Located at 87.3¡ãE and 36.4¡ãN, Ulugh Muztagh Peak, at 6973 meters above sea level, ranks first among the peaks on the East Kun Lun Mountains and lies in Ruoqiang county of Xinjiang, China, where the southwest nook of the Altun Wildlife Reservation and West Tibet have their common boundary.

In Uighur language, Ulugh means ¡°great¡± and ¡°Muztagh¡± means ¡°ice mountain¡±. In the circumference of 200 square kilometers sit 54 high peaks of 6000 meters above sea level, among which, Ulugh Muztagh, the main peak, is tied to its sister peaks, appearing right to be a jade polar holding up against the sky.

Wrapped in snow all the year round, Ulugh Muztagh Peak looks up at the sky and stands upright with the cut precipices. The long and gentle northwest slope abounds in open and hidden crevasses while the south slope is 45 degree in gradient. From here, you can reach the summit by going up the LingLong river course and assign through three glaciers and a n¨¨v¨¨ Basin. To take both the two routes from the southeast slope and the northeast slope, you need to negotiate a highland of 5823 meters in height to arrive right at the summit. Despite the slope of 60 degree, you may reach the summit and turn back to the base camp site in one day only if you avoid the precipices and climb along the uncovered rocks.

With the highly developed modern glaciers of various types, the Ulugh Muztagh Peak area possesses 93 glaciers of various size, 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 Ulugh Muztagh Peak. As the result of the violent movement of the glacier, ice and snow avalanches frequently occur, cracking soul-stirringly. With the most salient characteristic of the unpredictable climate, the area of Ulugh Muztagh Peak is affected by monsoons and westerly wind zone, the wind of which sometimes reaching force 12 with the lowest temperature at less than 30 degrees below the zero. The good mountaineering season is in the five months of June, July, August,September and October in which July and August 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, Ulugh Muztagh Peak area still remains in a virgin state of mystery. Thus, the snowy peak, snowy fields, grassland, lakes and dozens of precious animals stull live here, all combine to produce not only the unique natural scenes but also typically primitive ecosystem and the communities of living organisms which all remain intact. Ratified by the State Council, Altun Mountain Natural Reservation, the largest of its kind in our country, was established in 1983, measuring an area of 45000 square kilometers. So explorer, mountaineers and scholars at home and abroad have always been looking forward to do it. As early as the close of the last 19th century, some Russians came here to have a survey. Thereafter, no foot prints 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 5 Chinese climbers) reached the summit along the West slope.

En route: fly to Qiemo from Urumqi, and drive up to the Tular Farm. Then keep your moving up to the Southwest and enter into west part of this Altun Wildlife Reserve. Then you will see the north slope of Ulugh Muztagh Peak very soon. It only takes you 5 days by driving from Qiemo town where located in the south edge of Taklamakan desert.

Itinerary you may have choices which pass, you think, is convenient to you to enter into China. The following itinerary is only a kind of suggested one:
Day 01 Fly to Urumqi from Bishkek, and check in your hotel
Day 02 Fly to Qiemo by your flight and check in your hotel in this small town.
Day 03 A free day in this town, do your last check and preparation
Day 04 You will climb southwards and move into Kun Lun mountains by jeeps and a supply truck. Find a good place at your camp site

Day 05 Keep your driving and it is until you arrive at the Tular Farm. Find a good place by the Qarqa River for your camp site.

Day 06/07 Climb up to the high altitude area and approach to Ulugh Muztagh. Camp for night

Day 08 Finally you arrive at the base camp of Mt Ulugh Muztagh, where located in at foot of the northwest slope. Set up your base camp

Day 09 this is a relaxing day after long and hard driving for days. I am sure you will seize the moment to do the last reorganization for your climbing equipment

Day 10/29 Your time for climbing activities
Day 30 Your jeeps come up again and transfer you on the way back.
Day 31/33 I am sure it takes you one day less to reach at Qiemo. Check in your hotel.

Day 34 Fly back to Urumqi. Check in your hotel
Day 35 A tour day
Day 36 Fly to Almaty and catch up your flight home. All the services endof this mountain area by the same route but one day less in the trekking section