Kunlun Mountains

The Kunlun Mountains are in China.

They sit near the Tarim Basin. These mountains are very long.

They form the edge of a high land.

Many rivers flow from the mountains. Some rivers are named after jade. The water flows down to the desert.

There are also many small volcanoes. They look like cones.

Long ago, people told many stories. They thought the mountains were a paradise. People believed gods lived there.

The mountains are a very special place.

The Kunlun Mountains are a very long chain of mountains.

They sit in western China. These mountains form the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. They also sit south of the Tarim Basin.

Many rivers flow from these mountains. The Karakash River and the Yurungkash River flow through an oasis. These rivers flow into the Taklamakan Desert. The mountains are very big. They are about 3,000 km long. There are very few roads here. Only two roads cross the whole range. One is Highway 219. The other is Highway 109.

The Kunlun Mountains have many high peaks. The highest is Kunlun Goddess Peak. It is 7,167 m tall. There is also a group of 70 volcanic cones. These are not mountains, but they are very high.

In China, these mountains are very special. Long ago, people called them the "Forefather of Mountains." Some old stories say the mountains are a paradise. People believed gods lived on these high peaks.

The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia.

They sit in Western China and form the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. This huge range also sits just south of the Tarim Basin.

To the south, you would find the sparsely populated Changtang region. The mountains stretch from the Pamirs in Tajikistan all the way to Qinghai province. They are a very long chain, spanning about 3,000 km. This massive landscape helps shape the land around it.

Water plays a big part in this mountain home. Many important rivers flow out from the high peaks. The Karakash River is also called the Black Jade River. The Yurungkash River is known as the White Jade River.

These rivers flow through the Khotan Oasis. From there, they move into the Taklamakan Desert. The Bayan Har Mountains act as a divider for water. They sit between the basins of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

These mountains have a very long and mysterious history. In ancient times, they were called the "Forefather of Mountains." Sima Qian wrote that Emperor Wu of Han sent men to find the Yellow River here. The mountains likely began forming during the Late Triassic period. This happened when the Cimmerian Plate collided with Siberia. This movement even helped close the ancient Paleo-Tethys Ocean. Today, the range is very quiet and hard to travel through. Only two roads cross its length. These are Highway 219 and Highway 109.

There are many high points to see in the Kunlun range. The highest peak is the Kunlun Goddess Peak. It reaches a height of 7,167 m in the western part of the range. In the center, you can find the Arka Tagh. This area has peaks like Ulugh Muztagh, which is 6,973 m tall. There is also a special Kunlun Volcanic Group. It is made of over 70 volcanic cones. These cones are very high, even though they are not mountains. The last eruption there was on May 27, 1951.

For many people, the Kunlun Mountains are a place of magic.

In Chinese mythology, Kunlun was seen as a paradise for Taoists. Some old stories say it is the center of heaven and earth. It was thought to be a staircase that reaches up to the sky. Legends say the Queen Mother of the West lived in these mountains. Many famous stories, like Chang'e flying to the moon, come from this mythology. To many, the mountains are the birthplace of a whole nation. They remain a symbol of wonder and ancient history.

The Kunlun Mountains are one of the longest mountain chains in Asia.

They form the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. This massive range is located in Western China. It sits just south of the Tarim Basin. To the south lies the sparsely populated Changtang region. The mountains stretch from the Pamirs in Tajikistan to Qinghai province. They form a natural boundary for the Taklamakan and Gobi Deserts. In China, these mountains are often called the "Forefather of Mountains."

Geological forces created this vast landscape millions of years ago. The range formed during the Late Triassic period. This occurred when the Cimmerian Plate collided with Siberia. This massive collision resulted in the closing of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean.

This history shaped the high peaks and deep basins we see today. The mountains act as a major watershed for the continent. For example, the Bayan Har Mountains divide the catchment basins of two major rivers. These are the Yangtze River and the Yellow River.

The Kunlun range consists of several distinct parts and branches. The Altyn Tagh, or Altun Range, is a chief northern range. Its northeastern extension is known as the Qilian Shan. In the south, the range includes the Min Shan. The center of the mountains contains the Arka Tagh. This area features high points like Ulugh Muztagh at 6,973 m and Bukadaban Feng at 6,860 m. In the east, the peaks include Yuzhu Peak and Amne Machin. Amne Machin is the major eastern peak and marks the eastern edge of the range.

Water flows from these high peaks to support life in the lowlands. Several important rivers originate in the Kunlun Mountains. The Karakash River is also called the "Black Jade River." The Yurungkash River is known as the "White Jade River."

These rivers flow through the Khotan Oasis. Eventually, they reach the Taklamakan Desert. These water sources are vital for the regions surrounding the mountains.

High elevations define much of the Kunlun landscape. The highest point is the Kunlun Goddess Peak. It is located in the Keriya area of the western mountains. This peak reaches an elevation of 7,167 m. Some authorities suggest the range extends to Kongur Tagh at 7,649 m. Others link it to Muztagh Ata at 7,546 m. However, those mountains are closely linked to the Pamir group. The range is also home to the Kunlun Volcanic Group. This group contains over 70 volcanic cones. These cones are not considered volcanic mountains, but they are very high. The last eruption in this group occurred on May 27, 1951.

Traveling through this 3,000 km long range is quite difficult. The mountains have very few roads. In fact, only two roads cross the entire length. In the west, Highway 219 runs from Yecheng, Xinjiang, to Lhatse, Tibet.

Further east, Highway 109 crosses between Lhasa and Golmud. These paths provide the only major connections through the rugged terrain.

The Kunlun Mountains hold deep significance in Chinese culture and mythology. Originally, Kunlun was a mythical mountain in Taoist belief. It was seen as a paradise and a semi-mythical region. The *Classic of Mountains and Seas* describes it as a divine capital. Some legends say it is the center of heaven and earth. It was even described as a staircase to the sky. Many famous myths, such as Chang'e flying to the moon, originate from this mythology. The mountains are considered the ancestral birthplace of the Chinese nation.