Kashgar–Hotan railway

The Kashgar–Hotan railway or Kahe railway (Chinese: 喀什至和田铁路; pinyin: Kāshí zhì Hétián Tiělù, abbreviated Chinese: 喀和铁路; pinyin: Kā-Hé Tiělù), is a single-track, non-electrified, railway in Xinjiang, China between Kashgar and Hotan. The railway is 488.27 km (303.40 mi) in length and runs along the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, connecting all major cities and towns of the Southwestern Tarim Basin, including Shule, Akto, Yengisar, Yarkant (Shache), Poskam (Zepu), Karghilik (Yecheng), Pishan (Guma) and Karakax (Moyu). The line extends the Southern Xinjiang Railway south from Kashgar. Construction began in December 2008. The line opened to freight traffic on December 30, 2010. Passenger service began on June 28, 2011. Beyond Hotan, it continues as the Hotan–Ruoqiang railway.

If built, the proposed Khunjerab Railway, a part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, would link Islamabad in Pakistan to Hotan and the Chinese railway network. It also forms the Taklimakan Desert railway loop, together with sections of the Hotan–Ruoqiang railway, Southern Xinjiang railway, and Golmud–Korla railway.