I’m sure you already know about this but… I spent a summer in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 climbing and skiing. Plenty of big mountains. Very few trees. Endless Vol Biv possibilities. An epic trip would be to fly around Lake Issyk Khul (SP?). A 90 km long lake surrounded by 15,000ft+ mountains. You would be in the heart of the Tien Shan mtns.

Tim

Kashgar!! XingZiang!!! That’s not China that’s similar to the Gaza Strip.
This area is where Beijing is most paranoid of seperatist movements, plus the terrorist threats announced for China during the 2008 olympics! Plus the Olympic torch run was happening there at that time..

Bad place, Bad timing…….

If I was asked about XingZiang, Kashgar I would have told them otherwise…….

The extreme western parts of China?… it’s possible to go there but it’s done with connections through the front door in Beijing, and with papers and instructions from high officials.

With this scenario If the little shit policeman or military calls Beijing he may loose his job or stay longer in his post..
Xingjiang!! , no Chinese wants to be there, it’s the worst place to be posted…

Now….. for the rest of China and Yunnan where I explore and fly officials are usualy concerned about our safety, do we have a ride home, are you aware of the village people on the mountain (friendliest people ever)..They never bother us, they look at us fly, ask questions, laugh, smoke cigaretts…

In my 4 years living and exploring rural China, never I have been asked for my passport or ID,(unless taking a comercial flight or booking in a hotel) including landing in a military property in Kunming city!, flying in front of military radar ! and landing next to a road with police going by.. not all the same day of course..

Yunnan and eastern Himilayas has lots of unexplored areas.

If you or anyone needs info about flying in China or Tibet contact me…..

Mike

Sounds like you had an interesting trip in China. I have spent the last 5 or 6 years flying in China so i can imagine how you feel. I have flown in most places however not in the west. There is a site called Lanzhou at the end of the celestial mountains (i’ve heard it is epic), there is not a lot of experienced pilots in China and so they tend not to explore these sites. I think Brad Sanders may be keen to come and explore this area, he seemed pretty interested when i mentioned it to him in Nepal this year.

I have a few Chinese friends who know all of these areas. This is the best way of avoiding trouble. Failing that leave all valuables including any forms of identification in a city with a friend. With no English, no identification and few RMB, the authorities will loose patience pretty quickly.

I have a Chinese friend who did over 150Km in Mongolia too. No Everest type mountains but hundreds of kilometers or rolling grassy hills!

I am in the UK at the moment but hopefully in China in a month or so.