Jieshan Mountain Pass
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Jieshan Mountain Pass

Update: Jan. 9th, 2013

Jieshan Mountain Pass

Jieshan Mountain Pass is one of the most famous mountain passes along State Highway G219 (also noted as the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway). This highway is characterized by high elevation, severe environment and poor road condition. It would be closed in winter due to the poor road condition before 2002 and it is available all year around currently.

Location of Jieshan Mountain Pass

Jieshan Mountain Pass is located in Songxi Village, Rutog County, Nagri Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. Songxi means "about three or four" in Tibetan. It is said that there were only about three or four families here. Songxi Village is a scarecely populated area with severe natural environment. Situated at the southern bank of Longmu Lake (a salt water lake on Ngari Plateau), Jieshan Mountain Pass is about 718 kilometers away from Karghalik (the start point of State Highway G219 in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region).

Actually, Jieshan Mountain Pass is also the saddle part of the offsets of Karakoram Mountains – the Western Rock Zongshan Mountain and the Eastern Rock Zongshan Mountain. Jieshan Mountain Pass also acted as the start point from which the pathfinders could get across the Qiangtang Depopulated Zone along the southern rim of Kunlun Mountains. In ancient times, Tibetans would also head to the villages in Tarim Basin through the Kerria Mountain Pass from Jieshan Mountain Pass.

Altitude of Jieshan Mountain Pass

There are many different statements regarding the altitude of Jieshan Mountain Pass.

Jieshan Mountain Pass has an altitude of 6700 meters?

The highway maintenance and management departments set up a monument here on July 1st, 2005. The inscription on the monument stated that Jieshan Mountain Pass is the boundary between Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Tibet Autonomous Region with an altitude of 6700 meters. The inscription on the monument also made a brief introduction of State Highway G219 as the following: the whole journey between Jieshan Mountain Pass and Saga is 1375 kilometers, including the 104 kilometers branch road to Purang. The Xinjiang-Tibet Highway leading to Latze from Karghalik via Dorma, Banggongtso Lake, Rutog, Shiquanhe, Baga, Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, Saga and so on. The average altitude of State Highway G219 is 4663 meters and Jieshan Mountain Pass is the highest point with an altitude of 6700 meters.

Jieshan Mountain Pass has an altitude of 5248 meters?

6700 meters was widely regarded as the accurate elevation of Jieshan Mountain Pass for a long time due to the limited measuring means and historical reasons. With the improvement of the measuring tool, people found that Jieshan Mountain only enjoys an altitude around 5200 meters. Besides, it is verified that Jieshan Mountain Pass is not the boundary between Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Tibet Autonomous Region, and the real boundary is about 10 kilometers away from here.

In 2009, the inscription on the monument settled at Jieshan Mountain Pass was repainted. It states that Jieshan Mountain Pass enjoys an altitude of 5248 meters. Noted as the highest highway above the sea level, State Highway G219 attracts a large number of adventurers from different corners of the world. Jieshan Mountain Pass, noted as the highest point along the journey, is the largest challenge for these adventurers. For the consideration of safety, tourists planning to make an adventure tour on this highway are strongly suggested to make a good preparation to deal with the high altitude, severe climate, poor road condition and limited resource supply.

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