Khunjerab Pass China Border Gate — Karakoram Highway Northern Terminus

Standing at the top of the Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese side, you’re staring at a whitewashed gate flanked by Chinese border guards and a flagpole you can see from a kilometre away. The road is paved all the way up from Tashkurgan on the Chinese side, making the ascent deceptively smooth — don’t let that fool you. At 4,693 metres, altitude sickness is real and the wind cuts through anything less than a proper jacket. The border post handles vehicle crossings in both directions and is one of the few places on earth where Pakistan and China share a land boundary open to foreign overlanders. Expect thorough document checks, possible vehicle inspections, and zero ambiguity about photography rules near the gate itself.

The crossing is only open seasonally — typically May through November — and hours are strictly enforced on both sides. The Chinese gate operates on Beijing time, Pakistan on PKT, so the gap is three hours: plan accordingly or you’ll arrive to a locked gate. Fuel and food are not available at the pass; nearest Chinese resupply is Tashkurgan, roughly 130km north.

Highest paved border crossing on earth.