The border starts in the north at the tripoint with Uzbekistan in the Ferghana Valley. The border proceeds roughly westwards, with a sharp Tajik protrusion at the town of Chorku; it almost reaches the Kayrakkum Reservoir, however a thin strip of Tajik territory lies between the reservoir and the border. It then turn southwards near the Tajik enclave of Kayragach before turning sharply eastwards upon reaching the Turkestan Range. The border then follows this range, and the Alay and Trans-Alay ranges, eastwards to the Chinese tripoint.