Special trip photos – Kashgar and Lake Karakul, July 2012

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In July 2012, we travelled to the far west of China to visit Kashgar and Lake Karakul, and to do some high-altitude trekking in the foothills of 7,546m Mt. Muztagh-Ata.

The middle days of the trip were spent trekking in the mountains. We visited Lake Karakul and hiked between small settlements, nomad encampments, and the 4,500m base camp of Mt. Muztagh-Ata.

The other days were spent exploring Kashgar City, where we looked about the remaning streets of the old city, visited the cattle market, had a street-side meal at the night market, and visited mosques and temples with minarets.

Below you'll find a small selection of Huijie's photos of life in the West!

night market, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

During Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast during the hours of daylight. That meant the night market at Kashgar was very lively when we visited.

the night market, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Hikers seated at the night market.

A Uyghur mum, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A local lady and her child, inspecting the naan bread.

BBQ, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Classic Kashgar cuisine: naan bread and BBQ lamb.

family members, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

“The Temple of the Fragrant Concubine”

Local Nang bread shop, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Bread for sale in Kashgar’s Old City.

A Yung mum, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A young mother and her child in the Old City.

, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Time for a trim.

, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Natural pigments used for dyes and paints.

A local lady, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A local lady on the streets of the old city.

Nice musical instrument, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Musical instruments in the Grand Bazaar.

Hand carving , Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A special plate, engraved by hand.

worship day, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A young man at praver in the Id Kar Mosque.

Danxia landform, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Coloured hills on the road to Lake Karakul.

Danxia landform, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Close up shot of hills on the road to Lake Karakul.

The Gongarer snow mountain, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A shot of the Kongur-Tagh Mountains, with a peak of 7,649m.

family members, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Part of our happy camel team.

Our first came site, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Our first camp site.

Begin our hiking, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Hiking towards Mt. Muztagh-Ata.

a girl, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Huijie convinced her to pose for a photograph.

donkeys, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A father and son getting about on donkeys.

Two nomad ladies, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

The ladies of a local settlement were getting the water boiling.

Beautiful landscape, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Mudbrick houses below mountains.

Mt. Gongarer, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

The last light of the day on the Kongur-Tagh Mountains.

Mt. Muztagh-Ata, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Light falls on the foothills of Mt. Muztagh-Ata.

Beautiful Sun set, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

More of the mountains in the area.

New family member, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A new member of the family, out for a first walk.

Local nomad's life, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

During winter, everybody (including the cows) moves down to a lower (and less freezingly inhospitable) altitude.

Beautiful old lady., Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

An old lady inspects the herd.

Local nomad's house, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Local nomad’s summer house, near one of our campsites.

Karakuli lake, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Lake Karaku, with Mt. Muztagh-Ata in the background.

Danxia landform, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

More of the weirdly-coloured hills in the area.

Karakuli lake., Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

The 7,546m peak of Mt. Muztagh-Ata, seen from Lake Karakul.

Beautiful landscape, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

The beautiful landscape around Lake Karakul.

Thumb up, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Local kids say Thumbs Up!

Kids, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Kids at play by 204 Village, named such for being 204km from Kashgar.

A young boy, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

A young boy is walking home for dinner.

Forbidden old city, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

This part of Kashgar’s Old City will soon be demolished, because the old houses are not structurally sound.

Streetside sales, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Streetside sales of skewers.

a nice restaurant, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

One of our dinners in Kashgar was accompanied by song.

Photo time, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Everyone was very hungry after three days of simple food while camping.

Photo time, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

We stopped for a photo between Kashgar and Lake Karakul.

Sandy hills, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Sandy hills and a lake.

Animal market, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

The livestock market in Kashgar.

Group photo, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

The hikers at Lake Karakul.

Group photo, Beijing Hikers Kashgar and Lake Karakul, 2012/07

Some of us got all the way up to the 4,500m basecamp of Mt. Muztagh-Ata – here’s the proof!

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