Tashkurgan: the stone fortress

Compiled by Asghar Khan
Tashkurgan means ‘stone fortress’ or ‘city’ in Uyghur. The Tashkurgan Oasis is strategically located close to the Mintaka and Khunz`hrav passes across the Pamir range.
Tashkurgan is located in the Pamirs plateau, commonly known as the main road of “old Silk Road” leading to West Asia. It is 140 Kms away from the Sino-Pak border, located at an elevation of 4,000 meters, and has 8,885 squrae kilometers of frontier line. It borders Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan on its northwest, Kagilik and Yarkent on its southwest and south, connects Aktu county of Khizilsu Prefecture on its north, west plain on its north, and Yarkent, Poskam on its west.
Ptolemy (90 – 168 AD), mentioned a Stone Citadel in this area as a strong point on the road to China. The original stone fort has disappeared but this 600 year old mud brick fortress bears witness to its military role in the 14th century when this area was held by the Djaghatai mongols.
In the West Han period, today’s Tashkurgan and its neighboring area was “Puli” state, “Yinai” state, “Xiye” of the 36 villages of the western Regions. In
Over eighty seven percent of the region comprises of Tajik Ismaili Muslim.


There are culture institutions such as archives, house of culture, television station, and radio broadcasting station. Education ratio is 98% Junior high school 65% High school and at the college level 52%.
Icebergs and valleys abounded in this area, in the south stands second peak of the world the Gogar Peak, in the north is erected “the father of glaciers”-mount Muztagata.
Also located in this region are ruins of civilization dated from 5000 – 10000 years BC. 500 years old dry corpses and human bones from the era 8 to 10 century B.C. have also been found in the region.
The enchanting land is attracting quite a number of visitors, experts from home and abroad who wish to view the uniqueness of the ancient Silk Road and the beauty of the stone city.