Khunjerab Pass

At 4700 meters is reputedly the highest mettaled border crossing in the world. A red sign announces China drive right. The highway was opened in 1982.the Khunjerab pass is on a continental watershed . All water on the Pakistani side flows down the Indian ocean while on the Chinese side it is absorbed in the Taklamakan Desert. The scenery is remarkably different on the two sides of the pass. The Pakistani side is a vertical world of desert gorges devoid of any sign of human life for the last 30 Kilometers. The Chinese side is wide open and grassy , a high altitude plateau with grazing herds .