View source for Khunjerab Pass

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Pakistan and China}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Khunjerab Pass
| photo = File:China Border, Pakistan.jpg
| photo_caption = Check post at the China–Pakistan border crossing on the [[Karakoram Highway]]
| elevation_m = 4693
| elevation_ref = 
| traversed = {{Jct|country=ASIA|AH|4}} - {{jct|country=CHN|G|314}} <br>
[[File:Pakistan N-35.svg|1000x25px|link= Karakoram Highway]] [[Karakoram Highway]]
| location = Hunza-15801, Pakistan - administered [[Gilgit–Baltistan]] / [[Xinjiang]], China
| range = [[Karakoram Range]]
| map = China Xinjiang Southern#Gilgit Baltistan
| label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{Coord|type:pass|display=inline,title}}
| topo = 
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 6
| mapframe-wikidata = yes
}}
{{Chinese|s=红其拉甫山口 |t=紅其拉甫山口 |p=hóngqílāfǔ shānkǒu|lang2=ur|lang2_content={{nq|درّہ خنجراب|lang3=ug|lang3_content=قونجىراپ ئېغىزى}}}}
'''Khunjerab Pass''' ({{Lang-zh|红其拉甫口岸}}; {{Langx|ur|{{nq|درہ خنجراب|translit=darrah xunjarāb}}}} {{Audio|LL-Q1617 (urd)-نعم البدل-درہ خنجراب.wav|listen}}; {{langx|ug|قونجىراپ ئېغىزى}}) is a mountain pass on the [[Karakoram Highway]] in Pakistani-administered [[Gilgit-Baltistan]] bordering [[Xinjiang Autonomous Region]] of [[China]]. It is a high-altitude mountain pass lying at an elevation of {{convert|4693|m|sigfig=5}} above sea level in the [[Karakoram]]. It holds a significant strategic position on the northern border of Pakistan, specifically in the Gilgit-Baltistan's [[Hunza District|Hunza]] and [[Nagar District|Nagar]] districts. Additionally, it is positioned on the southwestern [[China–Pakistan border|border of China with Pakistan]], in the Xinjiang region.

Near Khunjerab Pass, there is another pass known as {{ILL|Mutsjliga Pass|ceb}}, which stands at an elevation of {{convert|5314|m|sigfig=5}} and is located at approximately {{Coord|36.97374|N|75.2973|E|type:pass|display=inline}}.

== Etymology ==
The word "خنجراب" in the local [[Wakhi language]] means 'waterfall house'. It is derived from two words, "خون"-"Khun" means house and "جراب"-"Jerab" means a creek coming from a [[Spring (hydrology)|spring]] or a waterfall.

== Notability ==
{{Main|Karakoram Highway}}
[[File:Lightmatter snowleopard.jpg|thumb|The [[snow leopard]], an [[endangered species]], is found in the [[Khunjerab National Park]]]]

The Khunjerab Pass holds several distinctions, including being the highest paved international border crossing globally and serving as the highest point along the [[Karakoram Highway]]. The construction of the road across this pass was completed in 1982, and it has since supplanted the previously unpaved [[Mintaka Pass|Mintaka]] and [[Kilik Pass|Kilik]] passes as the principal route across the formidable Karakoram Range.

The decision to use the Khunjerab Pass for the Karakoram Highway was made in 1966. China, citing the fact that Mintaka would be more susceptible to air strikes, recommended the steeper Khunjerab Pass instead.<ref name="dfdaily">{{Cite web |author=刘欣 |date=2013-05-03 |title=重寻玄奘之路 |trans-title=Rediscover the path taken by Xuanzang |url=https://site.douban.com/121981/widget/notes/4169991/note/274606907/ |access-date=2017-02-02 |publisher=东方早报 |language=zh |quote=1966年，时任新疆军区副司令员的张希钦在主持修筑中巴公路时，为避敌国空袭，放弃了巴方主张的走宽阔的明铁盖达坂的方案，而取道地势高峻的红其拉甫山口。 |trans-quote=In 1966, when Zhang Xiqin, then deputy commander of the Xinjiang Military Region, was presiding over the construction of the China-Pakistan Highway, in order to avoid enemy air attacks, he gave up the plan advocated by Pakistan to take the wide Mingtie Gaida Ban, and instead took the high-terrain Khunjela. Fushankou.}}</ref>

On the Pakistani-administered side, the pass is {{convert|42|km|abbr=on}} from the National Park station and checkpoint in Dih, {{convert|75|km|abbr=on}} from the customs and immigration post in [[Sust|Sost]], {{convert|270|km|abbr=on}} from [[Gilgit]], and {{convert|870|km|abbr=on}} from [[Islamabad]].

On the Chinese side, the pass is the southwest terminus of [[China National Highway 314]] (G314) and is {{convert|130|km|abbr=on}} from [[Tashkurgan Town|Tashkurgan]], {{convert|420|km|abbr=on}} from [[Kashgar]] and {{convert|1890|km|abbr=on}} from [[Urumqi]].  The Chinese port of entry is located {{convert|3.5|km|abbr=on}} along the road from the pass in [[Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County|Tashkurgan County]].

