Kashgar + Pamir Plateau Ultimate Guide, Every Frame is Epic

This is China’s most hardcore border line Have you ever imagined— Standing on a plateau at 4,700 meters elevation, With the ever-frozen Mustagh Glacier on your left, The China-Pakistan Friendship Highway winding like a ribbon into the mountains on your right, And ahead, the five-star red flag fluttering proudly at the Khunjerab National Border Gate? This is not a military documentary, This is the real Pamir journey of 2024. This time, we retrace the route of Xuanzang’s westward pilgrimage, Delving deep into the earth’s folds along the China-Pakistan border, Completing a top-tier route hailed by countless travelers as a “soul pilgrimage”: Kashgar → Basha Lake → Karakul Lake → Mustagh Peak → Tashkurgan → Khunjerab National Border Viewing Platform → Eastern end of the Wakhan Corridor → Return to Kashgar 📍 Total distance about 1000 km｜🗓 Recommended duration: 6-7 days｜💰 Budget: 4000–5500 RMB/person 🌤 Best season: May – October (stable climate, smooth border access) --- 🏔️【Day 1】Kashgar Old Town → Basha Lake → Karakul Lake｜Step into the Western Regions’ painting ✅ Depart from Kashgar in the morning, head west along G314 National Highway (China-Pakistan Friendship Highway) - First stop: Basha Lake - White sand dunes meet turquoise waters, like God spilled a palette - When the wind rises, sand waves roll, aerial shots resemble Martian landscapes 📸 Must-shoot spots: - Silhouettes of dead trees by the lake + snow mountain reflections in the distance - Overlook the “Nine Bends and Eighteen Turns” from the entrance of Panlong Ancient Road (drone takeoff point) ✅ Arrive at Karakul Lake (meaning “Black Lake,” but actually deep blue) in the afternoon - Backed by Mustagh Peak (7,546 meters), known as the “Father of Ice Mountains” - At sunset, snow peaks turn golden pink, the lake surface mirrors the sky and mountains 🔥 Bonus experience: Camp lakeside overnight, the Milky Way stretches across the peaks, so cold you shiver but don’t want to sleep 🏨 Stay in yurts by Karakul Lake or campsites en route to Tashkurgan｜Approx. 300–400 RMB 📌 Fun fact: Xuanzang crossed the Congling Mountains nearby on his return journey, writing “The cold wind is piercing, many violent dragons make travel difficult.” --- 🏞️【Day 2】Mustagh Glacier Base Camp → Tashkurgan County｜Touch the “Father of Glaciers” ✅ Continue early morning, get up close to Mustagh Glacier - Option to take local off-road vehicles to the glacier front (about 15 minutes) - The glacier tongue extends into the valley, millennia-old ice within reach, awe-inspiring 📷 Photo tips: - Use a polarizing filter to reduce glare and highlight glacier textures - Wear bright-colored outdoor jackets for better shots (red/yellow preferred) ✅ Enter Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County (“Tashkurgan” or “Tashan”) in the afternoon - The only ethnic area in China predominantly inhabited by Caucasians - Simple folk customs, eagle flute sounds echo through valleys, every household flies the five-star red flag 🏨 Stay in boutique guesthouses in Tashkurgan｜Some rooms with oxygen supply｜Approx. 380 RMB 💡 Reminder: Apply for border permits in advance in Kashgar! Bring original ID card. --- 🛑【Day 3】Tashkurgan → Khunjerab National Border Viewing Platform｜Salute the westernmost point of the motherland ✅ Depart for Khunjerab Port (4,733 meters elevation) ⚠️ Important notice: - Since 2020, Khunjerab land port is closed to tourist visits - But you can view the border gate and boundary marker from designated viewing platforms (guarded by border police) 🚩 Significance: - “Saluting at the westernmost point of my country” is a dream moment for many - The five-star red flag flutters fiercely in the highland winds, moving to tears 📷 Shooting tips: - Use telephoto lenses to compress space, frame the border gate with snow mountains - Wear army green or camouflage jackets for full atmosphere ✅ On the return trip, stop at the Stone City ruins - Ruins of the Tang Dynasty Qiepantuo Kingdom capital, an important Silk Road post - Sunset casts long shadows on the broken walls, history comes alive 🏨 Stay again in Tashkurgan --- 🌄【Day 4】Tashkurgan → Eastern end of Wakhan Corridor → Band-e Amir Blue Lake｜Step into the “Eastern Switzerland” ✅ Drive to the eastern viewing point of the Wakhan Corridor - This is the border area between China and Afghanistan - Look far into the narrow valley stretching out, surrounded by Pamir Mountains, silent and serene 📌 Geography trivia: The Wakhan Corridor was once a key Silk Road route and a buffer zone in the British-Russian “Great Game,” still strategically important today. ✅ Hidden gem stop: Band-e Amir Blue Lake (also called “Little Switzerland”) - The lake water is a dreamy Tiffany blue, surrounded by snow mountains - Local Tajik herders call it “The Eye of the Earth” 🏨 Stay in Tashkurgan or return near Karakul Lake --- 🚗【Day 5-6】Tashkurgan → Kashgar｜Complete the loop ✅ Return to Kashgar along the same route, about 500 km - Stop at different times to capture light and shadow scenes - Upon arrival, celebrate at Kashgar Old Town East Gate Night Market: - Must-eats: roasted pigeon, pilaf, yogurt zongzi, rose tea 🏨 Stay in boutique guesthouse in Kashgar Old Town｜With terrace views of Id Kah Mosque｜Approx. 350 RMB --- ✅ Budget breakdown (per person): Item Cost ------ ------ Round-trip transport to/from Kashgar (flight/train) ¥1000–1800 Car rental (7-seat SUV with driver, approx. 1000 km) ¥2200 Accommodation (6 nights avg. ¥350) ¥2100 Tickets + shuttle (Stone City, Mustagh Glacier environmental fees, etc.) ¥300 Food + supplies + souvenirs (eagle flute models, dried fruits, etc.) ¥600 Total ¥4000–5500 >💬 Note: Border permits are free of charge. --- ⚠️ Key reminders (must read!) 1. Border permit must be applied in advance: - At Kashgar International Self-driving RV Camp or travel agency counters - Required documents: original ID card + itinerary (specifying Tashkurgan, Khunjerab, Karakul Lake, etc.) 2. Altitude sickness prevention: - Altitude ranges from 3000–4700 meters, recommend carrying oxygen bottles and Rhodiola - Avoid bathing and strenuous exercise on arrival day in Tashkurgan 3. Road conditions and safety: - Most of G314 National Highway is good, but landslides occur occasionally (watch out in rainy season) - No unauthorized self-driving vehicles allowed in border areas, must follow official convoys 4. Khunjerab current status: - Not open for public internal visits, only diplomatic and freight traffic allowed - Viewing platform allows short stops for photos, follow border police instructions --- 🌟 Why is this route called the “Pamir King Bomb”? >Because it combines three irreplaceable experiences: ✅ Geographic pinnacle: - The magical colors of Basha Lake - The majesty of Mustagh, “Father of Ice Mountains” - The vastness of the Pamir Plateau, “Roof of the World” ✅ Historical echoes: - Places Xuanzang passed, the sound of Silk Road camel bells still in your ears - Stone City witnessing millennia of dynastic changes ✅ Patriotic sentiment: - Standing at the border viewing platform, you suddenly understand what “pure love, only for China” means - Every fluttering flag tells the story of border guards’ dedication --- 📌 Action suggestions: 🎯 If you are: - A photography enthusiast wanting a “life photo set” → Basha Lake + Karakul Lake sunset are legendary - A passionate youth loving flags, borders, and geography → Khunjerab check-in is a once-in-a-lifetime memory - An urban escapee seeking spiritual cleansing → Take the Pamir trip, your heart will feel pure 🔥 Set off now: June–September is the golden window, stable weather, stunning scenery, Relaxed border policies, miss it and wait another year!