Which mountain range in western China separates the Tibetan Plateau from the Tarim Basin?

The Kunlun Mountains separate the Tibetan Plateau from the Tarim Basin in western China.

The range forms the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau and runs along the southern side of the Tarim Basin, which contains the Taklamakan Desert. It extends for more than 3,000 kilometers from the Pamirs through Xinjiang and Qinghai.

The Kunlun system is part of the high-mountain landscape surrounding the Tibetan Plateau. Its highest summit is Liushi Shan, at about 7,167 meters. Rivers such as the Karakash and Yurungkash descend from the range and reach oases near Khotan.

A common mix-up is with the Tian Shan, which lies north of the Tarim Basin, or the Himalayas, which form the plateau’s southern edge. The Kunlun Mountains are also associated with the Altyn-Tagh and Qilian ranges, whose boundaries are defined somewhat differently by different geographic traditions.