High Mountains of China

We left Kashgar at 9 am, heading for the mountain region. After an hour we stopped at
Upal village for food for a picnic lunch. I visited my first and communal loo, which cost 1 yuan for the privilege.

High security continued with Police checkpoints, where we were scanned yet again. Further into the mountains we had a
Military one, then went into a tunnel.

By now the scenery was stunning. The Red hills wenrvstraight up from the road and snow capped peaks got closer.

We stopped for pictures with hundreds of Chinese tourists, at 11,000ft White Sand Mountain with a clear reservoir

. By now it was 2pm and it was decided we wouldn’t have time to walk round a bit of KaraKul Lake to have the picnic so we stopped at a little pull off where we had a view of the lake, with
Kongur Shan 7719 m on our left and a view of
Mustegata 7546m. This is used as a high altitude ski place by Europeans we were told, and a climbing training peak. We were at 3350m at the lake.


Later we reached a Pass, the highest in China 4098m on a High plateau.
We were reaching the Pamirs, but we were making slow progress as the bus had to go no faster than the 36mph, (60 Km) speed limit for hours. In the bus are 3 cameras, one on the driver, one on us, and one facing the road. If the driver goes too fast Sybil shouts at him from her control tower somewhere. She’ll also be monitoring conversations.

Eventually we reached Tashkurgan about 6 pm and got out to look at the old stone town. Guide Karim did not mention we’d be gone over an hour - we thought we’d just be popping out of the car bus to see from a viewpoint then go to the hotel. No, we had a climb up to 2000 year old ruins and an old fort then walk down to wetlands for a walk. Then, as it got cloudy and cold and nobody had coats, we were told the bus was queuing for fuel. This took 3/4 hour, so we only had 10mins at the hotel (where we and bags were scanned and we were frisked and then bags opened) before walking 20 mins to a place for dinner. More kebabs for meat eaters, and then Langman, (noodles, with veg stew and meat). I had noodles and picked the meat out of the veg stew. Back 10.30 in the bus. Shower and bed.

Pakistan tomorrow!