Silk Road lost & found
- Source: The Global Times
- [22:40 May 12 2009]
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The checkpoint at the entrance of the Wakhan Corridor. Photo: Zhang Nanyi
"Highly effective road transportation could interlock Tashkurgan and the neighboring countries and generate more logistic needs," said Pan Zhiping, dean of Central Asia Research Institute of Xinjiang Academy of Social Sciences.
"More development opportunities would be gradually realized with the increase in multi-literal trade."
The only proper highway built so far is National Highway 314, also known as the Karaloram Highway, that runs southwest through Tashkurgan county from its seat to the Khunjerab Pass at the Pakistan-controlled Kashmir border. A planned railroad awaits greater political stability.
A branch road breaks off 314 and heads off northwest through the checkpoint of the Karasu Pass into neighboring Tajikistan. Stuck in the middle of both is the central western frontier with Afghanistan, which will just have to wait its turn.
The gateway: Built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China, this gateway is under construction at the Khunjerab Pass. Photo: Zhang Nanyi
The prospect of building a highway in the rocky ravines where Hanjar herds his goats once whetted Tashkurgan county officials' appetites. But after September 11th, troops came instead of bulldozers.
"The key to constructing an expressway or even a railway to connect with adjoining countries primarily relies on the stability of the political situations of the neighboring countries," Pan said.
Trade is an old Tashkurgan tradition. A very old one: dry corpses and human bone remains date back here from the 8-10th century BC. The ancient Silk Road passed through here and out through mountain scenery that includes "the father of glaciers", Mount Muztagata and the world's second-highest mountain, Mount Qogir, or K2. With nearly 200 million yuan invested by the private Chengdu Chengxiang Investment Group, Tashkurgan county town is building a five-star hotel promoting its Silk Road legacy, glacier scenic spots and "Stone City". "Tashkugar" actually means stone city in the Uyghur language.