Karachukar Valley

Karachukar Valley^[1][a] or Chalachigu Valley (Chinese: 卡拉其古河谷) is a valley in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang, China. It contains the basin of the Karachukar River, a tributary of the Tashkurgan River,^[4] and is regarded as part of Taghdumbash Pamir.^[5] The valley borders Afghanistan (Wakhan Corridor or Little Pamir) to the west and northwest, Tajikistan to the north, and Pakistan (Gojal or upper Hunza) to the south.^[6] The name of the valley is from Kyrgyz, meaning "black cave".^[7]

Karachukar Valley
Chalachigu Valley
Karachukar Valley Location of Karachukar Valley in Xinjiang Show map of Southern Xinjiang Karachukar Valley Location of Karachukar Valley in China Show map of China
Floor elevation	4,100 m (13,500 ft)
Geography
Location	Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
Coordinates	37°9′N 74°42′E
Rivers	Karachukar River

The valley is part of the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve.^[8] The protected Marco Polo sheep is only found in the wild around this area.^[6] The region is often referred to by the Chinese as the Chinese portion of the Wakhan Corridor.^[9] There is an ethnic Kyrgyz village called Bayik (Chinese: 排依克村 or Chinese: 阿特加依里村).^[10][11]

The entire Chalachigu Valley is closed to visitors. However, local residents and herders from the area are permitted access.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2017, CCTV-7's Documentary for Military program^[12] produced a mini-series covering the numerous border outposts in Chalachigu Valley.^[13]

Mountain Passes

The western section of the Karachukar Valley

Chalachigu Valley
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	卡拉其古河谷
Simplified Chinese	卡拉其古河谷[7]
Hanyu Pinyin	Kǎlāqígǔ xiágǔ
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Kǎlāqígǔ xiágǔ
Karachukur Valley
Traditional Chinese	喀拉其庫爾河谷
Simplified Chinese	喀拉其库尔河谷
Hanyu Pinyin	Kālāqíkùěr hégǔ
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Kālāqíkùěr hégǔ
Uyghur name
Uyghur	قاراچۇقار جىلغىسى‎
Kyrgyz name
Kyrgyz	قاراچۇقار ۅرۅۅنۉ

The valley was a significant thoroughfare of the Silk Road during ancient times.^{[citation needed]} Around the valley are numerous passes connecting to other countries:

• Tajikistan - Beyik Pass
• Afghanistan - Wakhjir Pass, Tegermansu Pass
• Pakistan - Kilik Pass, Mintaka Pass

Of the above passes, it is believed that the famous Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang traveled through Wakhjir Pass on his return trip back to China around 649 AD.^[14] Some Chinese historians argue that he also used Beyik Pass on his way to India.^[15]

See also

• Afghanistan–China border
• China–Pakistan border
• China–Tajikistan border
• Dafdar

Notes

1. Alternative spellings: Karachikar^[2] and Karachukur^[3]