Muztagh Peak

About Muztahg Peak, Climbing and Trekking information of Muztagh Peak.
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Muztagh Peak

Located at 87.3'E and 36.4'N, Mustang Fen at 6973 meters above sea level, ranks first among the peaks on the East Kunlun Shan and lies in Atqan County of South Xinjiang, where the southwest nook of the Altun Natural Reservation and West Tibet have their common boundary.

In Uygur Language, "Muztag" refers to the "Ice monutain", while "Muztag Feng" is called "Wulage"(transliteration) Feng, meaning "great". In the circumference of 200 square kilometers sit 54 high peaks of 6000 meters above sea level, among which, Mustang Feng, the main peak, is tied to sister peak, appearing right to be a jade polar holding up against the sky.

Wrapped in snow all the year around, Mustang Fen looks up at the sky and stands upright with the cut precipitous. The long and gentle northwest slope abounds in open and hidden crevasses while the slope is 45' in gradient. From here, you can reach the summit by going up the Linglong River course and passing through three glaciers and a Nev. Basin. To take both the two routes from the southeast slope, you need to negotiate a highland of 5823 meters in height to arrive right at the summit. Despite the slope of 60,you may surmount the summit and turn back to the base campsite in thus one day only if you avoid the precipices and climb along the uncovered rocks.

With the highly developed modern glaciers of various types, the Muztag Feng area possesses 93 glaciers of various sizes, totaling 1200 square kilometers, among which the 18-kilometer-long Binglin Glacier is about 300 meters thick. The giant solid reservoir formed by the glacier offers the rivers here abundant water resources. The Qarqan River, the largest of its kind in Xinjiang, for example, originates from the northwest ice slope of Muztag Feng. As a result of the violent movement of the glaciers, ice and snow avalanches frequently occur, cracking soul-stirringly.

With the most salient characteristic of the unpredictable climate, Tomur Feng area is affected by monsoons and westerly wind zone, the wind of which sometimes reaching force 12 with the lowest temperature at less that --30'C.The good mountaineering season is in the three months of June, July and August, in which July proves to be the best to make longer cycles of five days available.

As a result of the fact that the extraordinary geographical location and that the harsh natural conditions pose difficulties for getting to the circumference of hundreds of kilometers, Muztag Feng area still remains untranversed and in a virgin state of mystery. Thus the snowy peaks, snowy fields, grasslands, lakes and dozens of precious animals still living there, all combine to produce not only the unique natural scenes but also typically primitive ecosystems and the communities of living organisms which are remain intact. Ratified by the State council, Altun Mountains Natural Reservation, the largest of its kind in our county, was established in 1983, measuring an area of 45,000 square kilometers. So explorers, mountaineers and scholars at home and abroad have always been looking forward to it. As early as the close of the 19th century, some Russians came here to have a survey. Thereafter, no footprints had been left over there. It was until 1984 that the Chinese Scientific Exploration Team went twice into the region to explore the peak. In 1985, the Allied Mountaineering Team of China and the United States (with five members from China---Hu Fengling, Mamuti, Wu Qianxing, Zhang BaoKua and Aerta) reached the summit along the west slope.

The route line to the mountain. Drive for 374 kilometers from the city of Urumqi to Korla City. Then, after going southward for 442 kilometers to Ruqiang county, a southeastward travel of 269 kilometers brings you to Mangnai Zhen in Qinghai Province. Turn southwest from here, and you will reach the mountaineering base campsite to the southwest of Aqqikkol Lake by crossing over mountains after mountains and the river valleys for several days. The riverside of the Yueya He River (Crescent Moon River) can locate the 5400-meter high base campsite.

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