Road Used by Marco Polo an Active Trade Route

An ancient road traveled by the likes of Genghis Khan, Marco Polo and Babur has become an active artery of commerce today between China and Pakistan.

More than 2,000 years ago, silk and spices made their way out of China on the route, while gold, silver and wool made their way in.

The commerce today is considerably more diverse, if not as exotic.

As many as 80 Pakistani merchants travel the road into China each day in battered buses to buy silk, porcelain and pearls. Chinese businessmen head in the opposite direction toward the Khunjerab Pass on the border as part of a barter arrangement between the two countries.

Increased Trade

The barter enables the Chinese to trade hydroelectric equipment, farm tools, textiles, quilts and porcelain for Pakistani cigarettes, medical herbs, dried fruits, shoes and razor blades.

The volume of official barter has increased to the equivalent of $3 million in the last year, contrasted with $300,000 in 1986, according to Sadeq Malek, sales officer of Pakistan’s Northern Areas Traders Cooperatives.

The road also is being traveled more and more by tourists.

From Pakistan’s border post of Sost the road follows the Hunza River, then runs along the icy Khunjerab River into China, crossing numerous glaciers. As it climbs to the Khunjerab Pass, it goes through a series of narrow chasms and steep declines.

New Hotels, Inns

At Tashkargan, the first Chinese town across the border, workmen are building hotels and inns to accommodate the growing number of travelers passing through.