5 Days Kashgar In-depth Tour: Kashgar to Tashkurgan via Pamir Highway

Ni Hao! Welcome to Kashgar, the westernmost frontier city in China, known as a dazzling jewel on the ancient Silk Road. Upon your arrival at Kashgar airport, your tour guide and driver will greet you at the exit. They'll then escort you directly to the downtown area and assist you with checking in at your hotel.

Note: Xinjiang follows the unified Beijing Time, which is UTC+08:00. However, due to its geographical location within the UTC+6 time zone, the actual local sunrise and sunset in Xinjiang occur about two hours later than they would according to Beijing Time.

Kashgar (喀什), located in the southwestern part of Xinjiang, was historically known as Shule ( (疏勒国), and was one of the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions (西域三十六国). For centuries, Kashgar has been a significant city in southern Xinjiang. It served as the western terminus for the northern, central, and southern routes of the ancient Silk Road, connecting Europe and Asia. It has long been a transportation hub and distribution center for goods between East and West. Trade is highly developed here, earning it the title of "Kingdom of Bazaars (markets)."

Diverse cultures from Asia and Europe converge on Kashgar, clashing and blending intensely with the local culture, injecting new vitality into Kashgar. This cultural fusion is specifically reflected in Kashgar Old City's architecture, cuisine, and vibrant markets. The city has always been a melting pot of various ethnic groups, including Uyghurs, Han Chinese, Tajiks, and other nationalities. Additionally, located at the junction of the Pamir Plateau and the Tarim Basin, Kashgar also serves as a gateway to some stunning natural landscapes.

Kashgar Arrival Ideas:

By Air: Kashgar International Airport (IATA: KHG, ICAO: ZWSH) is one of China's westernmost airports. Domestic flights connect Kashgar to major Chinese cities, including:Urumqi (about 2 hours), Lanzhou (about 4 hours), Beijing (about 6 hours), Shanghai (about 7 hours), Xi'an (about 5 hours), Chengdu (about 5 hours), and Guangzhou (about 7 hours). Some international flights from nearby Central Asian countries may also fly into Kashgar.

From Borders：The Torugart Pass and Irkeshtam Pass are important channels between China and Kyrgyzstan. The Karasu Port is a crucial gateway between China and Tajikistan. The Khunjerab Pass is the only land border crossing between China and Pakistan. If you plan to arrive via a land border, please contact your travel advisor for specific costs and arrangements.

Your exploration can begin in Kashgar Old City (喀什老城市). The Old City is the soul of Kashgar, encapsulating over two millennia of cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Road. Situated at the heart of the city and spread across 3.6 square kilometers, the Old City is a living museum, telling tales of ancient trade and cultural fusion. As a crucial hub for East-West traffic and a distribution center for goods, it offers a vivid glimpse into past prosperity.

Within Kashgar Old City, the streets and alleys intersect intricately, narrow and winding paths with buildings of varying heights, creating a layout that resembles a maze. As you wander through, you'll see traditional Uyghur mud-brick houses and numerous structures with Islamic features, such as pointed arches, domes, intricate woodcarvings, and colorful ceramic tiles. These architectural and street designs perfectly Central Asian and Islamic architectural elements with Uyghur characteristics, creating a sense of time travel for visitors.

The Kashgar Old City thrives with commercial activity, with numerous bazaars and street markets scattered throughout, such as the Pottery Bazaar, Flower Pot (Doppa) Bazaar, Blacksmith Bazaar, Woodwork Bazaar, Medicine Tea Bazaar, Han Bazaar (Food Street)... This area is not only an excellent place to purchase and appreciate various handicrafts but also an ideal spot to savor Uyghur cuisine. Indulge in succulent lamb kebabs (羊肉串), rich and spicy lagman noodles (拉条子), savory samsas (烤包子), and freshly baked Naan (囊). As you wander through, the scenes, sounds, and scents on the streets seem to transport you back to the heyday of the Silk Road. You can almost visualize the bustling caravans, with merchants from China, Persia, Arabia, and many local regions converging here. The air is filled with the melodious ringing of bells on camels' necks.

Furthermore, Kashgar Old City is a hub for numerous cultural and religious activities as well as a place for residents' daily lives and social interactions. One of the most notable landmarks is Id Kah Mosque（艾提尕尔清真寺), one of the largest mosques in China, attracting thousands of worshippers daily. To experience local life firsthand, you can visit a century-old teahouse (百年老茶馆). As you sit, sip tea, and observe, you'll appreciate the traditions and hospitality of Uyghur people. With luck, you might have to a chance to witness locals playing and singing traditional Rawap music.They may even invite you to join in, twirling your hands as you dance.

