#china #xinjiang #karakorum #uyghurculture #tajiks #afghan #pakistani #chinatravel #chinavlogger #chinafood #travel #nature #travelphotography #photography #love #photooftheday #instagood #travelgram #picoftheday #instagram #beautiful #photo #wanderlust #naturephotography #adventure #art #travelblogger #instatravel #landscape #like #summer #explore #trip #vacation #follow #traveling #ig #bhfyp #happy #fashion
Category
🏖
TravelTranscript
00:00At the sunset, I've reached Tashkurgan. Look, that's how they dress.
00:08I really love the way how they dress.
00:12I found that if they don't speak to me, I can't even say that they are Chinese.
00:17They just look so different than most of the Han Chinese people.
00:22But it's so cool.
00:30We are the lucky ones.
00:33We are the lucky ones.
00:36We are the lucky ones.
01:01Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to the channel.
01:05Today I am in Kashgar in Xinjiang.
01:08And this time I want to do a short trip diving deep to the far west of Xinjiang.
01:13I have about five to one week time.
01:16And I'm going to rent a scooter, riding it all the way to Tashkurgan,
01:22which is at the border of China and Pakistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
01:28Tashkurgan is also one of the highest cities in China.
01:33It's on the Pamir Plateau.
01:35In Tashkurgan, there is China's only Tajiks.
01:38It's a small ethnic group genetically more closer to the Iranian.
01:43And they are very different from the Uyghurs, who are genetically very close to the Uzbeks.
01:48So it's quite fascinating, right?
01:51And yeah, I'm super looking forward to it.
01:54I'm a bit underprepared this time.
01:57So this is not my bike.
01:59There is no place to put my GoPro.
02:02That's why I placed it here.
02:04And I hope this will work.
02:24Tashkurgan
02:54So only three hours from Kashgar.
02:59I'm already on the Pamir Plateau.
03:02The landscape has changed completely.
03:04It was so windy.
03:06That's why I keep my helmet.
03:08And I'm standing behind a kiosk.
03:12There's no single tree.
03:15It's so clear, so open.
03:18I feel the clouds are so low.
03:19That's Baisha Lake.
03:23And that is a huge mountain, a sandy mountain.
03:28What a magnificent touch of the Pamir Plateau.
03:32And those mountain ranges are Karakoram Mountain Range.
03:37That's the Gonggur Mountain, which is over 7,000 meters.
03:41There are many mountains along this way that are over 7,000 meters.
03:46And not very far from here, there will be another mountain called Mustak.
03:50It's also over 7,000 meters.
04:16They are from Kerkz.
04:19Kerkz.
04:21I'm from Xinjiang Hui.
04:27Boss, what's your ethnic group?
04:31Kerkz.
04:33And Tajik?
04:35There's no Tajik here.
04:37Tajik is in Tashkurgan.
04:39Oh, in Tashkurgan.
04:41Do you speak Uighur or Kerkz?
04:43Kerkz.
04:45It's different.
04:47Do you understand Uighur?
04:49I understand Uighur.
04:51They say, hello, how are you?
04:54I say, how are you?
04:56How are you?
04:58Uighurs say, how are you?
05:02How are you?
05:04You look a lot like Kazakhs.
05:06Yes, yes, yes.
05:08Yes, yes, yes.
05:10You look a lot like Kazakhs.
05:12And you drink milk tea.
05:14Kazakh combination.
05:16Kazakh, Kerkz.
05:18Kerkz.
05:27So my food is ready.
05:29The pork noodles.
05:31And since this place is at the elevation of 3,000 meters,
05:35they also cook with pressure cooker.
05:37And it's just super interesting to learn a new ethnic minority.
05:43The Kerkz is Kerkz in Chinese.
05:47And they are closer to the Kazakhs.
05:49They are very different from the Tajiks.
05:51It's quite interesting, right?
06:07Kerkz.
06:38Kerkz.
06:40Kerkz.
06:42Kerkz.
06:44Kerkz.
06:46Kerkz.
06:48Kerkz.
06:50Kerkz.
06:52Kerkz.
06:54Kerkz.
06:56Kerkz.
06:58Kerkz.
07:00Kerkz.
07:02Kerkz.
07:04Kerkz.
07:05Kerkz.
07:07Kerkz.
07:09Kerkz.
07:11Kerkz.
07:13Kerkz.
07:15Kerkz.
07:17Kerkz.
07:19Kerkz.
07:21Kerkz.
07:23Kerkz.
07:25Kerkz.
07:27Kerkz.
07:29Kerkz.
07:31Kerkz.
07:33Kerkz.
07:35Kerkz.
07:37Kerkz.
07:39Kerkz.
07:41Kerkz.
07:43Kerkz.
07:45Kerkz.
07:47Kerkz.
07:49Kerkz.
07:51Kerkz.
07:53Kerkz.
07:55Kerkz.
07:57Kerkz.
07:59Kerkz.
08:01Kerkz.
08:03Kerkz.
