What are the most spectacular roads in China?
Being the world's third-largest country by land area, China offers more than 500 brutal driving experiences, with some of the most challenging drives worldwide, including mountain roads, flooding roads or many records, as the World's Longest Traffic Jam: A 100km, 12-Day Standstill in August 2010, when the country witnessed the creation of the mother of all traffic jams, an epic event that unfolded over 12 agonizing days. The country is located in East Asia and covers 9.6 million square kilometers. It borders 14 countries and hosts mountains, plateaus, deserts, and plains.
The country hosts some of the most spectacular roads in the world, as Tian Men Shan Big Gate, the road with 99 turns. From its construction in 1998 to the thrilling 11-kilometer journey, the drive promises an unforgettable experience; Guoliang Tunnel, dug through the side of a mountain by hand is another challenging drive in the country. Built in the early 1970s, it has been dubbed as the road that does not tolerate any mistakes. It’s one of the most famous Chinese tunnel roads. And for those not scared of heights, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is one of the world's highest roads.
Medo La: a new military road on the Chinese-Indian border
Medo La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.915m (19,406ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and India. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.
Mintaka Pass
Mintaka Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.450m (14,599ft) above the sea level, located between Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan and Xinjiang in China.
An Explorer's Guide to Karakoram La
Karakoram Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.542m (18,182ft) above the sea level, located on the China-India border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
The Old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is not for the faint of heart
Located in Pingshun County, in the southeast of Shanxi province, China, the old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is a scary drive with an incline of about 30 degrees. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
S207 Provincial Route
S207 Provincial Route is a high mountain road located in the Ngari Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Road trip guide: Conquering Bongru La
Bongru La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.838m (19,153ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It's one of the highest roads of the country.
An awe-inspiring road to Quanshui Lake
Quanshui Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 5.137m (16,853ft) above the sea level, located in Tibet, north-east of the Himalayas, in the People's Republic of China.
Driving the road to Kiu La is not a piece of cake
Kiu La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.711m (18,736ft) above the sea level, located on the China-India border. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.
Ane La
Ane La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.370m (17,618ft) above the sea level, located on the China-India border.
203 Provincial Road (S203)
Located in Ngari Prefecture, in the central part of Tibet, in China, the 203 Provincial Road (S203) is a very challenging and scenic trip in the middle of nowhere.
Travel guide to the top of Kǒng Táng Lā
Kǒng Táng Lā is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.251m (17,227ft) above the sea level, located in Nyalam County of China’s Tibet autonomous region.
Driving to the summit of Bayanka La
Bayanka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.950m (16,236ft) above the sea level, located in Madoi county of Qinghai province, in China.
Dare to drive the dangerous Galong La
Galong Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.296m (14,094ft) above the sea level, located in the Nyingchi Prefecture in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Here's How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip To Niti Pass
Niti La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.086m (16,686ft) above sea level, located on the border of India and China.
Kura La
Kura La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.105m (16,748ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
Heihe-Blagoveshchensk ice road
Short ice road linking Heihe, a city of northern Heilongjiang province, in China and Blagoveshchensk, a city of Amur Oblast, in Russia. This seasonal road opens every winter in the frozen Amur River.
Driving the brutal Qizil Dawān
Qizil Dawān is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.317m (17,444ft) above the sea level, located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China.
Youzhuda Grand Canyon Wall Road is a drive you'll never forget
Located in Huailai county, in northwestern Hebei province, in China, the Youzhuda Grand Canyon Wall Road is a very challenging drive. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
Don’t glance down at your phone on Samye La
Samye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.486 m (17,998ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County, Xigazê Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Driving through the wild Galung La tunnel
Galongla Tunnel is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 3,771m (12,372ft) above the sea level located in southwestern Tibet's Nyingchi Prefecture, in China.
Hongshi Highway is an Internet celebrity of Yunnan
Hongshi Highway is a very defiant drive located in Shiping County, in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the southern part of the Yunnan province of China.
Lanak La: this road is not for timid drivers
Lanak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.495m (18,028ft) above the sea level, located on the disputed region of Aksai Chin, on the border of India and China.
Koshbel Duban
Koshbel Duban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.279m (14,038ft) above the sea level, located in southwestern Xinjiang, an autonomous region in western China.
Driving the wild paved road to Shan Da Ban
Shan Da Ban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.257m (17,247ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
Longga La
Longga La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.159m (16,925ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme south west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
An epic road to Cha Cang La
Cha Cang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.810m (15,780ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
Mob La
Mob La Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.802m (15,754ft) above the sea level located in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The pass is traversed by an extreme high mountain called 303 Provincial Road which runs entirely over the 4.200m above the sea level. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters.
Driving the cliff Jingdi Hanging Tunnel to Shenlongwan Village
Located in Shanxi province, Pingshun county, in China, the infamous Jingdi Hanging Tunnel is a very exciting drive surrounded by high mountains. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
X701, a winding road only for experienced drivers
701 County Road (X701) is a high mountain road located in the Ngari Prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.
The road to Lawoche La is truly an unforgettable experience
Lawoche La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.387m (17,673ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
Jerko La
Jerko La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.832m (15,853ft) above the sea level, located in Tibet, in the People's Republic of China. Great views of mountains all around. Many nomads and yaks.
Rezang La
Rezang La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.199m (17,057ft) above the sea level, located on the China-India border.
Lame La
Lame La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.832m (15,853ft) above the sea level, located in Tibet, in the People's Republic of China.
Adventure along the China National Highway 317
The 317 National Road is one of the most adventurous journeys in the world. The trip takes you through vast, open landscapes with majestic peaks in the heart of western China. The highway is infamously known for the bad driving surfaces and sharp mountain hairpin bends.
An Explorer's Guide to the Qinghai-Tibet Highway
Located in China, the Qinghai-Tibet Highway is one of the highest highways in the world, with an average elevation of above 4,000 meters.
Buduo La: this drive is not for timid drivers
Buduo La is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.825m (19,110ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, near the Indian border. It’s one of the highest roads on Earth.
Kungzhag La is one of the highest roads on Earth
Kungzhag La is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.780m (18,963ft) above the sea level, located on the Indian (Sikkim) and Chinese (Tibet) border. It’s one of the World's highest motorable roads.
The road to Khungyami La, a chillout in high mountains
Khungyami La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.844m (19,173ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and India. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.
Sobiya La
Sobiya La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.084m (16,679ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.