Karakoram Highway, International mountain road between Kashgar and Islamabad, China and Pakistan
The Karakoram Highway is a mountain road linking Kashgar to Islamabad, crossing through the Karakoram and Hindu Kush ranges between two continents. The route climbs through several climate zones from subtropical valleys to glaciated plateaus, reaching its highest point at 4,693 meters (15,397 feet) at Khunjerab Pass.
Construction began in 1959 on the Chinese side and 1966 on the Pakistani side, with both countries working to connect through the high mountains. The route opened for goods in 1978 and officially for public traffic in 1982.
The route follows ancient trading paths, and thousands of engraved symbols and images from early centuries appear along the mountain slopes. Travelers meet local residents in small settlements who offer textiles and hand-carved souvenirs along the way.
The best time to travel is between May and October when most sections are free of snow and pass roads are open. Due to frequent landslides and rockfalls, check current road conditions before departure and allow extra time for possible delays.
During construction, Chinese and Pakistani engineers pioneered blasting techniques at altitudes above 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), where air pressure changes the behavior of explosives. These methods were later applied to other high-altitude projects worldwide.
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