[2024 Tashkurgan Attraction] Travel Guide for Khunjerab Pass (Updated Sep)
Mountains
Address:
Kunjirap Daban, Tashkurgan, Kashgar, China
Recommended sightseeing time:
3-4 hours
Phone:
0998-2521623,0998-3421450
A summer trip to Xinjiang is not complete without a visit to the Pamir Plateau
👉 Starting from Kashgar and following National Highway 314, you will pass through plateaus, snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and lakes, all the way to the westernmost point of our country, the Khunjerab Pass. This most beautiful border corridor is the Karakoram Highway, also known as the China-Pakistan Friendship Highway. One-third of it is in China (416 kilometers), and two-thirds is in Pakistan (616 kilometers).
🚘 Self-drive route: Kashgar — Oytagh — White Sand Lake — Karakul Lake — Muztagh Ata — Tashkurgan Wetland — Tashkurgan County — Stone City Ruins — Jincaotan — Khunjerab Port
👉 Here you can find the eagles of the Pamir Plateau, visitors on the ice mountains, the origin history of the Tajik people, the ancient capital of the Pando nation 'Stone City', and the lush 'Jincaotan'.
👉 There is also the 'Tashkurgan Ancient Path' leading to the ancient kingdom of Yarkent in Shache; the 'Wakhan Corridor Road' that lies like a giant dragon on the land; and the birthplace of 'Why Are the Flowers So Red', Kaner Well Village.
⚠️ National Highway 314, the 'China-Pakistan Friendship Highway', requires a border pass in Taxkorgan County
⚠️ At the Bulungkol fork, the road to 'Muztagh Village' and its volcano crater requires a border pass
⚠️ In Tashkurgan County, the fork to the 'Tashkurgan Ancient Path' is a shortcut from Taxkorgan to Shache
⚠️ From Tashkurgan County towards Khunjerab, the fork to the 'Wakhan Corridor Road', also known as the Panlong Ancient Path, continues to Wakhan Township and then to 'Kaner Well Village', eventually returning to Tashkurgan County.
⚠️ Khunjerab requires a border pass.
Khunjerab Port
Ivy567~Brook*
Every person who travels to Xinjiang will eventually return to southern Xinjiang
1. Must-visit attractions in southern Xinjiang:
1️⃣ Kashgar: The largest Aitigaer Mosque in Xinjiang, the exotic Gaotai residential houses, the unique Karakuri Lake, and the Mustag Peak it reflects, as well as the highest-altitude port - Khunjerab Pass. Its unique Western Region cultural atmosphere, desolate and atmospheric plateau scenery, tall and pure snow mountain scenery, all touch every inch of your nerves.
2️⃣ Aksu: Aksu has played a huge role since ancient times. At its most glorious, the Aksu region was an important post on the "Ancient Silk Road" connecting Central Asia, West Asia and the Central Plains.
3️⃣ Hotan: Hotan is famous for its jade, but as an important town on the southern line of the ancient Silk Road, it has left many ruins such as the Niya ruins, the Aksu ancient city, the Mailik Awati ancient city, and the Karadun ancient city; the ancient woodblock prints, silk carpet fragments, gold Buddha statues, mummies, ancient coins, etc. unearthed here all shine with the brilliance of ancient civilization.
4️⃣ Bayingolin: Most of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture is located at the southern foot of the Tianshan Mountains and the north and northeast edge of the Tarim Basin, with a small part located at the southeast edge of the Tarim Basin and between the Kunlun Mountains and the Altun Mountains. Here, there are not only rich alpine grasslands, but also beautiful Bosten Lake, and the most mysterious and desolate Taklamakan in China.
Max Kirlin I
I had a great time in Taxkorgan County and I'd like to share my travel tips with you.
Preparation:
Apply for a border pass in advance. You can apply at a police station in Kashgar, or at the service area of the glacier park in Shufu County or Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture. Bring a down jacket or a thick coat, an oxygen tank, and some Coca-Cola to help with altitude sickness.
Itinerary:
Day 1:
Rent a car in Kashgar and drive to Taxkorgan County. Along the way, you'll pass by Oytagh Glacier Park, White Sand Lake, Muztagh Ata, and Tashkurgan Wetland. The scenery is stunning, with herds of cattle and sheep grazing in the pastures, and the ice-blue rivers formed by the melting glaciers. Although the grass starts to turn yellow in autumn, it has its own charm. Try to minimize the time spent on the road and arrive in Taxkorgan County before dark. After arrival, try the local yak hot pot and then check in to a homestay to rest.
Day 2:
Get up at around 8:00 in the morning, pack up, and set off for Khunjerab Pass. Remember to bring warm clothes because it's cold in Taxkorgan County in the morning. There are many pastures along the way and it takes about an hour to get there. The altitude of the national gate is high but you may not experience altitude sickness. You can take photos of the altitude monument, the No. 7 boundary monument, and the national gate. It's enough to spend about an hour there.
In the afternoon, return to Tashkurgan Wetland and enjoy the beautiful view of yaks grazing leisurely at the foot of the snow-capped mountains and the winding stream in the middle of the yellow-green grassland from the viewing platform.
Finally, go to Muztagh Ata and take a shuttle bus at the visitor center. If you want to go to the glacier after getting off the bus, you can choose to ride a horse (CNY 100 for a single trip and CNY 200 for a round trip). If you're not physically fit or have altitude sickness, it's not recommended to walk there, otherwise, you may feel uncomfortable like me. I overestimated myself. Although the scenery was amazing when I walked up there, I felt a headache, dizziness, and weakness after walking down the mountain.
Tips: Coca-Cola can help with altitude sickness to some extent. You can bring more when you go to high-altitude areas.
matthiasdante79
Tajik Autonomous County, the only county in China that borders four countries
Khunjerab Pass is located in Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County on the Pamir Plateau. This is the commercial port of China's border with Pakistan, and it is also the only highway port in Xinjiang that is open to third countries. It is an important gateway from western China to the Middle East, the South Asian subcontinent and even Europe.
ulric_5668
China Pakistan border in All possible views.
If you wanna go China on a pleasent and affordable journey you should choose China southern airline. Make sure you had the window seat and it worth of seeing all that Himalayan range peaks. mashaAllah. #viewontop #china #chinatravel #chinadestination #pakistan #pakiatantours
#borderline #中国