Kangxiwar

Kangxiwar
Kangxiwar memorial signage
Kangxiwar
Coordinates: 36°12′20″N 78°45′45″E / 36.20556°N 78.76250°E / 36.20556; 78.76250
CountryChina
RegionXinjiang
PrefectureHotan Prefecture
CountyPishan County
TownshipXaidulla
Elevation
4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Kangxiwar
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese康西瓦
Simplified Chinese康西瓦
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinKāngxīwǎ
Uyghur name
Uyghurكەڭشىۋەر
Transcriptions
Latin Yëziqikengshiwer

Kangxiwar (Chinese: 康西瓦; pinyin: Kāng xī wǎ; Uyghur: كەڭشىۋەر) is the location of a deserted town on the southwest side of the Kunlun Mountains. It is on the bank of the Karakash River in the western Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It is also the base of the route to Hotan from the Karakash valley via the Hindutash pass. According to Chinese sources, Kangxiwar means "place with mine" in Uyghur.

During the Sino-Indian War of 1962, Kangxiwar served as the forward headquarters for the Xinjiang Military Command. The military cemetery of those killed in the war is still located here. There is also a highway maintenance crew house at Kangxiwar at the present time. China National Highway 219 (G219), the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, runs through here. Following the G219 southeast will lead to Dahongliutan and Tianshuihai, the latter of which is in Aksai Chin. China National Highway 580 is under construction connecting Kangxiwar directly with Hotan. It is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

Kangxiwar Daban or Koshbel Pass (lit.'"twin pass"') is a mountain pass located at the elevation of 4,250 metres (13,940 ft) downstream to the west.