24 September 2025
Today was the day we ventured to Muztagh Glacier No. 2. Most people only visit Glacier No. 1, because that’s the one officially designated as a tourist attraction. Glacier No. 2, meanwhile, remains off the map—no ticket booth, no infrastructure, and no clear road. You can only reach it if a local guide brings you in.
Muztagh itself holds a special place in local culture. The mountain—often called Muztagh Ata—is believed by many communities to be a sacred, protective presence. For generations, herders and villagers have relied on the mountain’s “spirit” for safe passage and good grazing. So even when you go for a “glacier day trip,” you’re actually stepping into a landscape layered with tradition, belief, and history.
Getting There: Where “Road” Is Just an Idea
We met our local guide early in the morning and transferred to another jeep. Calling what we rode on a “road” might be giving it too much credit: it was basically a long stretch of hard rocks and sand.
The ride was so bumpy that at one point I literally hit my head on the roof. The entire time I kept thinking of the saying 老马识途—“an old horse knows the way home”—because to us, everything looked like endless, deserted land. Yet somehow, our guide drove with complete confidence and expertly navigated this barren maze until we reached a small cluster of yurts and parked there.
Arriving at Glacier No. 2
Although Glacier No. 2 isn’t an official site, there were still quite a few people in the area—locals, travellers, and herders offering horse rides. You can walk to the glacier (the path is long but doable), but we decided to ride the horses. Honestly? It was fun, and it definitely saved some energy for the actual walking on the ice later.
Our jeep driver doubled as our “glacier guide,” bringing us around to different viewpoints. And by “tour,” I mean we wandered around, climbed onto the ice in safe sections, and took photos from every angle. He warned us multiple times to be careful—and despite the warnings, we still slipped and fell. Several times. Thankfully, nothing serious, but yes, walk slowly.
It was cold on the glacier, but we came well prepared. And since the wind was mild that day, it wasn’t too harsh at all.
About Glacier No. 2
Our main guide told us that the environment here is extremely fragile. Some parts are already visibly damaged because of visitors stepping on thin sections. Out of the four glaciers in this area, Glacier No. 2 is considered the prettiest and most preserved.
To be honest, a glacier is… a big block of ice. Beautiful, yes. Impressive, definitely—especially because it appears in such contrast to the surrounding desert-like rocky mountains. But it’s not as vast as the massive glaciers you see in the Arctic or Scandinavia. Still, it’s a rare chance to get close to this type of geography, especially in such an unexpected location.
Reflections: Geography, Culture, and Life in Southern Xinjiang
The harsh reality is that the landscape leading to the glacier is bare and mostly the same shade of brown. Not much “scenery” as you would imagine.
But what is fascinating is the human story.
People have lived here for thousands of years—in a place that is so barren, so dry, and so harsh. This land has seen caravans, empires, wars, and cultural exchanges, all because it sat in the central artery of the Silk Road. Civilisations rose here, disappeared here, and left behind ruins—some preserved, many lost without a trace.
At first glance, this region looks empty. But when you think about how much history happened on this land, and how people still live here today, you can’t help but feel a deep respect.
Ending the Day
The glacier was our main activity for the day. By around 3 or 4 PM, we were done and headed back. The weather turned colder, so we stayed indoors, warmed up, and rested for the next day’s journey.
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