Tashkurgan Town

Tashkurgan Town

1. Core Positioning: China’s Westernmost “Cloud Border Town”
Tashkurgan Town, under the jurisdiction of Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, is located in the southeastern part of the Pamir Plateau at an average altitude of 3,100 meters. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, it is an important node on the ancient Silk Road and the only border county seat in China that borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Known as the “Stone City,” its name in Uyghur means “Stone Fortress.” The town’s ancient stone city ruins, Jincao Beach Wetland, and the Khunjerab Pass border gate together form its dual identity as a “Highland Cultural Museum” and a “Borderland Experience Destination.”

2. Scenic Highlights: A Visual Feast of Nature and Culture
1. Historical Relics: Civilization Codes Through Millennia
- Ancient Stone City Ruins: One of the world’s four great ancient stone cities, the former Tang Dynasty Congling garrison site. The fortress is built on a hill 3,100 meters high, with broken walls and grasslands reflecting each other, witnessing the glory of the Silk Road.
- Xiangbaobao Ancient Tomb Group: A Neolithic cultural site with unearthed artifacts revealing human activity from the 8th to 5th centuries BCE.
- Princess Fort: A building from the flourishing Tang Dynasty, said to be the site of the “Hanri Tianzhong” story recorded in Xuanzang’s “Great Tang Records on the Western Regions,” carrying the romantic imagination of East-West cultural integration.

2. Natural Wonders: The Ultimate Scenery of the Pamir Plateau
- Jincao Beach Wetland Park: A wetland formed by the alluvial deposits of the Tashkurgan River, lush with water plants in summer and golden in autumn, creating a stunning picture with snow-capped mountains and the ancient city.
- Muztagh Ata Peak: Standing at 7,546 meters, known as the “Father of Glaciers,” with a glacier park where you can closely observe ice tongues and ice caves.
- Baisha Lake: One side of the shore is covered with white sand, the other side is mirror-like blue water; from a drone’s aerial view, it looks like a “Mirror of the Sky.”
- Bandier Blue Lake: The “Sapphire” of the Pamir Plateau, its water changes shades of blue with the light, and it is open to the public for free.

3. Border Landmarks: The Dignity of the Roof of the World
- Khunjerab Pass Border Gate: At 5,000 meters altitude, the highest border crossing in the world and a symbol of China-Pakistan friendship; entry requires a border pass.
- China-Pakistan Friendship Highway: Known as one of the world’s ten most dangerous roads, along which you can see the Panlong Ancient Road and the Wakhan Corridor.

3. Cultural Experience: The Warmth and Ancient Rituals of the Tajik People
1. Ethnic Customs: The “Eagle People” of the Plateau
- Clothing and Etiquette: Tajik men wear black lambskin “Tumaq” hats and long coats called “Jiapang”; women wear embroidered “Kuletta” hats and red dresses. Greetings mainly involve “kissing,” with peers shaking hands and kissing the back of the hand, and elders kissed on the palm or forehead.
- Festivals:
- Shogun Bahar Festival (Nowruz): Celebrated on March 21, the spring equinox, villagers gather in the fields to sow seeds and share large festival naan bread, symbolizing a bountiful new year.
- Sowing Festival: Before spring plowing, the whole village cooperates to divert water, splashing water to celebrate, sharing naan and porridge.
- Song and Dance Arts: The Tajiks are famous for the “Eagle Dance,” where men imitate the spreading wings of an eagle and women accompany with the rawap instrument, expressing reverence for nature.

2. Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Living Cultural Gene Pool
- Earthenware Pottery: Seventh-generation inheritor Tursun Rustam insists on handmade pottery, which glows with the luster of time; listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.
- Copperware Making: Sixth-generation inheritor Muhetar Mamuti’s copper shop crafts every piece by hand, from cutting to engraving to polishing, each a work of art.
- Ethnic Musical Instruments: Fifth-generation inheritor Maimaiti Tursun Ababekri makes dutar and rawap instruments, whose melodious sounds carry the soul of Uyghur music.

4. Travel Tips: Practical Guide for Highland Travel
1. Transportation and Routes
- Self-driving Route: Depart from Kashgar, drive along National Highway 314 (China-Pakistan Friendship Highway), passing Baisha Lake, Muztagh Ata Peak, and Karakul Lake; the whole trip takes about 4 hours.
- Border Pass Application: Must be applied for in advance at the Kashgar International RV Campground or local household registration, specifying “Tashkurgan County.”
- Best Season: June to August for grassland flowers, September to October for colorful autumn, but be alert for sudden snow or heavy rain.

2. Accommodation and Dining
- High-end Option: Snow Crown Hotel (5-star), well-equipped, rated 4.8.
- Unique Homestay: Yujian Mountain Homestay (villa style), beautiful environment, suitable for family trips.
- Must-try Foods:
- Yak Meat Hotpot: Hotpot restaurant opposite Tashkurgan County People’s Hospital, tender meat served with skewers and fried rice.
- Tajik Baked Dumplings: Crispy outside, filled with lamb and onion, 2 yuan each.
- Handmade Ice Cream: Made with local milk, rich and creamy, 5 yuan per cup.

3. Photography and Gear
- Golden Hours: Two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset, with soft light ideal for shooting Jincao Beach and the Stone City.
- Hidden Spots:
- Ancient Stone City Viewing Platform: Overlooks the entire ancient city, best light and shadow at sunset.
- Panlong Ancient Road Starting Point: Drone shots of over 600 S-shaped bends, like a giant dragon winding through the mountains.
- Essential Gear: Windproof warm jacket, sunglasses, altitude sickness medicine, power bank, camera tripod.

5. Practical Information and Pitfall Avoidance
- Opening Hours: Open all year round, but Khunjerab Pass requires a border pass for entry.
- Notes:
- Respect local customs; ask permission before photographing residents or religious sites.
- Strong ultraviolet rays on the plateau; apply SPF 50+ sunscreen.
- Avoid strenuous exercise to prevent altitude sickness.
- Shopping Recommendations: Pakistani jewelry shops and jade stores, but be prepared to bargain hard.

6. Summary: A Must-Visit “Secret Realm on the Roof of the World”
Tashkurgan Town is a gift from the Pamir Plateau to the world. It has the ancient stone city’s historic depth and the gentle beauty of Jincao Beach; the warmth of the Tajik people and the solemnity of Khunjerab Pass. When you overlook the mountains from Panlong Ancient Road, touch the millennia-old walls of the ancient stone city, and dance with villagers at the Shogun Bahar Festival, you will understand that this cloud-border town has long surpassed the definition of a “scenic spot” and become an eternal narrative of history, culture, and nature.