Tashkorgan

Getting there

Buses arrive and leave from the 1 International Bus Station. As of May 2026, bus tickets to Sost, Pakistan, are ¥225 per person and buses leave at around 11:00 daily. The bus from Sost arrives at the 2 customs office, where your visa is checked and your biometric data is recorded. All your belongings will be x-rayed, so this can take some time.

Getting around

All of the places a tourist would visit are within walking distance.

See

1 Stone Fort and Grassland. Stone fort is in downtown Taskurgan. It has a history of more than 2,000 years, from Tang and Qing times, and it was the central palace of the Tajik kingdom. During your walk on the grassland you will encounter grazing animals and lots of birds. The entry tickets for both you buy in Tourist Service Center, ¥51 (2025; includes bus transfer and visit of Tajik folklore village in the end). 2 Eagle monument.

Do

Visit Tajik folklore village (in the center). In the village local people tell about their life, show and play traditional music instruments, show traditional clothes, take tourists for some traditional dancing. You can visit the village as part of Stone Fort and Grassland tour, but a separate visit can potentially be done. (updated Feb 2026) Eat and stay with Tajik families (in the center). Near Tajik folklore village there are many signs (with names written) pointing to houses of Tajik families, where hosts offer authentic food and accommodation. To reach the signs and houses you don't have to go through Tourist Service Center, you can enter from the main town street. (updated Feb 2026)

Buy

1 Bazaar area. Area with a few supermarkets and other shops selling assorted junk. For memory and for illustration of variety in world languages, even if can't read Chinese, you may want to buy a Chinese book for yourself or your family (i.e. kids). There is a nice bookstore on the street parallel (to the right, when going south) to the main street, but you have to walk south quite a distance.

Eat

1 Pakistan Hunza-Wakhan cafe. Serves very good Pakistani food. 25-50. (updated May 2022) Several food stalls, cafes and restaurants on the central K2 square near K2 Youth Hostel.

Sleep

Consider staying with Tajik families. Just north from Tajik folklore village and Tourist Service Center there are many signs (with names written) pointing to houses of Tajik families, where hosts offer authentic food and accommodation. To reach the signs and houses you don't have to go through Tourist Service Center, you can enter from the main town street.

Budget 1 K2 Youth Hostel. Popular with backpackers, this hostel has lots of dorms and private rooms, wifi, a bar and a roof terrace where laundry can be dried. The staff can help you to buy bus tickets. Temporarily closed as of July 2026. (updated Jul 2026)

Mid-range Red Willow Flower Guesthouse, at the southern end of the town (From the center follow the main road about 2 km to the south. When you almost out of the town, you'll reach a crossing where there's a pond visible 100 meters to the left. Turn right and go two blocks, then turn left and go one and a half block. Almost out of the town, the guesthouse will be on your left, in one of similar buildings that are on both sides of the street.), ☏ +86 177 9912 0514. Small nice place with friendly staff. WC with electronics and heated seat. Double with breakfast ¥460. (updated Feb 2026) Pamir Hotel (帕米尔宾馆), 中国新疆塔什库干县塔什库干路 (Down the Tashkugan Road towards the west end of town, opposite The China Roads Government Department), ☏ +86 998 3421085. Three star hotel, large communal courtyard close to the centre of town. 80 double room.

Splurge Crown Inn, ☏ +86 998 3422888. An upscale foreign-owned hotel. They also arrange tours and provide travel advice. The website is very informative. Prices starting at ¥480.

Go next

Kashgar - big city and previously important trading center on Silk Road. Take a shared taxi for i.e. ¥120 (2025), 5 hour 300 km ride. Note the engineering side of China part of Karakoram Highway (very good quality of the road, valley overpasses where you just go at the same level, a tunnel etc.), it's quite a feat. Sost - if you are heading into Pakistan, Sost will be your first stop. You need international bus to get there.