Karakoram Highway
Karakoram Highway (KKH ), is known as the highest paved border crossing in the World and is regarded as one of the World’s most beautiful highways. It begins in Kashgar of Xinjiang, China and ends in Islamabad in Pakistan. This road is in excess of 1000km. It connects Xinjiang, China with Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan crossing the Karakorum Mountain range, through the Khunjerab Pass.
The Khunjerab Pass is the gateway between China and Pakistan. It is 4693 meters above sea level. The Khunjerab Pass is on the China Pakistan border. It is 130 km from Tashkurgan , 420 km from Kashgar and 1890 km from Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The pass is 42 km from the National Park Station and checkpoint in Dih and 75 km from the customs and immigration post in Sost. It is 270 km from Gilgit of Pakistan.
Karakoram Highway
KKH is referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” because of its high elevation and the difficulties of building the road. The Karakorum Highway known as G314 in China, it also known as the friendship highway. It was built by the Chinese and Pakistani governments.
It is said that the construction of the road began in 1959 and was completed in 1979. The pass was officially opened to Chinese and Pakistani citizens in 1985 and to third country national in 1986. It is also said that more than 1000 people lost their lives during the construction. 200 were Chinese and the remaining were Pakistanis. Landslides and rock falls during the construction of the road were the main cause of death.
Karakorum Highway
It is recommended that travelling on this road be done in the morning and early noon. Certain parts of the road were built by cutting into the high mountains. Weather is generally good in the morning and early afternoon but it then starts to rain in the early afternoon and evenings. There is always the possibility of landsides and rock falls. Also, it is highly recommended to be out of the Gaz Check Point area during summer because that is where melted snow water runs over the road to join the Gaz river which is next to the road. For more information about the current road condition, please ask your travel agent in Kashgar or your Kashgar hotel staff if you are travelling independently. A permit is required to travel on this road but conditions may change without notice. Therefore, check immediately before travel.
