Silk Road: News, Events, Articles

238-kilometre Osh - Irkeshtam road section on the reviving Silk Road can rightly claim the title of a "gold" highway not only due to the considerations of its symbolism, but also in light of the construction costs to be incurred. Such conclusion becomes valid taking into consideration the fact that the mentioned section lies through rather hard-to-pass ranges of the Pamir - Alay mountain system, which separates China and Central Asia.

Xuan Zang, head of the diplomatic mission from China, is reputed to be the first to surmount this natural obstacle in 128 B.C. There are all the grounds to consider the date Xuan Zang arrived at Ferghana Valley as official discovery of the Great Silk Road, because since that time onwards an active trade of the main commodity - silk was started on this transcontinental road.

In 1893 the horse path Osh - Ishkertam was widened, fortified and developed. It was even named "a wheel road", though the goods used to be transported on pack animals: horses, donkeys and camels.

Taldyc is the most difficult mountain pass on the Osh - Ishkertam road section; its altitude is 3615 metres above sea level. Snow lies here up to the beginning of June. However, the pass can also be walked along in wintertime. From Taldyc pass opens a majestic view on the snowcapped mountain chains of the Alay Range that encircles Ferghana Valley from the south and southeast.

For many centuries trade caravans used the mountain passes of the Alay Range as well as Djungar Gates in the Tien-Shan Mountain System.

After the Republics of Central Asia declared their independence, the issue on construction of the modern highway from Uzbekistan to China became especially pressing. In August 1996 China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on building of the 600 km highway, which had to connect such cities as Andijan, Osh, Saritash, Irkeshtam, Kashgar. The project cost is more than $100mln. The building of the road began in 2000. At the first phase the road was covered with ground layer. Not only horses and camels could walk along such a road; cars could also drive along this road. Though the pass in its present state has become practicable exclusively for cross-country vehicles, there has appeared the possibility to set up road check-point on Kyrgyz - Chinese border in Irkeshtam. The check-point will be officially opened on 20th May 2002.

Check-point "Irkeshtam" can serve 300 to 500 thousand tons of cargo and 100 to 200 thousand passengers a year. The infrastructure of the check-point meets all the internationally accepted requirements. Along the new route, which runs along the middle part of the ancient Silk Road, the cargo carriage commenced right off, since the route from Ferghana Valley to China shortened by 700 km. The bravest tourists pushed their way along this road too.

A new task has arisen before the neighboring countries: to turn the newly laid route into the road of international standard. Realizing this task, China carries on the building of high-class highway from Kashgar to "Ishkertam" check-point.

Republic of Uzbekistan carries on the construction across the country of high-speed 2000 km highway Kungrad - Nukus - Tashkent - Andijan.

Certain works are being carried out by Kyrgyzstan on its section of the road. Recently the Parliament of the country has adopted the Law "On priorities of the project for the rehabilitation of the Republican highway Osh - Saritash - Ishkertam". Asian Bank of Development has already allocated a part of necessary investments for realization of the project. China, in its turn, has expressed willingness to help its neighbour in road building.

Travel companies of the countries, located in this area, are elaborating projects for using the highway through the Alay Range for tracking of new attractive tourist routes. There are many favorable historical and natural prerequisites for realization of such projects.

Ferghana Valley can be truly called the Oriental Gem on the new tourist route. From times immemorial hospitable and talented people have populated this land.

One of the ancient settlements of Ferghana Valley is Osh, the town on the territory of modern Kyrgyzstan. For many centuries it was a junction point on the Great Silk Road.

Next attraction on the reviving line of the Great Silk Road is Kashgar, a large Chinese city, which for many centuries was known as an important scientific and cultural centre. In the 9th-13th centuries the city was the capital of Karakhanids Empire. Nowadays the guests of this city can find here a lot of Oriental exotics.

On the way to Kashgar, travelers will be able to experience captivating ascents to the passes of the Alay Mountains. The road lies through the picturesque tracts and canyons, crosses the wild and foamy mountain rivers.

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