Karakul Lake

Karaku Lake is located at the foot of the "Father of Ice Mountains" Mustagh Mountain, 190 kilometers away from Kashgar. Its name means "Black Sea", with an altitude of 3600 meters, a depth of 30 meters, and a total area of more than 100,000 square kilometers. It is a high-altitude glacial moraine lake. Karaku Lake is not very large. If it were not for the towering peaks of Gongger Peak, Gongger Nine Peaks, and Mustagh Peak next to the lake, Karaku Lake would not be so outstanding. However, with the mountains, it is different. Walking around the lake, the blue mountain ridges are reflected in the even bluer water surface, and the scenery of the lake and mountains is quite beautiful and inspiring. Karakul Lake is one of the few high-altitude lakes in the world. The lake is surrounded by ice peaks and snow-capped mountains, especially the Gongger, Gongger Nine Peaks, and Muztagh Peak, which add a magical and beautiful color to the lake. On calm days, the snowy peaks, green grasslands, and herds of animals reflected in the lake are exceptionally beautiful. During the summer and autumn seasons every year, this is the base camp for mountain tourists and a place for visitors to visit. There are felt houses and wooden houses by the lake for tourists to stay in, and local cuisine including fresh vegetables. There are also small rubber boats available for people to freely roam the lake. The water here is sparkling and reflects the majestic and mysterious Muztagh Peak, which is covered in white snow and blends in with the surrounding landscape, creating a charming scenery. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Pamir Plateau. The color of the lake water changes with the sunlight throughout the day. Normally, the lake water is clean and clear like a mirror. When the sky is overcast, the lake water turns black like ink, becoming a true "black lake". Every sunrise, the shimmering lake water is like a stage curtain, constantly changing: sometimes deep blue, sometimes light yellow, sometimes orange, giving people a feeling of being in a fairyland. Friends who want to travel to Karakul Lake in Kashgar can take the G314 national road from Kashgar to reach the Karakul Lake scenic area, which is on the way to Tashkurgan County; or take a car from Kashgar to Tashkurgan and get off at Karakul Lake; or charter a car to play on the way to the Irkeshtam Pass. Karakuili Lake admission ticket: 50 yuan/person Ticket discount policy: Children under 1.5 meters tall and elderly people over 75 years old are free of charge. Opening hours: 10:00--20:00 Suitable season: May to October Tourist attraction level: AAA Recommended play time: 4 hours