The local government has subsidised the purchase of the panels. A 1500-yuan (US$187) panel is therefore sold for 300 yuan (US$37). Not every household can get the subsidy due to the large number of herders. But the advantages of the panels have lured many herdsmen into buying them.  Kelimu Samaiti, 24, from the Subashi Village, saved for two years to buy a panel.

In the small yard of Samaiti's two-room house are the lines connecting the panel to a tape recorder. The household might not have access to a radio but at least they can listen to music.

Most of the Kirgiz are talented dancers and singers. Samaiti's wife, 21-year-old Abake, was listening to a recorded song called "Pretty Girl."

Samaiti has a family of seven and owns 40 sheep and six cows, making their average per capita income 800 yuan (US$100) a year. It is considered one of the high-income families in the poverty-stricken village.

"We have light at night, which prolongs the time we have to make blankets and rugs," said Kelimu,  standing next to the stove in the middle of the two-room house. A 1-square-metre handmade rug, which took nearly one month to make, can be sold for 200 yuan (US$25).

Abudulamuti, who has been to Kashi only three times, sees the world differently from the television programmes he has watched.

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