The Uyghurs of China’s ‘Jade City’
By Li Hao, Published: 2015-08-06 15:28:16
Two statues of Chairman Mao Zedong and a Buddhist figure stand together on the outskirts of Shifosi town on July 31. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Editor's Note:
Shifosi township in Nanyang, Henan Province, has grown to China’s largest market for jade stone statues and carvings. In recent years, the area has increasingly drawn Uyghur businessmen selling Hotan jade to become one of the largest communities of Uyghurs outside of China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur businessman takes a break in a warehouse storing raw jade on July 28. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur businessman and his family ride a motorized tricycle near their home in Shifosi township on July 28. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Three Uyghur children play in their neighborhood on July 28. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur man prepares to roast mutton kebabs on July 28. The Uyghur businessmen normally trade jade in the morning and return to their neighborhoods to sell foods from their homeland in the afternoon. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A little Uyghur girl plays alone on a plot of land near her house on July 28. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur man readies to ride an e-bike with his children on July 28. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A jade dealer dozes on July 29. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur businessman sells his wares at the market on July 29. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Two potential buyers check merchandise on July 29. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A customer tries to identify the authenticity of the jade stones in front of a stall on July 30. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Piles of raw jade stones are displayed at the market. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Anur (second from right), a jade stone dealer, poses with his family at their home on July 29. As the first Uyghur jade stone dealer in the township, Anur introduced many other Uyghurs to do business here. He since married a Han Chinese woman and has two sons. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Anur shows a collection of family photos on July 29. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Normally Uyghur women take care of children at home while their husbands do business. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Photo: Li Hao/GT
Photo: Li Hao/GT
Two Uyghur women care for their children near their homes on July 29. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur man reads in a mosque before praying on July 31. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Muslims wash up before prayers on July 31. Photo: Li Hao/GT
A Uyghur Muslim reads a book before prayer on July 31. Photo: Li Hao/GT
Uyghur Muslims pray in a mosque on July 31. Photo: Li Hao/GT