Strategic Fortress 

Tashkurgan means “stone fortress” in the Turkic language. The castle is perched on a high hill, with multiple layers of walls and mounds of stones. It had been an important caravan stop along the Silk Road with a history of 2,000 years and was the capital city of old kingdoms of the region. 

塔什库尔干古石城:

塔什库尔干在突厥语中意为“石堡”。这座城堡建在高山上，有着多层城墙和堆积成山的石块，营造出独特的景观。它曾是丝绸之路上的重要驿站，有着2000年的历史，是该地区古代王国的首都。

Photo / 摄影 : ChiaYT

Jincao High-altitude Wetland

In June when the snow melts, the grassland turns into a vast wetland situated around 3,000m above sea-level. With the wetland in the foreground, the Stone City ruins in the middle and snow-capped mountains in the distance, this scene captured the essence of the Tashkurgan County. 

金草高海拔湿地

六月份，当雪融化时，草原变成了一片广阔的湿地。它位于海拔约3000米处。湿地在前景，古城遗址在中间，远处的雪山在远方，它捕捉到了塔什库尔干县的精髓。

Photo / 摄影 : LamYK

Highland Yaks 

Yaks are native to the Pamir regions. Their thick, short undercoat is an excellent insulator. Their overcoat of longer, coarse fur acts as a waterproofer of the undercoat. Yaks have a lung capacity three times larger than common cattle, and hence adapt better to the highland climate. 

高原牦牛

牦牛原产于帕米尔高原。 牠们厚而短的内层毛是极好的绝缘体。 牠们的外层毛由较长、粗糙的毛发组成，可以作为内层毛的防水剂。 牦牛的肺活量是普通牛的三倍，因此更能适应高原气候。

Photo / 摄影 : Nathalie

Ruins of Tashkurgan 

These stone ruins are all that remain of the outer walls of a castle at the Tashkurgan Stone Fortress that had once seen glory and splendour. The scale of the inner castle is faintly visible. Temples had flourished here, and monks recited scriptures. 

塔什库尔干遗址

这些石头遗址曾经是辉煌灿烂的塔什库尔干石堡城堡外墙的全部遗迹。 内堡的规模依稀可见。 这里寺庙繁盛，僧人诵经。

Photo / 摄影 : YongCM

Xuan Zang (602-664 CE) 

Scholar, monk, translator and traveller, Xuan Zang journeyed for sixteen years to India in his quest for Buddhist scriptures. He survived the treacherous Taklamakan Desert and the harsh mountains of the Tianshan. He brought back with him, among other things, over 600 Buddhist manuscripts. 

玄奘（公元602-664）

作为学者、僧侣、翻译家和旅行者，玄奘前往印度取经，历时十六年。他在艰险的塔克拉玛干沙漠和天山山脉存活下来。他带回了超过600部佛教经典。

Photo / 摄影 : ChiaYT

Spot of Religious Significance 

On his return journey from India, Xuan Zang gave lectures at this very spot to monks within the city walls. He had with him Buddhist manuscripts which he translated from Sanskrit to Chinese for the rest of his life. Subsequently, Buddhism became more widely understood in China. 

具有宗教意义的地点

玄奘从印度回程时就在这里为城墙内的僧侣讲经。 他一生都随身携带佛教手稿，将其从梵文翻译成中文。 随后，佛教在中国广泛流传。

Photo / 摄影 : TanYJ