Tashkurgan to Kashgar Transport: Bus, Minivan, and Foreigner Permits (2026)
Take the 8:00 AM or 3:00 PM public bus from Tashkurgan Bus Station to Kashgar — the cheapest and most reliable option at around ¥51 one way for a six-hour run along the Karakoram Highway. Shared minivans (拼车 pinche) gather near Xiyu Avenue and depart when full, usually around 9:00 AM, charging ¥100–150 per seat for the same route in slightly less time. Reserved-seat shared taxis run roughly ¥200 per seat and shave the trip to about four hours.
Permits matter. Foreign visitors moving between Kashgar and Tashkurgan have faced tightening rules; some travelers report the permit is now only granted to foreigners with an onward Pakistan visa to cross at Khunjerab Pass. Check at the Tashkurgan PSB or have your hotel verify the current rule the day you arrive, not weeks before. The Karakoram Highway officially operates May 1 to December 31; winter closures can hit suddenly on heavy snowfall.
Pay digitally — Alipay or WeChat Pay are accepted on most newer vehicles, while older drivers still take cash. Carry ¥300 in 10 and 20 yuan notes as backup. Use Gaode Maps (Amap) for routing; Google Maps fails across Xinjiang. Confirm whether your bus drops at Kashgar's main station or the outer terminal, since onward taxi fares differ by ¥30–50. Arrive 30 minutes early for luggage stowage in the under-bus compartment.
- Catch the 8 AM or 3 PM Tashkurgan–Kashgar bus for ¥51, a six-hour run along the Karakoram Highway.
- Pay shared minivans ¥100–150 from Xiyu Avenue around 9 AM; reserved taxis cost ¥200 and run four hours.
- Verify foreigner permits at Tashkurgan PSB on arrival — rules tightened, and refusal now correlates with no Pakistan visa.
- Use Gaode Maps for routing across Xinjiang; Google Maps shows wrong street layouts and fails on directions.
- Confirm Kashgar drop-off point — outer station adds ¥30–50 in onward taxi fare versus the city-center stop.
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