China

Taxkorgan

This is the last major city and the main border control before heading to Pakistan. The city might be known under the name Puli as Marco Polo visited the place - the stone castle is one of the last remains from that time. The city itself is a quite one, about 10000 people, small main street and a black market. But it is a lovely place a word a visits from Kashgar.

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Mutztag Ata and the Karakuli Lake

One, if not the highlight of the Chinese section of Karakoram Highway is the Karakuli Lake and 7400plus high Mutztag Ata. Stayed fro two night at ger camp just beside the lake. Wasn’t the only one, tourist from US, UK and Australia enjoyed the scenery as well. also went to one of the glaciers of Mutztag Ata - at about 4655m by car.IMG_4950

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Karakorum Highway China

Finally, it’s the 16.09.2016 and I can leave now Kashgar. The Pakistan Border will be open on Monday.

And now one of the main Highlight of the whole journey starts - The Karakoram Highway. Starting from Kashgar (China) and finishing somewhere near Islamabad Pakistan). About 1200km across mountains, following glaciers, peaks of 7000m plus and just an awesome landscape.

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Kashgar Old City

Kashgar, the ancient town in the middle of the Silk Road network with a history of over 2000 years. From here on you could go to all the different directions of the Silk Road, such as China, India, Iran, Afghanistan, Kyrgistan, Usbekistan etc. This place was visited by Marco Polo and described in his book.

And being in the centre of the whole network Kashgar was always the main basar and market for trade along side the route. Here the merchants, traders, bargainers, tradesmen and travelers made their business, exchanged goods, got new camels, horses or yaks depending were they were heading, refreshed themselves and all the other things you would want to do at such such an vibrant place.

Nowadays the city is still a very important market town with good connections to Pakistan, Kyrgistan, Tajikistan, Tibet and China. Not much has been left of the big old city, but what is left is still impressive.

Beside the well know Silk Road cities in Uzbekistan this is the place to visit to experience the ancient story of the Silk Road.
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