The Beyik Pass, also written and Payik Pass and Bayik Pass,[1] is a mountain pass in the Sarikol Range between Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province in Tajikistan and the Taghdumbash Pamir region of Tashkurgan Tajik Autonomous County in Xinjiang, China. It lies at an elevation of 4,742 metres (15,558 ft).[2] There is an ethnic Kyrgyz village on the Chinese side with the same name (Chinese: 排依克村),[3] though the village is more commonly referred to by a different name in Chinese (Chinese: 阿特加依里村) and Beyik is reserved for the border guard outpost.[4]

Beyik Pass
Beyik Pass is located in Southern Xinjiang
Beyik Pass
Beyik Pass
Beyik Pass is located in Tajikistan
Beyik Pass
Beyik Pass
Elevation4,742 m (15,558 ft)
LocationChina–Tajikistan border
RangeSarikol_Range, Pamir Mountains
Coordinates37°18′N 75°00′E / 37.3°N 75°E / 37.3; 75
Map
Beyik Pass
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese排依克山口
Simplified Chinese排依克山口
Literal meaningPayik Pass
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese别伊克山口
Simplified Chinese别伊克山口
Literal meaningBeyik Pass
Tajik name
TajikАғбаи Беик[verification needed]

History edit

 
Map including Beyik Pass (labeled as PIEH-K'O SHAN-K'OU (BEIK PASS)) (AMS, 1966)

Some Chinese historians argue that Xuanzang, the Chinese Buddhist whose pilgrimage to India inspired the novel Journey to the West, used this path on his way to India.[5]

That path is in the historic region of Badakhshan. In the 1890s, the Chinese, Russian, and Afghan governments signed a series of agreements that divided Badakhshan, but China contested the result of the division. The dispute was eventually settled in 2002 when Tajikistan and China signed a border agreement.[6][2]

The path is difficult to traverse all year round. It is snow covered during the winter months. The snow persists until May. During the summer months, the melting causes the streams to overflow.[7] The entire Chalachigu Valley on the Chinese side is closed to visitors; however, local residents and herders from the area are permitted to access.[citation needed]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Stein, M. Aurel (1907). Ancient Khotan: Detailed Report of Archaeological Explorations in Chinese Turkestan. Vol. 1. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press. p. 31. the Payik or Bayik Pass is the most frequent and easiest
  2. ^ a b 中华人民共和国和塔吉克斯坦共和国关于中塔国界的补充协定  [China-Tajikistan Border Agreement] (in Chinese). 2002-05-17 – via Wikisource. 原苏联地图为4742.0米别伊克山口
  3. ^ 杨雪梅 (2016-09-09). "穿越瓦罕走廊(且行且思)" [Through the Wakhan Corridor]. people.gov.cn (in Chinese). People's Daily. Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2017-02-05. 这里是瓦罕走廊第一村——排依克村
  4. ^ 赵戈 (2016-06-13). "瓦罕走廊转场日记". xj.xinhuanet.com (in Chinese). Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 2017-02-05. Retrieved 2017-02-05. 瓦罕走廊中国境内唯一的村庄--阿特加依里村
  5. ^ 于淑娟 (2014-12-24). "访谈︱侯杨方:追寻玄奘,在帕米尔复原丝绸之路". The Paper (thepaper.cn) (in Chinese). Retrieved 2017-02-02. 玄奘从这里东南行经过排依克山口到达羯盘陀国...他经过的这个山口就是符合以上这些条件的唯一路径
  6. ^ "China's Territorial and Boundary Affairs". Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China. 2003-06-30. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
  7. ^ 柯文浩 (June 2013). "穿越帕米尔:复原玄奘之路" [Crossing the Pamir: Recovering the Path of Xuanzang]. Fudan University School of Management Journal. Fudan University. p. 103. Retrieved 2017-02-04. 该山口海拔 4500米,时近 5月仍积雪覆盖,冰河封冻,且冰河穿过狭谷,夏季此处将被高涨的河水没过,不利行走。