Torugart Pass

Torugart Pass
The Chinese border crossing at the Torugart Pass on the road between Naryn (Kyrgyzstan) and Kashgar (Xinjiang)
Elevation3,752 m (12,310 ft)
Traversed by G315 ЭМ-11  ЭМ-11 (E125)
LocationChinaKyrgyzstan border
RangeTian Shan
Coordinates40°35′00″N 75°25′00″E / 40.583333333333°N 75.416666666667°E / 40.583333333333; 75.416666666667
Torugart Pass is located in Southern Xinjiang
Torugart Pass
Torugart Pass
Torugart Pass is located in Kyrgyzstan
Torugart Pass
Torugart Pass
Map
Torugart Pass
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese吐爾尕特山口
Simplified Chinese吐尔尕特山口
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTǔ'ěrgǎtè shānkǒu
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese圖嚕噶爾特山口
Simplified Chinese图噜噶尔特山口
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinTúlūgá'ĕrtè shānkŏu
Uyghur name
Uyghurتورغات ئېغىزى
Transcriptions
Latin YëziqiTorghat éghizi
Siril YëziqiТорғат еғизи
Kyrgyz name
Kyrgyzتورۇعارت اشۇۇسۇ
Торугарт ашуусу
Toruğart aşuusu
Russian name
RussianПеревал Торугарт

Torugart Pass[1] (Uyghur: تورغات ئېغىزى, Kyrgyz: Торугарт ашуусу / تورۇعارت اشۇۇسۇ, romanizedTorughart ashuusu, Chinese: 吐尔尕特山口; ;[2] Russian: Перевал Торугарт) 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 165 km (103 mi) 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 400 km (250 mi)—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 110 km (68 mi) from the pass itself in Ulugqat County of the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture. Distances from the pass to major cities are: 110 km (68 mi) to Ulugqat, 165 km (103 mi) to Kashgar, 170 kilometres (110 mi) to Artux and some 1,630 km (1,010 mi) 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.

  1. ^ Peter Neville-Hadley (1997). China the Silk Routes. Cadogan Guides. Globe Pequot Press. p. 289. ISBN 1-86011-052-5 – via Internet Archive. Torugart Pass
  2. ^ "Торугарт ашуусу" [Torugart Pass] (PDF). Кыргызстандын Географиясы [Geography of Kyrgyzstan] (in Kyrgyz). Bishkek: Мамлекеттик тил жана энциклопедия борбору [State Language and Encyclopedia Center]. 2004. p. 89.