If you happen to visit Kashgar on a Sunday, you can't miss the famous Kashgar Livestock Market (牛羊巴扎).

On the northern edge of Kashgar city, there is a massive livestock trading market. Every Sunday, this market becomes as lively as a carnival. People from surrounding villages flock here with their sheep, cows, and even camels.

At the market, you can witness Uyghur herders proudly showcasing their livestock. The traders typically grasp each other’s hands inside the spacious sleeves of their robes, silently signaling their price offers with their fingers - an intriguing and silent process full of wit. Once the price is agreed upon, neither party can back out. This traditional method of trade has been continuing for thousands of years. It’s an excellent opportunity for photography and to witness the ancient commercial traditions that are fast becoming rare in the modern world.

Tips: Due to the large number of livestock in the market, prepare yourself for a strong odor

After the tour, be escorted to your hotel in Kashgar.

This morning, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel in Kashgar to embark on an exhilarating road trip along the China-Pakistan Highway. Along the way, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Pamirs Plateau, visit Baisha Lake and Karakul Lake, admire the distant and mysterious Muztagh Ata Peak, Kongur Tagh, Kongur Tiube, and conclude with a visit to a Tajik family home in Tashkurgan. (Total distance: 300 kilometers, approximately 7-8 hours of travel).

The China-Pakistan Highway (中巴公路) is also known as the Karakoram Highway (KKH), and referred to locally as the Pamir Highway. It begins in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, traverses the Karakoram mountain range, the Hindu Kush range, the Pamir Plateau, and the western edge of the Himalayas, passes through the Khunjerab Pass (elevation: 4,693 meters) at the China-Pakistan border, and extends south to the northern Pakistani city of Thakot. Spanning approximately 1,224 kilometers, with 415 kilometers within Chinese territory, it is one of the highest paved border crossings in the world.

Historically, the routes across the Pamir Plateau (帕米尔高原), also known as Congling (葱岭) in ancient times, were integral parts of the ancient Silk Road. This section was one of the most challenging segments for merchants and travelers on the Silk Road due to its harsh and rugged terrain. Here, several of the world's renowned mountain ranges - the Himalayas, the Karakoram, the Kunlun Mountains, the Tianshan Mountains, and the Hindu Kush - converge and radiate outward, forming a massive mountainous junction. Today, the China-Pakistan Highway has transformed these perilous trade routes of the past into magnificent thoroughfares, attracting numerous tourists to the Pamir Plateau to experience its stunning natural scenery. The route offers views of Danxia landform, snow peaks, deep canyons, serene lakes, expansive wetlands, and pristine glaciers, making it Southern Xinjiang's most quintessential three-dimensional scenic route.

Along the way, you will visit the following attractions:

Baisha Mountain-Baisha Lake Scenic Area (白沙山-白沙湖景区):

As you drive along National Highway G314, you'll encounter Baisha Lake (白沙湖), also known as Bulunkou Lake - a striking plateau lake nestled in the Pamir Plateau  (elevation:about 3,660 meters). From its shore, you're treated to a stunning vista: half pristine blue water, and half white sand mountain, both harmonizing with distant snow-capped peaks to create a magnificent spectacle.

On the lake's northern shore stands the renowned Baisha Mountain (白沙山), winding for over 1,200 meters. The dark mountain body, covered with white sand, presents a soft silvery-white color under the clean sunlight of the Pamir Plateau, resembling white silk. Legend has it that as the lake water gradually dries up in autumn and winter, the white sand at the bottom of the lake emerges. In spring, the wind blows this sand onto the mountain, creating the extraordinary spectacle of sand accumulating into a mountain. Whenever strong winds blow, Baisha Mountain emits a sound, earning it the name "Singing Sand Mountain." The southern shore of the lake is embraced by a chain of snow-capped mountains, with the highest peak being Mount Kongur Tagh at an elevation of 7,530 meters, adding further grandeur and mystery to this captivating landscape.

Karakul Lake (喀拉库勒湖)：

Karakul Lake is a high-altitude moraine lake (elevation:about 3,600 meters).Its name in the Kyrgyz language means "Black Lake," attributed to its deep, dark waters. However, if you spend enough time by the lake, you will notice that it changes colors under different lighting conditions, appearing deep blue, emerald green, or ink black, earning it the nickname "the ever-changing lake."

