China
China was intense—even in just one week.
The most heavily guarded border I had ever crossed, deep in the mountains.
I waited for hours by the roadside, hoping for a ride.
Cameras were everywhere—on streets, in houses.
Communication was hard.
China felt strange. Surreal.
And yet, it showed me how much weight we give to our own assumptions.
I left through the highest border crossing in the world—
toward another chapter that would shape me.
Crossing into China
was unlike any other border I had experienced.
I stepped out of the checkpoint
and stood alone on the infamous Karakorum Highway.
No village.
No internet.
No clue what would happen next.
Behind me: the border.
In front of me: traffic.
Cars rushed past. No one stopped.
So I waited.
After about an hour,
someone finally pulled over.
A sleek car,
a lucky moment.
With all my bags stuffed inside,
we drove towards the next town.
I didn’t even know its name.
Arriving in the city,
I realized something important –
I had no internet.
No map.
No way to find a hostel.
No one spoke English.
Asking for directions became a mix of gestures and guesses.
Eventually, I found a place –
simple, affordable,
exactly what I needed to breathe for a moment.
Later, I went out.
Took out cash from an ATM.
Wandered through unfamiliar streets,
trying to settle into this strange new atmosphere.
The next day, I searched for the bus ticket
that would take me to Pakistan.
But it was the weekend.
No buses.
Nothing until a few days later.
I had time now –
unplanned, unwanted maybe –
but needed.
Rest.
Recovery.
A chance to catch up with myself.
Finally, the day came.
Ticket in hand,
I boarded the bus.
We stopped first at the Chinese border checkpoint.
One last scan. One last form.
And then we drove.
Upwards.
Towards the highest border crossing in the world.
Through landscapes untouched by time.
Down into another country.
Into another world.
Pakistan was waiting.
🎒 Travel Mode
Backpack
📅 Date From: August 2024
📅 Date To: August 2024
📍 Points of Interest
🏞️ Tashkurgan (Xinjiang Province) – A remote town that, as I was told, is not representative of the rest of China, yet gave me an intense first impression of Chinese culture – as much as a few days can reveal.
A unique crossroads of cultures and control.
🗻 Khunjerab Pass – The highest border crossing in the world, accessible only by bus.
A smooth ride on the Chinese side, followed by a spectacular descent into Pakistan, offering a powerful glimpse of what awaited me next.
✍️ Experience Snippet
China felt like another planet.
At the border, I waited for a ride –
but most drivers just stared at me.
Eventually, someone stopped.
His first question: “Dollar?”
I said yes.
That was enough.
We drove for about an hour
along the Karakorum Highway,
surrounded by cameras,
and a culture I didn’t yet understand.
He didn’t speak English,
but with translation apps on his Chinese phone
(and no internet on mine),
we made it work.
He smoked nonstop,
looked like he stepped out of a crime movie –
but he brought me safely to the city.
Near a hostel.
I gave him my last 20-dollar bill.
Thanked him.
And checked in.
First impression of China:
A completely different world.
👉 Want to see the full route?
Check out the route below.
🗺️ Route Legend
🔴 Red – Bicycle
🔵 Blue – Ferry
🟣 Purple – Hitchhiking
🟡 Yellow – Bus / Taxi
🟢 Green – Train
⚫ Black – Airplane
⚪ White – Planned Route
