Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
KYRGYZSTAN
There are two routes between China and Kyrgyzstan: one between Kashgar
and Osh, via the Irkeshtam Pass; and one between Kashgar and Bishkek, via
the dramatic 3752m Torugart Pass.
LAOS
From the Mengla district in China's southern Yunnan province, you can enter
Laos via Boten in Luang Nam Tha province, while a daily bus runs between Vi-
entiane and Kunming and also from Jinghong to Luang Nam Tha in Laos.
On-the-spot visas for Laos are available at the border, the price of which de-
pends on your nationality (although you cannot get a China visa here).
MONGOLIA
From Beijing, the Trans-Mongolian Railway trains (
Click here
) and the K23
trains run to Ulaanbaatar. Two trains run weekly between Hohhot and Ulaan-
baatar, and there are also regular buses between Hohhot and the border town
of Erenhot (Erlian).
MYANMAR (BURMA)
The famous Burma Road runs from Kunming in Yunnan province to the
Burmese city of Lashio. The road is open to travellers carrying permits for the
region north of Lashio, although you can legally cross the border in only one
direction - from the Chinese side (Jiegao) into Myanmar; however, at the time
of writing the border was not open to foreign travellers and flying in was the
only option. Myanmar visas can only be arranged in Kunming or Beijing.
NEPAL
The 865km road connecting Lhasa with Kathmandu is known as the Friend-
ship Highway, currently only traversable by rented vehicle (for foreign travel-
lers). It's a spectacular trip across the Tibetan plateau, the highest point being
Gyatso-la Pass (5100m).