Yet, the true highlights of Karakul Lake are the imposing peaks known as the "Kunlun Trio" that tower behind it: Kongur Tagh, Kongur Tiube, and Muztagh Ata, with altitudes of 7,719 meters, 7,595 meters, and 7,546 meters, respectively. On clear days, their majestic reflections are perfectly cast upon the glistening surface of the lake, creating the most iconic views of Karakul Lake. Among these, Muztagh Ata is particularly striking, covered with many glaciers, and is known as the "Father of Ice Mountains."

Afterward, drive to Tashkurgan County (塔什库尔干) and conclude your visit to a local Tajik family's home. As Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County, the area is populated with the warm and hospitable Tajik people (塔吉克族). They are known for their singing and dancing abilities and regard eagles as symbols of strength and freedom. This experience offers a unique opportunity to interact directly with the local Tajik community living at high altitudes.You'll gain insight into the everyday lives of the Tajik people, witness the skilled craftsmanship and colorful textiles that decorate their homes, experience their traditional music and dance, and possibly enjoy snacks prepared in their distinctive style.

Stay overnight in Tashkurgan County.

Today, you will be exploring Tashkurgan County before driving back to Kashgar along the scenic China-Pakistan Highway.

Tashkurgan or Taxkorgan, officially known as Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County (塔什库尔干塔吉克自治县), is situated in the eastern part of the Pamir Plateau, at an elevation of about 3,600 meters. In Uyghur, Tashkurgan means "Stone Fort," a name derived from the ancient stone fortresses located to the north of the town. It has the unique geographical advantage of being "one county bordering three countries," namely Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. As the final pass of the Silk Road within China's borders, Tashkurgan has been both an outlet for Central Plains civilization and a gateway for religious transmission throughout history.

After breakfast, you will set out to explore Stone City (石头城), also known as Tashkurgan Fort, a fortress of great strategic importance on the ancient Silk Road. Archaeological evidence  During the Han period, it was once the capital of the Puli Kingdom (蒲犁国) one of the thirty-six states of the Western Regions (西域三十六国). After the Tang Dynasty unified the Western Regions, it became the largest post station on the ancient Silk Road crossing the Congling (Pamir Plateau). The renowned Chinese Buddhist monk Xuanzang (玄奘) stopped here to preach for 22 days on his return journey from India.

It is built on a high hill, with an extremely steep terrain, mainly constructed from piled stones, forming a unique stone city landscape. For travelers, it is a fantastic experience to explore the city ruins, witness the vicissitudes of the ancient city, and imagine how many merchants, monks, and explorers once traveled westward or eastward from here, or ponder how the Tajik ancestors, over a thousand years ago without advanced tools, managed to complete such a massive and magnificent project.

Following your visit to the fort, you will explore the expansive golden grasslands (金草滩) at the foot of the Stone City. This area, known as Alar National Wetland Park, comprises wetlands, meadows, rivers, marshes, snow-capped mountains, and plateaus. The Tashkurgan River flows through this area, where lush water and grass abound, and livestock roam freely, blending beautifully with the distant snow-capped mountains, white clouds, and blue sky. When the setting sun casts its light, the verdant grasslands turn a golden hue, and in the distance, the herders' white felt tents and flocks of sheep are bathed in the sunset as if cloaked in a golden glow. Hence, this area is aptly named "Golden Grasslands."

Lastly, you will leave Tashkurgan and drive back to Kashgar city along the scenic China-Pakistan Highway. This journey is not merely a return trip but a continuous discovery of the profound and majestic beauty that defines the Pamir Plateau. You'll have the opportunity to admire the spectacular snow-capped peaks from various angles on both sides. Muztagh Ata, Kongur Tagh, and Kongur Jiubie Peak form a triangular configuration, standing like towering pillars on the Pamir Plateau.

Stay overnight in in Kashgar city.

After breakfast, it is time to end your 5 Days  Kashgar Tour. You will have some free time in Kashgar and explore more at your own pace till your guide escorts you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.

Extension Ideas: If you wish to extend your Xinjiang trip, you can explore other Xinjiang Silk Road Cities such as Urumqi, Turpan, Kuqa, and Hotan, or venture to North Xinjiang destinations like Kanas, Hemu, and Yining. We'd be happy to assist with these additional arrangements.

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your Xinjiang Tour, we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!