Gilgit to China Route Guide: Visa, Khunjerab, Tashkurgan and Kashgar
Updated October 2026
Going from Gilgit-Baltistan to China for business or travel? This guide explains the whole process step by step: documents, visa, the Khunjerab crossing, money, internet and customs. Rules change, so always confirm with the visa centre and customs before you travel.
Usual season 1 April to 30 November. Dates are announced each year, confirm before travel.
The route at a glance
The land route from Gilgit-Baltistan to China follows the Karakoram Highway: Gilgit to Hunza, then Sost (Pakistani immigration and customs), over the Khunjerab Pass, down to Tashkurgan (Chinese immigration and customs) and on to Kashgar. From Kashgar you can fly or take the train to Urumqi and the rest of China.
- Gilgit to Sost about 4 hours by road
- Sost immigration passport, visa and baggage checks on the Pakistani side
- Khunjerab Pass the border at about 4,700 m, cold even in summer
- Tashkurgan Chinese entry checks, then a night or onward travel
- Kashgar about 5 to 6 hours from Tashkurgan, the main trading city
Plan for a full day from Sost to Tashkurgan, because border queues and checks take time.
Documents you need
- Passport with at least six months validity and blank pages.
- Chinese visa stamped in the passport before you travel. There is no visa on arrival at Khunjerab for most Pakistanis.
- CNIC and a few photocopies of the passport and visa pages.
- Polio vaccination certificate for travel out of Pakistan. It is often checked at exit.
- Hotel booking or invitation letter printed, plus the address in Chinese if you can.
- Passport size photos on a white background, for forms and a local SIM.
Which visa and how to apply
Most travellers use a tourist visa (L) or a business visa (M). A business visa usually needs an invitation letter from a company in China. Applications for Pakistani passport holders go through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Islamabad, Lahore or Karachi, which collects documents and fees for the Embassy.
Fees, processing days and required papers change from time to time, so check the visa centre's official website before you apply. Be careful with agents who promise a "guaranteed" visa or sell ready-made invitation letters. A fake letter can get your application refused and your name flagged.
Traders who live in border districts sometimes ask about special border passes. Rules for these are set by the authorities and change, so confirm with the visa centre or the customs office in Sost whether any pass applies to you.
Khunjerab border season and crossing
The Khunjerab Pass is a seasonal crossing. It usually opens in spring and closes for winter, and the exact dates are announced each year. Check the border status box on this page and the latest road news before you leave Gilgit.
At Sost you complete Pakistani immigration and customs, then travel by the scheduled bus or an approved vehicle over the pass. Chinese immigration and customs checks happen at Tashkurgan. Carry warm clothes in your hand luggage, water, and snacks, because the pass is high and the day is long. People with heart or breathing problems should talk to a doctor before crossing at this altitude.
Money, WeChat Pay and Alipay
In China most shops, taxis and even street stalls are paid by phone through WeChat Pay or Alipay. Both apps now let foreign visitors link an international card, but not every Pakistani card works, so test before you go and always carry a cash backup.
- Carry US dollars in clean new notes to exchange at a bank in Tashkurgan or Kashgar.
- Keep the PKR to RMB rate handy. The currency box on this page shows today's rate.
- Never send money to someone you only know from social media before you have met or verified them.
Phone and internet in China
Google, WhatsApp, YouTube and Facebook do not open on normal Chinese internet. Before you leave, save your contacts' WeChat IDs, download offline maps and send your family your hotel address.
- Roaming: ask your Pakistani network if your SIM has China roaming and what it costs per day.
- Local SIM: buying one in China needs your passport and registration at an official shop.
- WeChat is the main app for calls, messages and payments in China. Set it up at home first.
Rules on internet use in China are strict. Follow local law and do not rely on tools that may be illegal there.
Customs: what you can bring
Both sides check baggage. Personal items are fine, but goods in trade quantities count as commercial cargo and must be declared and cleared through customs with duty paid.
- Declare large amounts of cash and anything you carry for someone else.
- Do not carry weapons, drugs, restricted medicines without a prescription, or items you cannot explain.
- Never carry a sealed bag or parcel for a stranger, even for money.
- Keep receipts for phones, laptops and other goods you buy.
Duty and allowance limits change. Ask Pakistan Customs at Sost for the current rules before you buy in bulk.
Staying in Tashkurgan and Kashgar
Book a hotel that is allowed to host foreign guests. In Xinjiang, police and security checks are frequent, so keep your passport with you at all times and expect bag scans at markets, stations and hotels.
Halal food is easy to find in Kashgar, where Uyghur dishes like laghman noodles, polo rice and kebabs are everywhere. Prices in shops are usually fixed, but in bazaars bargaining is normal.
Common mistakes and scams
- Paying the full amount in advance to an unknown agent or "contact" in China.
- Buying a fake invitation letter or a visa "guarantee".
- Leaving Gilgit without checking whether Khunjerab is open that day.
- Carrying goods for others without knowing what is inside.
- Travelling with no cash because the payment apps were never tested.
Start with a small order, pay in parts, keep chat records, and use contacts with reviews from people you know.
Plan your budget
Currency converter
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Open market rate, updated 23 Oct, 4:35 pm. Banks and money changers add their own margin.
People from GB in Kashgar and Tashkurgan
Need something bought, carried or arranged in China? These are people from Gilgit-Baltistan who offer help in Kashgar and Tashkurgan. Contact them directly on WhatsApp or WeChat.
Contacts are being added
Verified people from GB in Kashgar and Tashkurgan will appear here.
This is a directory, not a payment service. Start with a small order, never send the full amount in advance, keep chat records and only deal in legal, declared goods. Report anyone who asks for something suspicious.
Questions people ask
Can I get a Chinese visa at the Khunjerab border?
For most Pakistanis, no. Get the visa in your passport before travel through the Chinese Visa Application Service Center.
When is the Khunjerab Pass open?
It is a seasonal crossing that usually opens in spring and closes for winter. Dates are announced each year, so check the status on this page before you leave.
How long does Sost to Kashgar take?
Plan for a full day to Tashkurgan with border checks, then 5 to 6 more hours to Kashgar. Many people stay one night in Tashkurgan.
Does WhatsApp work in China?
Not on normal Chinese internet. Use WeChat, or ask your Pakistani network about roaming before you go.
Is it safe to send money to a contact in Kashgar?
Only after you have verified them. Start with a small order, pay in parts and prefer contacts marked Verified with real reviews.
This guide is general information from travellers and public sources, not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm current rules with the Chinese Visa Application Service Center and Pakistan Customs.
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