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.

Located in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world.

Kulma Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,362m (14,311ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Tajikistan.

303 Provincial Road is an extreme high mountain road located in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. S303 runs entirely over the 4.200m above the sea level. The drive is simply terrible, with a notorius lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500-2,800 meters.

The Karakoram Highway (informally known as the KKH) is said to be the highest paved international road in the world, running between Western China and Pakistan. It's the road to paradise for those who love exploring the mountains, offering a once-in-a-lifetime road trip for adventure lovers.

Bum La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.508m (14,790ft) above sea level, located on the Indo-China border. The road through the pass has disastrous conditions, and only 4wd vehicles with competent drivers are allowed.

Najia is a high mountain town at an elevation of 5.154m (16,909ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Tielong Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.200m (17,060ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County in far western Tibet, in the People's Republic of China.

Running along the Hengduan Mountains, in China, the Yunnan-Tibet Highway is a very scenic drive. The road is 702-kilometer-long.

Dungda La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.090m (16,699ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

La Ken La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.190m (17,030ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

205 Provincial Road is one of the highest roads in the world. This extreme high mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, reaches a top elevation of 5.488m (18,005ft) above the sea level at Drong La. The road is unpaved, with some sections in very bad conditions.

Mi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.010m (16,437ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Spanggur Gap is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.308m (14,133ft) above the sea level, located on the border between India (Jammu and Kashmir state) and China.

Kye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.829m (19,124ft) above the sea level, located in the south-west of Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.

The new Lhasa-Nyingchi Highway, the longest high-grade highway in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, is one of the most spectacular drives in the world.

Located in Ngari Prefecture, in the central part of Tibet, in China, the 301 Provincial Road (S301) is a very scenic trip in the middle of nowhere.

Kilik Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.745m (15,567ft) above the sea level, located between Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan and Xinjiang in China.

Part of the G217 road (China National Highway 217), the Duku Highway is said to be one of the most beautiful roads of China crossing Tianshan Mountains from south to north.

Located in Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region, the Mi La Mountain Tunnel is one of the world’s highest vehicular tunnels at an average altitude of 4.752m (15,590ft) above the sea level.

Located in Ngari Prefecture, in the central part of Tibet, in China, the 206 Provincial Road (S206) is a lonely trip in the middle of nowhere.

Tai Tam Road is a very scenic drive located in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The journey is a plesaant surprise.

Daoda Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.175m (16,978ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China. 

Kompas La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.476m (17,965ft) above the sea level, located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China. 

Cho La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.593m (16,068ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayas.

Zizhu is a high mountain temple at an elevation of 4.474m (14,678ft) above the sea level, located in Dingqing County, in eastern Tibet, China.

Located in Ganluo County, Sichuan Province, in China, the Jinkou Grand Canyon Scenic Road is said to be one of the most scenic roads of the country.

Shengli Daban (Victory Pass) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.091m (13,421ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China in Northwest China.

Wenquan Daban (Hot Springs Daban) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.808m (19,055ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China. It’s one of the highest roads on Earth.

Kongka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.192m (17,034ft) above the sea level, located on the disputed region of Aksai Chin in the Chinese-Indian Line of Control.

Gela Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.172m (16,968ft) above the sea level, located in the Tanggula Mountains, a mountain range in the central part of the Tibetan Plateau in the People's Republic of China.

S217 is a very remote high mountain road located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in southwestern China. The road is mostly paved running entirely above the 4.200m above the sea level.

Jamgang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.257m (17,247ft) above the sea level, located in Nyalam County, in Tibet's Shigatse Prefecture.

The Demchok-Dêmqog is a high mountain border at an elevation of 4.219m (13,841ft) above the sea level, located on the Line of Actual Control between Jammu and Kashmir (India) and Tibet Autonomous Region (China).

Located in Tibet, an autonomous region of China on the northern side of the Himalayas, the Cho Oyu base camp sits at an elevation of 5.573m (18,284ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

210 Provincial Road is a very scenic drive in the heart of the Jiajin Mountains on the western part of Sichuan province, China.

Red Mud Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.732m (15,524ft) above the sea level, located in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The pass is traversed by a challenging high mountain road 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.

Located in the prefecture-level city of Xinxiang, in Henan Province, China, the Huilong-Hanging Tunnel is a very challenging road. Be careful: this road is not for the sissies. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

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.

Dza La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.690m (15,384ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu City County, Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai Province, in China

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