A brutal road to Jang Rang La: extremely low oxygen for engine combustion

Jang Rang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.793m (19,005ft) above the sea level located in the Shannan Prefecture of Tibet, an autonomous region of China on the northern side of the Himalayas. It's one of the world's highest motorable roads.

Jang Rang La

The road to the summit, also known as Shangrang La and XiaRang La, is extreme. 4x4 vehicles only. It’s a gravel mule track. The bigger problem than the condition of the road is extremely low oxygen for engine combustion. If your car is not properly prepared, it will not have enough power to do the climb, and especially considering that the track is very steep, and rough. The oxygen levels here are less than half of those found at sea level. Most people experience at least some minor symptoms of altitude sickness when going over passes like this. Minor symptoms include a headache, shortness of breath and nausea. Many Chinese and foreigners, who cross this pass on the bus, take an oxygen can or oxygen pillow with them to help relieve some of the symptoms. It’sone of the highest roads of the country.
The road is an old unsurfaced track ending near the Indian border. It’s impassable during winter months. Unfortunately access to the area for non-Chinese nationals is very difficult.