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More of Kashgar. Only a facade of a mosque rather than a functioning one.

Today we spent time in what we were told was Kashgar Old Town. It was a re-creation of the older town but most of the buildings were not original. This is not uncommon in many of the old town areas of China. Regardless it was still a colourful area full of interest.

Our hotel in Kashgar. Excellent buffet diner and breakfast.

Afterwards we visited a local home for dinner and some folk dancing show. Then we were on our way back down the Hwy to Kashgar.

Sadly that was as far as we ventured along the Karakorum Hwy. It was one of the few disappointments of this tour. To come so far and not at least get to the Pakistan boarder. One day I would love to do the full trip but the odds are very low that it will ever happen. After breakfast at the...

Our overnight hotel on the Karakorum Highway was in Tashkurgan. We had reached a height of just over 4,000 mts along the route and then descended into a long green valley to the town. Tashkurgan was a significant stop on the old Silk Road and was named after the nearby fort that stood guard over...

From the lake we continued to climb further up into the mountains. There were a number of police checkpoints and surveillance posts, cameras etc along the way. We were quite close to the Afghani border at this stage.

Our first destination for the day. (from Wiki) Karakul Lake. At an altitude of 3,600 m, it is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tian Shan and Kunlun mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest...

Climbing higher from the river valley in the mountains.

After and early lunch we reboarded our bus and headed off into the mountains. As I previously mentioned I knew little of the actual trip itinerary and I almost deliberately held back from inquiring about the specifics which would have required translation as the tour guides only spoke Mandarin...

From the station we headed off for another enjoyable local meal. Innovative child seat on a local scooter.

Breakfast on the train and then a few more hours that morning on board as we headed to our next destination. Kashgar. Photos of the station and the landscape approaching Kashgar. Arrival at Kashgar station. At each station the full train compliment splits up into their individual tour...

I was so fortunate to visit an area that has always intrigued me. We have been busy travelling and have now found the time to share this trip.

Another bus ride through the desert to rejoin our train. On this night we were invited to the lounge car by our tour guides for warm beer and the worst wine (and I have had a few) that I have ever tasted. It was undrinkable even after a few beers. They managed to find a few cold ones for me...

The last lot of canyon pics.

More canyon photos. There were warning signs and raised platforms throughout the canyon in case of flash flooding during storms. As I was on my way out a thunderstorm was brewing and the sirens sounded to evacuate.

Our destination for the day. Kuqa Grand Canyon also know s the Mysterious Grand Canyon or the Tianshan Grand Canyon. As we arrived we were met by the rest of our group who were awaiting our arrival. It was extremely hot and while the ladies took a golf cart to the head of the Canyon I took a...

We were met at Kuqa airport by a local tour guide who was to pick us up and drive us to meet up with the rest of the group. We also were met by local police who instructed us to follow them to their airport office. After some checking of passports and according to my wife questioning of the tour...

We stayed overnight in our hotel near the Nalati grasslands and then in the morning while the rest of the group visited some other nearby areas (Apparently it rained heavily and the sights were not that good) we were transferred back to Yining by private van for a short flight across the Altai...

More photos of the grasslands.