Tianwendian is the location of a Chinese border outpost in the disputed Aksai Chin region controlled by China (as part of Hotan County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang). It is in the Chip Chap River valley, north of Depsang Plains, close to China’s Line of Actual Control with India.
Military outpost
China originally established a military outpost in 1959 at Point 5243 (Chinese: 5243哨卡), which is at an elevation of 5243 meters above sea level. It was composed of a border company. In the run up to the 1962 war, China called the entire area Tianwendian Defence Area and used the Point 5243 post as its headquarters.
The newer Tianwendian post was established after the 1962 war. China said it was an astronomical observatory. A few years later India realised that it was an not an observatory but a military post. Over the years, China has continued to expand the post.
Around the time of the 2013 Daulat Beg Oldi incident, PLA constructed a radar station, a 11 m radome at an elevation of 5530m, at this outpost.
Forward Post 5390
Between 2006 and 2008, China constructed forward post 5390 (named after the highest point in that area).
India-China Border Meeting point
The highest of the five Border Personnel Meeting points is located near Tianwendian. The Indian camp at Daulat Beg Oldi serves as the counter-party for this meeting point.