Torugart Pass

Template:Short description Template:Infobox mountain pass Template:Infobox Chinese Torugart Pass<ref>Template:Cite book </ref> (Template:Langx, Template:Langx, Template:Zh; ;<ref name=geo>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> Template:Langx) is a mountain pass in the Tian Shan mountain range near the border between the Naryn Region of Kyrgyzstan and the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. It is one of two border crossings between Kyrgyzstan and China, the other being Erkeshtam, some Template:Cvt to the southwest.

The scenic lake Chatyr-Köl lies near the pass on the Kyrgyz side. The road to Naryn and then to Balykchy and Bishkek—stretching for some Template:Convert—is narrow and in winter often impassable due to heavy snowfall and frequent avalanches. On the Chinese side, the Torugart Port of Entry (吐尔尕特口岸), where travelers must clear for customs, is located about Template:Convert from the pass itself in Ulugqat County of the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture. Distances from the pass to major cities are: Template:Convert to Ulugqat, Template:Convert to Kashgar, Template:Convert to Artux and some Template:Convert to Ürümqi.

The pass is also terminus of European route E125 and, under the new National Highway plans, the China National Highway 315, but neither are signed in this area by 2020.

History

The pass has been used since antiquity. During the Han dynasty it was under the jurisdiction of a micro-state called Juandu ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}). During the Tang dynasty, the region came under Tang control as part of Anxi Protectorate.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The pass is open to all nationalities but clearance requires careful arrangement of transportation.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Planned railway

A Template:Ill going through Torugart Pass has been in the works that would connect Kashgar and the Ferghana Valley since 2012.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The railway would lead from Kashgar to Jalal-Abad and further on to the Uzbek city of Andijan.<ref name="yang"/> However, the Kyrgyz section of the rail has been stalled due to financial and technical issues<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and possibly due to Russian and Kazakh opposition to the project.<ref name="yang"/> In 2023, the project development received new push from the governments of the three countries involved.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A tripartite agreement was signed on 17 September 2022 during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> although funding was yet to be secured at the time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An inaugural ceremony was held in Jalal-Abad in December 2024<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and construction is set to begin in July 2025.<ref name="yang">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Gallery

• Seidenstrasse GMT Ausschnitt Zentralasien.jpg

  The ancient silk road showing the general location of the pass

• Alma-Ata NK-43 (1948) - panoramio.jpg

  Map of the region including the Torugart Pass (unlabelled; roads can be seen) (AMS, 1948)

• Operational Navigation Chart F-6, 6th edition.jpg

  Map of the region including the Torugart Pass (unlabelled; roads can be seen) (DMA, 1985)

• E7967-Bishkek-West-Bus-Terminal-ticket-office.jpg

  A ticket office at Bishkek's West Bus Terminal informs passengers about the schedule and route of the Bishkek-Artush-Kashgar bus traveling via Torugart Pass

• Torugart Road.jpg

See also

• China–Kyrgyzstan border
• Geography of China
• Geography of Kyrgyzstan
• Geostrategy in Central Asia
• Baykurut