Beyik Pass

The Beyik Pass, also written and Payik Pass and Bayik Pass,^[1] is a mountain pass in the Sarikol Range between Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan and the Taghdumbash Pamir region of Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang, China. It lies at an elevation of 4,742 metres (15,558 ft).^[2] There is an ethnic Kyrgyz village on the Chinese side with the same name (Chinese: 排依克村),^[3] though the village is more commonly referred to by a different name in Chinese (Chinese: 阿特加依里村) and Beyik is reserved for the border guard outpost.^[4]

Beyik Pass
Beyik Pass Show map of Southern Xinjiang Beyik Pass Show map of Tajikistan
Elevation	4,742 m (15,558 ft)
Location	China–Tajikistan border
Range	Sarikol_Range, Pamir Mountains
Coordinates	37°18′N 75°00′E

Beyik Pass
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	排依克山口
Simplified Chinese	排依克山口
Literal meaning	Payik Pass
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin páiyīkè shānkǒu
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	别伊克山口
Simplified Chinese	别伊克山口
Literal meaning	Beyik Pass
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin biéyīkè shānkǒu
Uyghur name
Uyghur	بېيىك ئېغىزى‎
Tajik name
Tajik	Ағбаи Беик[verification needed]

History

Map including Beyik Pass (labeled as PIEH-K'O SHAN-K'OU (BEIK PASS)) (AMS, 1966)

Some Chinese historians argue that Xuanzang, the Chinese Buddhist whose pilgrimage to India inspired the novel Journey to the West, used this path on his way to India.^[5]

That path is in the historic region of Badakhshan. In the 1890s, the Chinese, Russian, and Afghan governments signed a series of agreements that divided Badakhshan, but China contested the result of the division. The dispute was eventually settled in 2002 when Tajikistan and China signed a border agreement.^[6][2]

The path is difficult to traverse all year round. It is snow covered during the winter months. The snow persists until May. During the summer months, the melting causes the streams to overflow.^[7] The entire Chalachigu Valley on the Chinese side is closed to visitors; however, local residents and herders from the area are permitted to access.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• China–Tajikistan border
• Tegermansu Pass
• Wakhjir Pass
• Kilik Pass
• Mintaka Pass
• Chalachigu Valley
• Afghanistan–China border
• China–Pakistan border