Making Our Way Up Kunjirap Pass

Next, we drove west towards Kunjirap Pass. On the banks of the Taxkorgan River we saw a small pagoda built of earth, standing solitary beside the pebble covered river. We went inside the hollow pagoda, which was about the size of one room, Our guide said that many structures like this could be found around here, but few were as well-preserved as this one. We learned that during the height of the Silk Road, these buildings served as "hotels", or post stations, for merchants and foreign envoys. We could not help wondering if perhaps Marco Polo had once spent a night in this earth room.

Calling themselves descendants of the eagle, the Tajiks learn how to do the Eagle Dance at an early age.