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Postcards from a trip in China: Shanghai and Kazakh Crafts in Xinjiang
- Félicie
- Jun 6
- 2 min read
Dear friends of Voyageuses Paris,
Just back from two weeks trip in China, I wanted to share my discoveries of Kazakh crafts and impressions with you.
I began with a few days in Shanghai — my heart city, where I lived for 10 years with my family until 2021, and where Voyageuses Paris (then CHINOISES) was born in 2018.
I made the most of it to see friends, visit our workshops, go to the flea markets, and wander through a city I love so much — so authentic and modern at the same time. Cycling through the city is my favourite way to get lost in the old town or discover the "lanes" of the former French Concession, where Art Deco houses hide behind washing lines, fish drying in the sun and tangles of electric cables… Despite some difficult recent months, the city is as dynamic and inspiring as ever, and the Shanghainese as warm and spontaneous as I remembered!
The highlight of the trip was an invitation from the Chinese Government to discover the craftsmanship of the Kazakh minorities, living just a few kilometres from Kazakhstan in the province of Xinjiang. This province shares a border with 8 countries (Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan…) and is one of China's 5 "autonomous regions".
The Kazakh minorities have their own customs and craftsmanship rooted in their history, religion and geography — deeply shaped by the surrounding Eastern cultures and countries.
I had the privilege of witnessing their traditions at a vibrant, colourful wedding, admiring their embroideries and the goldsmithing used in equestrian harnesses, their felt rugs… So many beautiful things I hope to bring back to share with you through Voyageuses Paris! Though it will take time to coordinate — they don't speak Mandarin, only Kazakh! One of the days was dedicated to talking with these artisans — through an interpreter — about ways to promote their craftsmanship beyond their province. An incredibly enriching exchange that ended in an endless selfie session with these wonderful women, blondes with blue eyes being something of a rarity in those parts! :)
We ended the trip with a night in a traditional Kazakh tent, in the middle of the Tangbula grasslands, where our hosts had set a table straight out of the Thousand and One Nights and prepared a gargantuan feast — which we honoured surrounded by embroidered cushions and colourful hangings, singing and dancing well into the night!
A magnificent journey, a true immersion in China… I can't wait to go back, this time with my children, who are deeply envious that I went without them!
Félicie
China travel Kazakh crafts, Xinjiang
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