China-Tajikistan/Kyrgyzstan border crossing

[tadashi]

Hi everyone.
I'm thinking about doing the following border crossings.
1. Murghab-Qulma pass-Kalasu port-Kashgar
2. Kashgar-Totugart pass-Naryn

I've heard that I have to arrange a car on Chinese side in advance, so I've contacted some agencies in Kashgar. But many did not reply me and a few that replied said that the borders are closed to foreigners, though some resources are saying that they are open.
I'd really appreciate if anyone share following information;
Did anyone do these border before?
Trusted agencies on Chinese side(based in Kashgar or Urumqi)

Any farther information will also be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

[TheNonFlyingDutchman]

Hey!

You might want to spend some time reading other posts. This has been discussed elaborately in separate topics about individual border crossings. But very briefly:
Torugart: has been said to need chinese escort after the border, but no recent reports about it.
Irkeshtam: should be fine to cross
Kyrgyz-Tajik: said to be closed, but rumours and one recent report that it could be crosse under certain circumstances.
Kulma pass: very nebulous. Said to be only open for commercial transport and tajik/chinese nationals. But no tourist seems to have attempted it since covid. Might be possible, might not be.

[tadashi]

Thanks for summarised information.
Yes, the answer really depends on each experience. Some say they can, others say can't. So I want to up to date information from travellers.
I wait for a further update from those who are in the area now.

[WRPT]

Hello all

Posted this in another thread but figured worth posting here also.

I am currently travelling from Kashgar (China) to Osh (Kyrgyzstan). There is a a direct bus service (for foreigners and locals alike) every Monday (I.e. once a a week)! It costs 595 Yuan per person. It’s not a fancy bus and didn’t smell great, but it’s comfortable enough.

We went to the bus station in search of a shared taxi to Wuqia (per reports on how to do this crossing pre-Covid) and were pointed to the ticket counter inside.

The bus leaves at 10am Beijing time. The bus isn’t very full so probably no need to buy tickets in advance although given it’s only once a week you may not want to take the chance!

I’ll report back once we’ve made it to Osh!

UPDATE:

If you can find a group of people 3/4 people (or you can otherwise afford it) then I would try to get a series of taxis. It seems that leaving at 10am meant there was no chance of getting through the various Chinese border points before the 4 hour lunch break between 12 and 4pm. We then faced further delays because a Chinese guy had to have his passport delivered to him at the border and then the NIA interrogated a Taiwanese guy for hours and hours. Eventually our bus left without him and he had to take a taxi when he was finally released (90USD from the final Chinese checkpoint). Generally the countless Chinese check points take a ludicrously long time. It’s very tedious.

It was pretty simple on the Kyrgyz side although it took a while to explain to them that as UK citizens we didn’t need a visa…

Overall the journey took us 17 hours… We arrived in Osh at 1am (3am Beijing time)

[Roadtophnompenh]

Goodmornig will and kate,
maybe little off-topic, but how did you made it from Thailand into China, i suppose not passing Myanmar, i tried it in November but there was no way at all to cross the border. Didyou go by Laos and the Boten-crossing into Yunnans Kunming city ??

[WRPT]

Unfortunately, we had to fly from Thailand to Imphal, Manipur in India (near the border of Myanmar). We then went to Nepal hoping to via via Tibet but couldn’t get the permit because of the 4 person minimum rule - so we went back to India and via Pakistan. We were able to get our China visas in Kathmandu so it wasn’t a completely wasted journey .