The Story

It’s one of those places that’s surprisingly close to the main road, yet easy to miss if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Once you step inside, the atmosphere shifts from “everyday neighbourhood” to a quiet memorial space.

Where is the Chinese Cemetery in Gilgit Baltistan

The Chinese Cemetery is located in Danyore Valley, about 8–10 km from Gilgit city, just off the Karakoram Highway. It lies across the Gilgit River from the main town, tucked near residential streets and small institutions. From outside, it looks like a modest walled park; only once you step inside do you see the tombs, trees and central memorial tower.

Reaching the cemetery from Gilgit city

From Gilgit city centre, it’s a short 10–20 minute drive or rickshaw ride to reach China Yadgar, depending on traffic. Travellers staying nearby can also visit by bicycle or even on foot as part of a longer walk through Danyore. Most visitors stop here during a Gilgit city tour or while travelling along the KKH towards Hunza or Skardu, adding a reflective pause to an otherwise scenery-heavy itinerary.

What you’ll see at the Chinese Cemetery

As soon as you walk in, you'll see how well the space is set up. It's simple, balanced, and built to honor the workers in a way that feels respectful and quietly powerful.

Layout and design of the memorial park

Inside the gate, there are paths lined with trees that lead to a central memorial tower or obelisk. Chinese characters and dedication text are often used to mark these paths. There are four neat quadrants in the cemetery, and each one has the same arched concrete tombs in the same shape and color. This uniform design gives everyone a strong sense of discipline and a common goal, no matter what their rank or role is.

Names written in Chinese, along with dates or places of origin, are often found on tombstones. There may also be information boards or pictures of the construction of the Karakoram Highway on display, depending on how well the area is being maintained. These help visitors connect the graves to the road they took to get here.

Quiet reflection and photography

Despite being close to the highway, the atmosphere inside is calm: cool shade under the pines, soft light on grey stone, and distant views of mountains. It’s a place that naturally invites reflection rather than chatter.

Take a slow walk along the rows, read the names where you can, and notice the ages on the graves. Many of the workers were young men far from home. For photographers, wide shots of the symmetrical tombs framed by trees, and close-ups of inscriptions, tell a powerful story without needing many words.

Visiting respectfully

A visit here is less about “touring” and more about paying respect. If you treat it like a quiet memorial, slow steps, low voice, and mindful photography, you’ll naturally experience the place the way it’s meant to be felt.

Etiquette at the Chinese Cemetery

The Chinese Cemetery is a working memorial and burial site, not a picnic spot or selfie backdrop. Keep voices low, avoid stepping on graves and do not climb on the central monument or boundary walls. If any caretakers or visitors are present, ask before filming or taking close-up photos of them.

Entry is typically free, and the grounds are maintained with support from Chinese authorities and local caretakers. Treat the site with the same care you would give any place of mourning: move gently, leave nothing behind, and keep the space clean for others.

When to visit

Mornings and late afternoons are the best times to visit, with softer light and cooler temperatures that suit quiet reflection and photography. Most visits last 20–40 minutes enough to walk the paths, read a few graves and spend a moment by the central monument. The cemetery is easy to combine with other nearby attractions such as Danyore rock carvings, Bab-e-Gilgit, or a viewpoint stop on the Karakoram Highway.

Why add Chinese Cemetery to your Gilgit itinerary

Most trips to Gilgit Baltistan focus on mountains, lakes and meadows, but the Chinese Cemetery adds something different: history, geopolitics and a very human story in a small, manageable space. Standing here, the phrase “Friendship Highway” between Pakistan and China feels real and earned, not just a slogan.

If you’re already driving the KKH, consider pairing a short stop at the Chinese Cemetery with a roadside viewpoint and a cup of local chai. Together, they create a simple “Pak–China friendship” loop that adds depth and meaning to your time in and around Gilgit.