The long, relatively flat pass is often snow-covered<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.travelntourism.org/pakistan/snowfall-khunjerab-pass-gilgit-baltistan.html |title=Snowfall at Khunjerab Pass, Gilgit-Baltistan - Travel and Tourism |access-date=2016-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807064752/http://www.travelntourism.org/pakistan/snowfall-khunjerab-pass-gilgit-baltistan.html |archive-date=2016-08-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> during the winter season and as a consequence is generally closed for heavy vehicles from November 30 to May 1 and for all vehicles from December 30 to April 1.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dangerousroads.org/asia/pakistan/2655-khunjerab-pass.html |title=Khunjerab Pass |website=dangerousroads<!--sic--> |access-date=2016-09-18}}</ref> This is not set, however; late snowfall in the region attributed to climate change means the road is accessible even during the winter months. Depending on the amount of snowfall, the road is cleared from time periods ranging from days to weeks.

Since June 1, 2006, there has been a daily bus service across the boundary from [[Gilgit]] to Kashgar, Xinjiang.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dawn.com/2006/03/23/nat2.htm |title=Kashghar-Gilgit bus service planned |website=Dawn |date= |access-date=23 March 2006|archive-date=2011-06-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622050808/http://www.dawn.com/2006/03/23/nat2.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[File:A road-sign on way to Khunjerab.jpg|thumb|Road sign giving distances to cities in Pakistan]]

This is one of the international borders where left-hand traffic (Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan) [[Right- and left-hand traffic|changes to right-hand traffic]] (China) and vice versa.

=== Highest ATM in the world ===
The Pakistani side features the highest ATM in the world, administered by the [[National Bank of Pakistan]] and linked to China [[UnionPay]] and the domestic [[1LINK]] switch.<ref>{{cite news|last=Imtiaz|first=Aysha|title=The world's highest ATM: Pakistan's mountaintop bank machine|url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20221003-the-worlds-highest-atm-pakistans-mountaintop-bank-machine|publisher=BBC|date=4 October 2022|access-date=3 July 2025}}</ref>

== Railway ==
{{Main|Khunjerab Railway}}

In 2007, consultants<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IB24Df02.html |work=Online Asia Times, South Asia |date=Feb 24, 2007 |title=China-Pakistan rail link on horizon. |author=Syed Fazl-e-Haider |access-date=2023-12-18 |archive-date=2007-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226192640/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IB24Df02.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> were hired to evaluate the construction of a railway through this pass to connect [[Transport in China|China]] with transport in Pakistan's [[Gilgit-Baltistan]]. A feasibility study started in November 2009 for a line connecting [[Havelian]] {{convert|750|km|0|abbr=on}} away in [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] and [[Kashgar]] {{convert|350|km|0|abbr=on}} away in Xinjiang.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/CH/13/Kashi.html |title = Maps, Weather, Videos, and Airports for Kashi, China |website=www.fallingrain.com |date= |access-date=2023-12-18}}</ref> However, no progress has been made thereafter and this project is also not part of the current [[CPEC]] plan.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Khunjerab Pass.jpg|Karakoram Highway
File:Khunjerab Pass Road.jpg|Khunjerab Pass Road
File:Chinese and Pakistan border guards at Khunjerab Pass IMG 7721 Karakoram Highway.jpg|Chinese and Pakistani soldiers at Khunjerab Pass
File:On the way to Pak-China Border (Khanjrab Pass) near Beautiful Tunnels at atabad lake Hunza Valley.jpg|China–Pakistan friendship monument in [[Attabad Lake|Attabad]], about 150 km from the border
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Mustagh Pass]]
* [[Sust|Sost]]
* [[Nathu La]]
* [[Abra del Acay]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* Curzon, George Nathaniel. 1896. ''The Pamirs and the Source of the Oxus''. Royal Geographical Society, London. Reprint: Elibron Classics Series, Adamant Media Corporation. 2005. {{ISBN|1-4021-5983-8}} (pbk); {{ISBN|1-4021-3090-2}} (hbk).
* King, John 1989. ''Karakoram Highway : the high road to China''. Hawthorn, Victoria, Lonely Planet Publications. {{ISBN|0-86442-065-X}}
* Episode 13/30 of the [[NHK]] television series ''[[The Silk Road]]'', a series originally shown in Japan in the early 1980s.
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline|Khunjerab Pass}}

{{-}}

{{Xinjiang topics}}
{{Mountain passes of China}}
{{Mountain passes of Pakistan}}

[[Category:Extreme points of Asia]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of China]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Gilgit-Baltistan]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of Xinjiang]]
[[Category:China–Pakistan border crossings]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of the Karakoram]]
[[Category:Sites along the Silk Road]]
[[Category:Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County]]
{{GilgitBaltistan-geo-stub}}