08:05Kerkz.
08:07Kerkz.
08:09Kerkz.
08:11Kerkz.
08:13I'm still about 100 kilometers away from Tashkurgan.
08:17I think I can make it today.
08:20This is Kerkz.
08:22Kerkz.
08:24Kerkz village.
08:26People who are living here are Kerkz.
08:30Ah.
08:32Yes.
08:33Your eyes are blue.
08:35Blue.
08:37Yes, I said your eyes are blue.
08:40Blue.
08:42Is there a Tajik group here?
08:45Tajik group is in Tashkurgan.
08:47In Tashkurgan.
08:49Do you understand what they are saying?
08:52Tajik group.
08:54Do you understand what the Tajik group is saying?
08:56No.
08:58Ah.
09:00Kerkz.
09:01Kerkz.
09:03Kerkz.
09:10Bye-bye.
09:12Come on.
09:14Come to Tashkurgan.
09:16This is your house.
09:18You can live here.
09:20You can live here.
09:22Do you want to go to Tashkurgan?
09:24I'm going to Tashkurgan today.
09:26Tashkurgan.
09:28Yes.
09:30Two hours.
09:43I just passed by this Kerkz village.
09:47I bought something and a grocery.
09:50Talked with some people.
09:52And then they said I can come in.
10:00It's okay.
10:02Take off your shoes.
10:20How many sheep do you have?
10:23We have 20 sheep.
10:2720 sheep.
10:29How many cattle do you have?
10:31How many cattle do you have?
10:33We have about 18 cattle.
10:3918.
10:41So you can go to the pasture in summer.
10:44What about winter?
10:46In winter.
10:48Inside the house?
10:50Yes.
10:52We feed them.
10:54We feed them.
10:56We feed them.
10:57Where do you sell the sheep?
11:00We sell them here.
11:04They come here?
11:06Yes.
11:15They are so kind.
11:17They brought me milk tea and also naan bread.
11:23Do you want to put the naan in this?
11:25Yes.
11:28It was so nice of them.
11:31They kept bringing food.
11:45Their milk tea is quite special.
11:48Cooked with yogurt, salt and tea.
11:52It is just so kind of them to invite me and share the food with me.
11:57So this is the dining room basically.
12:00The whole room is super warm.
12:02And when I was writing I felt so cold but now I feel so warm.
12:21They are so nice.
12:23They gave me this scarf.
12:25Even we just met.
12:30And this is their house.
12:32A typical Kyrgyz residence.
12:34So it is basically a big room with carpet and lots of blankets.
12:39And this is the kitchen.
12:41This is the kitchen.
12:43This is the kitchen.
12:45This is the kitchen.
12:47This is the kitchen.
12:48Carpet and lots and lots of blankets.
13:13When I am in this room I am so shocked.
13:15I don't know.
13:17Maybe there are 50 blankets.
13:19And the whole floor is covered with beautiful carpets.
13:46This is our motorbike.
13:49This is your motorbike.
13:51It is very convenient to go up the mountain.
13:55So they also showed me their house.
13:57They said next time if I have friends I should bring them here.
14:01Yes.
14:03You should bring your motorbike.
14:15I am leaving again.
14:17But this village is so nice.
14:19I feel so warm.
14:21My heart is filled with happiness and love.
14:46Kyrgyzstan
14:48Kyrgyzstan
14:50Kyrgyzstan
14:52Kyrgyzstan
14:54Kyrgyzstan
14:56Kyrgyzstan
14:58Kyrgyzstan
15:00Kyrgyzstan
15:02Kyrgyzstan
15:04Kyrgyzstan
15:06Kyrgyzstan
15:08Kyrgyzstan
15:10Kyrgyzstan
15:12Kyrgyzstan
15:13Kyrgyzstan
15:15Kyrgyzstan
15:17Kyrgyzstan
15:19Kyrgyzstan
15:21Kyrgyzstan
15:23Kyrgyzstan
15:25Kyrgyzstan
15:27Kyrgyzstan
15:29Kyrgyzstan
15:31Kyrgyzstan
15:33Kyrgyzstan
15:35Kyrgyzstan
15:37Kyrgyzstan
15:39Kyrgyzstan
15:41Kyrgyzstan
15:43Kyrgyzstan
15:45Kyrgyzstan
15:47Kyrgyzstan
15:49Kyrgyzstan
15:51Kyrgyzstan
15:53Kyrgyzstan
15:55Kyrgyzstan
15:57Kyrgyzstan
15:59Kyrgyzstan
16:01Kyrgyzstan
16:03Kyrgyzstan
16:05Kyrgyzstan
16:07Kyrgyzstan
16:09Kyrgyzstan
16:11Kyrgyzstan
16:13Kyrgyzstan
16:15Kyrgyzstan
16:17Kyrgyzstan
16:19At the sunset I've reached Tashkurgan.
16:22Look, that's how they dress.
16:24Ni hao.
16:30Ni hao.
16:32I took some photos together with them.
