Muztagh Ata Peak

Muztagh Ata Peak

Muztagh Ata Peak is a cultural tourism attraction.

Muztagh Ata Peak

“Muztagh Ata” means “ice mountain” in Uyghur. This peak is also referred to as “Ulaq Peak,” meaning “great.” Within a 200-square-kilometer radius, there are 54 peaks over 6,000 meters in elevation, with the main peak, Muztagh Ata, standing tall at the center, resembling a jade pillar. Muztagh Ata Peak rises sharply, its cliffs stretching across, covered year-round in snow and ice. The northwest slope is gentle and long, but features many hidden crevasses; the southern slope has a 45-degree incline. By ascending along the Linglong River Valley and crossing three glaciers and the névé basin, one can reach the summit.

There are two routes on the southeast and northeast slopes, both of which require passing through the 5,823-meter-high point before ascending directly to the summit. Although the slopes are around 60 degrees steep, by avoiding cliffs and climbing on exposed rocky surfaces, it is possible to reach the top and return within a day. The climate in this region is highly unpredictable. Influenced by monsoons and the westerlies, winds can reach up to force 12, and temperatures can drop below -30°C at their coldest. The best climbing season is from June to August, with July being ideal due to longer periods of good weather.

Due to the region’s unique geographical location and harsh natural conditions, coupled with extremely limited accessibility across hundreds of square kilometers, it remains rarely visited and retains an untamed, mysterious quality. It is precisely because of this that its ice peaks, snowfields, grasslands, and lakes not only form a distinctive natural landscape, but also support a complete and typical primitive ecosystem and biological community. Dozens of rare animal species still inhabit the area. Approved by the State Council, China’s largest Altun Mountain Nature Reserve was established here in 1983, covering an area of 4,500 square kilometers. This place has long been a destination longed for by explorers, mountaineers, and scholars from China and abroad.