Kyrgyzstan to China via Irkestam pass

Hi, im traveling in the opposite direction. Im currently in Urumqi and will be in Kashgar on Saturday August 9, 2014 with the intention of taking the bus from Kashgar to Osh via Irkeshtam on Monday, August 11, 2014. From everything I've read the pass is open again to foreigners. It was closed in June for about three weeks due to a dispute between the Chinese and Kyrgyzstan governments, but that was resolved and people were passing in July.

Once i get over ill post again to confirm. If anyone has any August info, please post it.

Hi strattondelany, thank you very much for your reply, and good luck for your trip. I am eager to read you again, hopefully from the other side of the border. Happy Sunday Marked in Kashgar! :)

Hi strattondelaney,

Would be great if you could let us know how it went. I'm doing the same thing in a week or so and would love to know. Cheers

I'm in kashgar right now. I spoke with Abdul Wahab at old road tours in the seman hotel lobby who said there hasn't been any buses from kashgar to Osh in 15 days. He called someone to ask for me again and then said hat nobody knows what is going on. He was going to send someone to the ticket office for me today to check if they can get a bus ticket there.

If I can't get a bus ticket then my only option is car. He said he has people crossing the tougart pass on Monday or Tuesday that I could join in on. However the cost is about double the bus.

I should know later today exactly how I'm getting out of kashgar. I'll update you guys then.

Thanks a lot for this! A car to the border and then a share taxi on the other side should still be much cheaper than the Tougart Pass, no? Anyway, hear from you soon and thanks again

Also, do you have a recommendation of where to stay in Urumqi? Thanks!

Also (sorry to ask more questions) what's the security situation like in Urumqi and Kashgar? Is it a big deal or not really?

Car and Tractaxii should be cheaper at Irkeshtam. They are quoting me 180USD to cross at Tougart.

I stayed at the white birch in urumqi. It was fine. Hot showers, but no food or anything. They've got a nice lounge area but there was never anyone in it.

Urumqi seems there is much more tension than kashgar. The police are pretty invasive and are stationed on every corner of the city. That being said i don't think it's unsafe. I suppose violence could erupt at any time though. Especially with the way Han Chinese seem to treat the Uyghur population.

There's hardly any Han Chinese in kashgar, so there doesn't really seem to be any tension here, but obviously since 100 people were killed on the outskirts of kashgar and the imam of the Id Kha mosque was murdered 2 weeks ago, looks can be deceiving.

I think both places are fine for travel, but maybe make sure your laces are done up tight.

Hi, a small doubt, or rather two: first, isn't the Irkestam pass, rather than the Tourgart, the "right" one? I kind of remember that the Tourgart is closed to foreigners (but I might be wrong, I am no expert). Second: I would advise to check at the bus station in Kashgar anyway: since there is a potential conflict of interest, the information provided by Abdul Wahab could not be 100% correct.... ;)
One last observation: three-four years ago I stayed in Urumqi in a very nice hotel, and spent just 20 €(more or less) by settling for a windowless room: it could be an idea, even though not very romantic. I can't remember the name, but there should be a review made by "francesco-1966" on tripadvisor.