Karakul Lake, known as "the father of glaciers", is located at the foot of Mount Maztagata, sitting at 3,600m above sea level, measuring 30m deep, and covering an area of more than 100,000 square kilometers.

The trip out here from Kashgar takes travelers 200km through treeless sand dunes, past grazing camels and yaks until suddenly this dramatic and spectacular lake appears by the roadside, as if from nowhere. The surface of this huge lake reflects the snow-covered peaks of Mount Muztagata, which towers in the background.

The unusual shape of the mountain (it appears to have been divided into two parts) is associated with Chinese legend. The story goes that a beautiful princess living on the Mountain was in love with the snow mountain prince, who lived on nearby Mount Gogir, the second highest mountain in the world. The prince's evil father, who disapproved of this romance, used a stick to divide the two connecting mountains and separate the couple. The poor princess, overcome by grief, wept and wept until her tears turned to glaciers. The mountain now glitters with ice (apparently formed by her tears) and is covered in snow all year round.

There are some great hikes and walks around here, and the area is especially nice in the summer, when the flowers on the trees bloom, the air is fresh and temperatures are pleasant. It can get very cold at this altitude however, so bear in mind that you may need to take extra clothing with you to keep warm. The entire lake can be walked in one long day. You can also spend more time here, staying in the Kazakh Yurts or camping if you have your own tent.

How to get Lake Karakul and Mount Muztagata : A bus leaves daily at 8.30am from the long distance bus station in Kashgar. Returning from the mountain is less straightforward. The simplest solution is to flag down a passing minibus on the road that is heading in your direction. John's Information Service and Cafe also organize two and three day trips to the mountain and lake. Inquire at the cafe opposite the Seman Hotel for more information.