Khunjerab Pass, Mountain pass at China-Pakistan border in Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang.
The Khunjerab Pass is a mountain pass at the border between China and Pakistan in Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang. It sits in the Karakoram range at 4,693 meters (15,397 feet) and connects the two countries via a paved road that winds through stony terrain with visible peaks and broad valleys.
The pass became an important international border crossing in 1982 when construction of the Karakoram Highway was completed. This road created the first year-round vehicle link between Pakistan and China through the high mountains.
The name comes from the Wakhi language, with the first part referring to the color of water in one of the local streams. Travelers often notice the marking of the border itself, set with simple stone pillars and flagpoles in the open landscape on both sides.
The border station opens Monday through Friday, with longer hours on the Chinese side than on the Pakistani. Travelers should wear warm clothing and be ready for low oxygen in the air, as the elevation makes physical effort more taxing.
An automated teller machine stands near the border at over 4,600 meters (over 15,000 feet) and is considered the highest working machine of its kind anywhere. The machine belongs to the National Bank of Pakistan and operates year-round despite extreme weather conditions.
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