Kongur Peak

Kongur Peak

Kongur Peak

The Sister Lakes are like a huge, mirror-like precious mirror that not only reflects the ever-changing scenery of the four seasons but also offers a view of the towering and majestic figure of Muztagh Ata. The so-called Sister Peaks — Kongur Peak and Kongur Tiubie Peak — stand gracefully in the sparkling lake water like a pair of biological sisters, ethereal and otherworldly, inspiring boundless wonder.

Kongur Peak, with an elevation of 7,719 meters, is the second highest peak of the vast Kunlun Mountains. The mountain is covered in snow all year round, and its slopes are adorned with silver-clad glaciers. This snow-capped, ice-covered peak, famous for its extreme height and steepness, has remained as pure as a virgin due to its cliffs as sheer as if cut by a knife and frequent avalanches. Before the 1980s, it deterred many mountaineers who either sighed in despair or met with failure, leaving behind lifelong regrets. It was not until July 1981 that the peak was finally conquered by mountaineers, unveiling its mysterious veil.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with Kongur Peak is her slightly shorter younger sister, Kongur Tiubie Peak. Also known as Kongur Second Peak or Little Kongur Peak, it stands at an elevation of 7,530 meters. On July 6, 1961, Chinese female mountaineers, with their fearless spirit and determination to strive forward, climbed strenuously and planted the bright five-starred red flag at the summit of Kongur Tiubie Peak, fulfilling the long-cherished wish of Chinese women to conquer nature.

When the graceful figures of the Sister Peaks are reflected in the Sister Lakes, the slender and delicate forms of the peaks create a strong contrast with the robust and majestic Muztagh Ata. The Sister Peaks present an enchantingly beautiful image: they appear to wear light milk-white veils on their heads and pure white dresses, with drifting clouds adding flowing sleeves as if for dance. Under the bright sun and blue sky, the sisters seem to dance lightly, fascinating all who see them. Of course, the Sister Peaks are often hidden in the clouds and rarely seen, frequently veiling their shy, beautiful faces with tender, lingering clouds. To catch a glimpse of their true beauty, you’ll have to rely on your luck.

Legend has it that the Sister Peaks have since ancient times been a sacred place longed for by travelers. In the 17th year of his reign, the fifth monarch of the Western Zhou Dynasty in China, King Mu of Zhou, set off on a western journey by chariot during the 10th century BC. Upon reaching the shores of the Sister Lakes and facing the graceful figures of the Sister Peaks, he was filled with emotion, captivated and left with deep affection. The eminent Tang Dynasty monk Xuanzang, who traveled to India to retrieve Buddhist scriptures, also left profound footprints and endless memories here. Later, after returning to Chang’an (the Western Capital), he documented many accounts related to the Sister Peaks in his work “A Record of the Western Regions of the Great Tang Dynasty.”

Standing beneath the 7,719-meter-tall Sister Peaks and looking around, all the surrounding snow-capped mountains seem so low and small. No wonder King Mu of Zhou once raised his arm and proclaimed here: “Spring Mountain, this is the highest mountain under heaven!”