China has us beat in the yak cavalry department (but maybe not the Canadians)
A recent post by China’s Xinhua/CDN news service detailed the elite yak troopers stationed along the country’s more remote borders.
The Xinjiang Military Region border regiment patrol the Pamir mountain range and the report says that yaks are the only means of transportation available in the area at altitudes above 13,000 feet. The area the yakmen roam is called “Death Valley” and the “Blood-Stained Path” which probably sounds nicer in Chinese.
Although their webgear and kit looks mad cheap, (almost like its made in China airsoft stuff, right?) you have to admit those leather Type 59 holsters and sweet folding-stocked Type 81s are pretty fly.
I have to admit, though, it does remind me of the Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen of my childhood.
“China’s Xinhua/CDN news service detailed the elite yak troopers stationed along the country’s more remote borders.” As in, keeping the pesky Tibetans from liberating their nation that China invaded some 60 odd years ago? Nice job, helping promote their propaganda piece [altho’ I have to admit “Yak cavalry” does just have an inherent comedic property…]
Haaaah! Good one on the Tibet barb! All Chinese news is inherently propaganda, BUT, these yak troopies patrol the Pamir mountain range which is the old Northern Silk road between ancient China and what is now Tajikistan, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. Tibet is the Himalayas. Though when the Dali Lama was spirited out of Tibet by the CIA, it was via yak-borne extraction, which I guess is a cool tie-in. Thanks for stopping by