Xinjiang is one of the birthplaces of the carpet in the world. The Xinjiang Carpet, also called Orient Carpet, is a traditional national industrial artwork of Xinjiang an famous around the world thanks to its long history and high level of skill. It includes Cover Carpet, Tapestry, Cushion Carpet and Kneeling Carpet.
People in XInjiang began to weave carpets 2000 years ago. Carpet remains of the late West Han Dynasty, which were excavated from the Loulan Ancient Tomb, belong to the local produce. Carpets made in the Han Dynasty were once excavated in Kuche Country of Guguizi; carpets produced in the North Dynasty were found in the site of Bachu Country. Xinjiang is the center of the Silk Road. Domestic and foreign merchants traveling there transported Xinjiang carpets to the West while bringing ancient Persia carpets back to Xinjiang long before. So, the weave techniques and decoration patterns of China and those of the West influenced each other. The Xinjiang Carpet is a proof of the cultural exchange along the Silk Road.
The Xinjiang Carpet with distinctive folk color and local flavor is characterized by multilayer frame, geometrical figure filled with various kinds of patterns and rhythmical, lively, changeful and precise structures. It is made of famous semi--shag and wools of Hetian sheep, which are tough, flexible, and thick but not viscous and which have advantages of good pull endurance, pressure endurance, luster and high intensity.
Many of Xinjiang carpets exported to European and American countries during the 16th century to the 19th century have been treasured up by some artistic collectors. Today, some wool carpets, silk carpets and silk & feather carpets of Xinjiang are collected in many museums such as London Victoria Museum of England, Arabia Museum and Frankfort Manual Art Museum of Germany.
