China Karakoram Highway

The Karakoram Highway is the modern incarnation of the old Silk Route passages between Pakistan and China. Apart from trade, these routes were critical paths for the entry of Buddhism into China. The highway snakes around the foothills of the Himalayas and the Pamir Plateau offering panoramic views of spectacular snow-capped mountain ranges set against lakes and arid desert landscapes.

Wide angle lenses are best to capture the sweeping breadth of the vistas. Winters are cold and camera freeze ups are a problem in sub zero temperatures.

The highway is typically accessed from Kashgar. It's more or less essential to hire a driver and guide from Kashgar. The road is patchy and landslides are quite common. It's certainly not a journey for the faint-hearted. There is a heavily policed border control at the start of the highway on the Chinese side because of the unrest in the area. The Chinese section of the highway terminates at the border to Tajikistan.