With an average altitude of around 4,000 meters, the area has only 46% of the oxygen found at sea level, temperatures as low as minus 43 degrees Celsius, and a cold season lasting up to eight months—making the natural conditions extremely severe. Yet, in this place defined by biologists as a “no-life zone” and by geologists as “permafrost,” stand the valiant soldiers of the Xinjiang Military Region’s Khunjerab Border Defense Company and the Khunjerab Border Inspection Station of the Xinjiang Armed Police Border Corps, who are stationed here year-round. This is China’s highest-altitude outpost—Khunjerab Outpost.
▲ Image source: WEMOVE
Located at Khunjerab Pass on the Pamir Plateau, the westernmost part of China’s territory, Khunjerab Outpost was established in 1949. It has long been responsible for guarding nearly 100 kilometers of the China-Pakistan border, with its highest patrol point exceeding 5,800 meters above sea level. The outpost also guards the world’s highest national gate—the Khunjerab Port.
In the 1950s, the unit’s early border guards demonstrated extraordinary determination by “relying on three camels, one pot, three wooden sticks to build dugouts, and melting ice and snow for drinking water” to establish a foothold on the Pamir Plateau.
Serving at Khunjerab Outpost, the officers and soldiers have forged the old “Three Specials” spirit of Khunjerab: “exceptionally able to endure hardship, exceptionally able to fight, and exceptionally able to persevere.” They were awarded the honorary title of “Model Border Inspection Station” by the State Council and the Central Military Commission. Since then, every officer and soldier has kept their mission firmly in mind. No matter how harsh the environment or tough the conditions, they battle the cold and fight oxygen deprivation, safeguarding the red national gate in the no-life zone year after year.
Veterans recall that the first-generation outpost barracks were nothing more than a tent. Later came stone barracks, which were much more spacious and convenient compared to the initial tents, and eventually came campers.
The tents from the station’s early days
▲ Image source: Xinhua Net
The first-generation camper for the outpost
▲ Image source: Xinhua Net
The fourth-generation villa-style barracks of the outpost
▲ Image source: Xinhua Net
The fifth-generation villa-style barracks of the outpost
In 2002, European-style villa barracks were completed, becoming a beautiful landmark along the China-Pakistan border.
▲ Image source: Xinhua Net
Today, although the natural environment of Khunjerab remains harsh, modern facilities have brought a new look to the military camp: heating, flush toilets, and hot showers are no longer luxuries, while uninterrupted communication, oxygen supply at bedside, and in-building entertainment are all readily available.
Recently, a high-tech smart camp tent—WEMOVE—has been added.
▲ Image source: WEMOVE
Khunjerab is a valley opening to the outside world on the Pamir Plateau, often referred to as the “Valley of Blood.” With oxygen levels less than 50% of those at sea level, winds often reaching force seven or eight, and temperatures dropping below minus 40 degrees Celsius, it is also known in Persian as the “Valley of Death.” The first generation of Khunjerab border guards overcame countless hardships with the resolute words “guarding the border for the motherland,” rooting themselves in and defending this remote land. They braved ice, snowstorms, bitter cold, and high-altitude oxygen deprivation to establish a presence in the “no-life zone.” This spirit closely aligns with the core values upheld by WEMOVE.
WEMOVE’s enclosed spatial system, through the sealed design of insulation layers and the intelligent control of its smart camp system, maintains indoor temperature and humidity at comfortable living standards, unaffected by external weather conditions. To cope with strong winds, heavy rain, and rugged terrain, WEMOVE’s built-in platform can be adjusted according to the landscape, adapting to all terrains including mountains, grasslands, deserts, and beaches without causing construction pollution to the natural environment. Its streamlined shape, tested in wind tunnels, helps reduce wind pressure, and both the interior and exterior of the tent use waterproof, fireproof, eco-friendly materials with double safety measures, greatly enhancing safety and wind resistance. The tougher the environment, the more WEMOVE’s performance shines.
▲ Image source: WEMOVE
Within WEMOVE’s 25-square-meter tent, all the comforts needed for outdoor living are met—comfortable beds, modern bathrooms, clean water sources, lighting, and electrical appliances are all included. These are supported by WEMOVE’s independent energy and water purification systems inside the tent, eliminating reliance on urban utilities or proximity to villages or towns.
This tent donation is not only a token of gratitude to the soldiers but also a tribute to the first-generation outpost.
For most people, such living facilities may now be commonplace, but for Khunjerab Outpost, known as the “Snowy Island” and the “Gateway to the West,” they are incredibly precious. It is thanks to these brave and dedicated individuals that we can enjoy our peaceful lives.