Arria (light wooden wheeled vehicle), Kutak (coarse wheeled vehicle) and iron wheeled vehicle. According to the animals pulled, there are three kinds: horse-drawn carriages, ox carts and donkey carts. There is also a special car for pulling passengers, which is called "Maipa" in Uighur. It is usually pulled by a horse. The harness on horseback is beautifully decorated, and a string of bronze bells is tied around the horse's neck. In the past, this kind of car was mainly used in cities and suburbs for pedestrians.

While using horses, mules, donkeys and camels as means of transportation, Uighurs have also developed their own transportation industry.

1. caravan

The Uyghur language is called "Karwagni". There are at least seven or eight camels, horses and mules, and many of them are made up of more than a dozen, mainly engaged in commercial and trade activities in desert areas.

2. Animal leasing industry

People engaged in this profession generally have two or three horses or mules, camels and donkeys, which are rented to people who use livestock temporarily at a little cost;

Step 3 catch porters

The Uyghur language "Kere Kasi" is a long-distance vehicle with cars and donkeys, which is mainly used to transport various articles.

After the 1940s, wooden carts with tires gradually became popular in Uygur areas. Now almost every household in rural areas has rubber-tyred wooden carts, which have become the main means of transportation for farmers.

After liberation, automobile transportation has developed rapidly, but folk animal-drawn transportation still plays an important role because of its convenience, flexibility and adaptability. With the popularization of modern means of transportation, rubber-tyred wooden carts, horses and donkeys not only play an important role in rural transportation, but also play their own roles in some small and medium-sized cities in Xinjiang.

In Turpan, Toksun, Kuqa, Kashi, shache and other southern Xinjiang cities where Uighurs live in compact communities, under the condition of insufficient mechanical means of transportation, beautifully decorated carriages and donkey carts with local characteristics have become the main means of transportation in these cities. This local "bus" is quite popular with Uighurs and tourists.