16:35It's just so cool.
16:37And I really love the way how they dress.
16:40And I found that if they don't speak to me,
16:44I can't even say that they are Chinese.
16:46They just look so different than most of the Han Chinese people.
16:51But it's just so cool.
16:54Tashkurgan is a small city of about 40,000 people.
16:58And when I was walking on the street,
17:00I definitely felt it's the most exotic town in China.
17:05I see lots of people with very high noses,
17:07who are blonde, with blue eyes.
17:10So the Chinese Tajiks are said to be the descendants of the Iranians.
17:15The story came out about 2,000 years ago.
17:17A Persian prince came to China and married one of the princesses.
17:23But on his way back, his country was ruined in the wars.
17:27So that group of people stayed in Tashkurgan from one generation to another.
17:33Excuse me.
17:35I heard that the ancestors of the Tajiks are Persian. Is that true?
17:39Yes, it's true.
17:41And I heard that in the past,
17:43the Tajiks didn't marry other ethnic groups. Is that true?
17:48No, they didn't.
17:50Now they can, right?
17:52Yes.
17:59Stories are stories.
18:00There is no way to find out if there was that Iranian prince.
18:04Many Chinese Tajiks said they are of Iranian ancestry.
18:08Some also told me that their great parents are from Tajikistan, Afghanistan, or even Pakistan.
18:15But this part of China definitely has a significant Persian cultural influence.
18:20They speak Sarakoli and Wahi, a branch of the Eastern Iranian language.
18:26They celebrate Nowruz, the new year of Iranian calendar.
18:31There is also China's only Zoroastrianism relics.
18:35In Tashkurgan, there is also China's only relics of Zoroastrianism.
18:41It's called Chiksmai Ruins.
18:43However, it is closed today, so I can't get in.
18:48So Zoroastrianism used to be a very important religion in Persian kingdom.
18:53It was once very influential in Central Asia.
18:57And many of its religious practice is organized around the fire.
19:02I just fly my drones and I saw many small pit holes made of stones.
19:06And probably that's a place where they burn the fire.
19:22Zoroastrianism is a religious belief.
19:26It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:29It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:32It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:35It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:38It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:41It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:44It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:47It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:49It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:52It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:55It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
19:58It is a religious belief that all people are equal.
20:02The food in Tashkorta is very similar to the food in Kashgar.
20:07So this afternoon I ordered Shorjafan Polo or Pilaf.
20:11It's a very typical food in Central Asia in general.
20:14So it's rice cooked with carrot.
20:16And two big pieces of lamb.
20:20So tasty.
20:23The carrot as well as the lamb is cooked until it's super soft.
20:46The one at the back is a little taller.
20:49You have to hold it.
20:52That's your traditional hat. Women like to wear this.
20:55Plus a scarf.
20:58And those are for the guys.
21:01This is for men.
21:06Along the street I've seen a lot of Pakistani restaurants,
21:10Pakistani shops.
21:13So there is a lot of interaction.
21:16They are so good looking.
21:46What are you doing in Pakistan?
21:49We went to school in China.
21:52Now we are going home.
21:55Where did you go to school?
21:58We went to school in Urumqi.
22:01Are you going home now?
22:04Yes, we are going home now.
22:07Where is your home?
22:10Our home is in Jilgit, Pakistan.
22:13Jilgit?
22:16How long does it take to get there by car?
22:19It takes about 6 hours.
22:22Is there any difference between your home and here?
22:27Our home is a little bit different from Taichung.
22:35Because the culture here is a little bit different from our country.
22:40A little bit different.
22:42But Chinese people are good.
22:45We love China.
22:47Welcome to China.
22:53See you next time.
22:56Tashkulkan is a gateway to Pakistan.
22:59That's why there are so many Pakistanis here.
23:02It was so interesting meeting those two students.
23:06I would definitely visit the other side of the border, Pakistan, one day.
23:13Oh my god, a lot is happening right now.
23:18So many people are there and I hear music.
23:21That must be dancing.
23:23Let me park my car first.
26:42Everyone is enjoying.
26:45This is just so wild.
26:48Even the kids, they dance so well.
27:13What time do you start?
27:15About 8 o'clock.
27:17Every day?
27:19Where are you from?
27:21Anhui.
27:23I came from Kazakhstan today.
27:25How was it?
27:27It was great. It was my first time here.
27:29Welcome.
27:37Dance starts every day from 8 pm to 11 pm.
27:42After the dance, it's market time.
27:45Look.
27:47And we've got...
27:51And we've got Pakistani brothers and sisters who came here,
27:57who cross the border and sell different jewellery.
28:00I think it's very interesting.
28:11I found a local guest house.
28:14It's a traditional Tajik dwelling.
28:16And I will give you the room tour tomorrow.
28:18The house owner lives in the other room.
28:22And my room costs 100 yuan per night with a bathroom.
28:27It looks very clean and quite cosy too.
28:31So I'm going to sleep now and I'll leave the rest till tomorrow.