Karakul Lake Xinjiang

Extraordinarily beautiful Karakul Lake sits below the soaring snowcapped peak of Muztagh Ata (7509m) and has a couple of small Kyrgyz settlements along its western shore. Famed for its perfect reflections of the surrounding mountains, it's a popular stop between Kashgar and Tashkurgan, though the overnight yurt and homestays of years past are no longer available to international travellers.