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 The '''Irkeshtampass''' is a small village in the southeast of border crossing between [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[China]]. It is located near the small village of Irkeshtam in Kyrgyzstan and forms the end of the European Route number 60 ({{E|60}}E60). The border to [[China]] is the second important [[border crossing]] from Kyrgyzstan to China. The pass is approached from the city of [[Osh]] via [[Sary Tash]] on the Kyrgyz side and, on the Chinese side, from [[Kashgar]] via [[Ulugqat]] in the [[Xinjiang]] province.

The Irkeshtam Pass is one of the major border crossings to China and belong to the network of the [[silk road]]. It is also the eastern end of the {{E|60}}. Road contidions conditions on the kyrgyz Kyrgyz side are pretty good as long it's not snowing. On the Chinese side, however, parts of the road are very bad, but they seem to rebuild the whole road (construction is ongoing as of November 2011). For example it It is not allowed for Kyrgyz cars to cross. So the border, so you have to change to a Chinese vehicle at the border into a chinese vehicle. The border crossing is opened open only during the day only and it is CLOSED '''closed''' on the weekends and holidays. The pass is approached from Crossing the city of [[Osh]] via [[Sary Tash]] on the Kyrgyz side border can take anything between 1 and from [[Kashgar]] via [[Ulugqat]] in the [[Xinjiang]] province from the Chinese side3 hours, so you better be early.  == Hitchhiking out == == Into Kyrgyzstan {{European Route Number|60}} ===

Crossing the border can take anything between 1 and 3 hours, so you better be earlyThe easiest way is to opt for a ride with a truck driver.

=== To [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Osh]]Into China ===The easiest way to to opt for a ride with a truck driver. If you start in Kashgar, take the earliest (around 6am local time) shared taxi to Wuqia. The taxis depart outside Kashgar's international bus station and charge around 25Y per person. After 2 hours you will be half ways to the border, just hitchhike straight - try your luck with the huge white-container trucks, and make sure your head towards Irkeshtam and not Torugrat!

=== To Kashgar ===From Sary-Tash, just walk to the road leading to Irkeshtam and hitch. Most trucks will pick up hitchhikers, but most of the them will also demand money. The usual fare seems to be 300 Som som or 5-10 $US5–10.