Taklamakan Desert Interior [Hetian]

There is an interesting carpet factory in Hotan, and all parts of the factory are open to see. There is also a enormous hall with a huge amount of carpets which you can buy, they are beautiful. Archaeological discoveries prove that Hotan carpet making has a history at least of 2000 years. And the carpets made here were sent as tributes to the Courts of Chinese Dynasties, and were sold to places westward along the Silk Road. The carpets are especially valuable because of the long and thick wool special to Hotan. The colors are rich and the designs are fine and splendid, full of local Uygur style and the influences of the historical exchanges between West and China can be also found in them. Open daily 9:30-5:30, but they do have resthour at lunchtime, so that is a bad time since you won't see anyone making the carpets.