From Jiayuguan I took the 8:40 pm sleeper train to Lanzhou, arriving at 7:05 am, caught a bus straight to the airport, which is a good thirty miles out of the city, and jumped on the 11:00 flight back to Beijing. By late afternoon I was in the notorious Silk Street Market on Jianguomen continuing my never-ending quest for the perfect round silk carpet. These are of course much harder to find than the regular rectangular models. I did manage to find a few, however, and also got a chance to look at some heart-stoppingly gorgeous examples of other carpets.
If a sight like this does not make your heart palpitate you better check to see if you have not already assumed room temperature.
Heart palpitating yet?
Half of a nice 600 knot per inch silk carpet
800 knot per inch silk rug
600 knot per inch silk rug
A mouth-wateringly luscious 800 knot-per-inch silk rug
Along the top of this photo is part of a three-foot-wide–ten-foot-long carpet—more properly tapestry, since it is meant to be hung on the wall and not trod on—depicting scenes from the Silk Road. This 1000 knot-per-inch silk carpet goes for 120,000 yuan ($15,256).
A magnificent 60o knot per inch silk carpet depicting various Buddhist iconography. Obviously this carpet-tapestry is also intended to be hung on a wall (see Enlargement). Measuring eight-by-ten feet, it’s a near-antique, 5o years old, and goes for 85,000 yuan ($10,806).Finally moved on to the round carpets. The Quest has been narrowed down to four choices.
Round 400 knot per inch all silk rug
