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.

Lunkar La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.390 m (17,683ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Xigazê Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

Lung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.216m (17,112ft) above the sea level, located in Gyaca County, a county of Shannan located in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. 

Located in Mainling County, in the prefecture-level city of Nyingchi, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Doxong La tunnel was finished in 2021.

Tro La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.390m (17,683ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Lhari and Gongbo’gyamda counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Gõtse La (Gray Head Pass) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.628m (15,183ft) above the sea level, located in Dêgê County, in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in far northwestern Sichuan province, China.

Xila Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.292m (17,362ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Mata La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.348m (17,545ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Comai and Cona counties, in the south of the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Hongjing Road is the name of a very curvy winding mountain road located in Fangshan District, in the southwest of Beijing province, in China.

Tipta La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.118m (16,791ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal. It’s an important trade route.

Yilanga La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.555m (18,225ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

Located in Zezhou County, in the southeast of Shanxi province, China, a spiraling section of the National Highway 207 is one of the most challenging drives in the world.

Samto La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.064m (16,614ft) above the sea level, located on the Nepal-China border.

Chiasa La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.887m (16,033ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu County, in Qinghai Province of China.

Changlashan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.708m (15,446ft) above the sea level, located in Zadoi County, in the southwest of Qinghai Province, China, bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region to the south.

Kura La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.395m (17,700ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Ngamring and Nyalam counties, in Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Hongshan Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.530m (14,862ft) above the sea level, located in Northwestern Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.

Churi Meri La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.507m (14,786ft) above the sea level, located in Nangqên County, in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai province, China.

Norgo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.256m (17,244ft) above the sea level, located in Coqên County in the southeast of Ngari Prefecture in the west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Kigunaru pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.407m (17,739ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County, in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Lajyung La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.000m (16,404ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.

Xia Quepu is a glacial lake at an elevation of 4.918m (16,135ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Lungzang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.319m (17,450ft) above the sea level, located in Xaitongmoin County, Shigatse, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Laofan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.155m (13,631ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Gansu and Qinghai provinces of northwest China.

Anglet Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.189m (10,462ft) above the sea level, located in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Northern Xinjiang, in China.

Nangpa La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.884m (16,023ft) above the sea level, located in Baiyü County of far western Sichuan province, China.

Tielimaiti Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.335m (10,941ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region under the administration of the Aksu Prefecture, in China. The road offers breathtaking views of giant peaks, summits and deep gorges.

Lanma La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.098m (16,725ft) above the sea level, located in Tingri County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Debo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.178m (16,988ft) above the sea level, located in Gê'gyai County, in Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. 

Sebseb La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.442m (17,854ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngamring County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. 

Takum La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.590m (15,059ft) above the sea level, located in Qusum County in the Shannan Prefecture of Tibet, in China.

Mt. Rawobanba is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.107m (13,474ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Zixia Palace is a stunning building at an elevation of 3.245m (10,646ft) above the sea level, located in Dongchuan District, in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China. It’s a road that combines thrills, excitement and beauty.

Pang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.736m (15,538ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Jangkhu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.935m (16,190ft) above the sea level, located in Seni District, within the Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China.

Quzhong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.885m (16,026ft) above the sea level, located in the Nagqu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Boi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.950m (16,240ft) above the sea level, located in Cona County, in south-eastern Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. This route is not recommended if your passengers are prone to car sickness. The climb is terrible, with 62 sharp hairpin turns.

Xuebaoding Snow Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.015m (13,172ft) above the sea level, located in Songpan county of northwestern Sichuan province, in China.

Kawak Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.126m (16,817ft) above the sea level, located in Pishan County, within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, under the administration of the Hotan Prefecture in China.

X607 (County Road 607) is a high mountain road located in Nyima County, Nagqu, Tibet, in China.

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