What are the most spectacular roads in China?

Located in the eastern part of Asia, and bordering 14 countries, China covers 9.6 million square kilometers. It’s the world's third-largest country by land area and it hosts more than 500 brutal driving experiences, listed as the most spectacular roads in the world. Due to its size and difficult geography, featuring mountains, plateaus, deserts, and plains, it has scenic, mountainous, and even flooding roads. It also holds many records, such as the world's longest traffic jam: a 100 km, 12-day standstill that occurred in August 2010, when the country witnessed the mother of all traffic jams.

When travelling to China, you can’t miss the infamous Tian Men Shan Big Gate, a road with 99 turns, built in 1998, that offers a thrilling 11-kilometer journey; or the iconic Guoliang Tunnel, which was dug through the side of a mountain by hand. Built in the early 1970s it is one of the most famous Chinese tunnel roads. It’s also worth driving the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, one of the world's highest roads.

And if you like challenging mountain roads situated at high elevations, remember to check out our list with the highest roads in China, where you’ll find real gems, such as Chāmkang, a mountain pass at 5.953m (19,530ft) above sea level.

Kuqiong Gangri (Kuoqionggangri) Glacier is the name of a glacier located in Damxung, a county of Lhasa City in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. A new gravel road to the glacier tops out at 5.606m (18,392ft) above the sea level.

Dongshan Tunnel is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 3.850m (12,631ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Gansu and Qinghai provinces of northwest China.

Bayi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.366m (17,604ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Hotan County, a county in the southwest of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Rutog County, in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Shel La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.904m (16,089ft) above the sea level, located in Dêngqên County, in the east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

Kagye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.814m (15,793ft) above the sea level, located in Karuo District of Qamdo, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Haitar Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.882m (12,736ft) above the sea level, located in Gangca County of northeastern Qinghai province, on the northern shore of Qinghai Lake, in China.

Jiabuxi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.705m (18,717ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Xigazê Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Tucked away on the border between Shannan and Ngari Prefectures, in Tibet, China, a high mountain road running from Qusum to Diyag is a defiant adventure.

Huahu Cliff tunnel road is the name of an awe-inspiring route through remote areas located in Pingshun County, in the southeast of Shanxi province, China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Tremo La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.705m (15,436ft) above sea level, located on the Tibet/Bhutan border. The area was closed to residents and foreigners in 1962.

Tangkar La is an international high mountain pass located on the border of India and China.

773 Country Road is a high mountain road located in Ngari Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Demo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.817m (15,803ft) above the sea level, located in Zayü County, in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Mada La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.949m (16,236ft) above the sea level, located in Nyima County, the westernmost county in Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Tianhedong Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.590m (18,339ft) above the sea level, located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Zhanailakashan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.760m (15,616ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai province, China.

232 Country Road is a high mountain road running entirely over 4.000 meters above the sea level located in Ngamring County, a remote section of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. 

Kanda Shan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.656m (15,275ft) above the sea level, located in Nangqên County of the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the southernmost county-level division of Qinghai province, in China.

Mihman Yoli Pass is an international high mountain pass on the border of Afghanistan and China, at an elevation of 4.787m (15,705ft).

Dadongshu Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.120m (13,517ft) above the sea level, located in Qilian County of Qinghai Province, part of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Drakde La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.611m (15,127ft) above the sea level, located in the Maqên County of Qinghai Province in China, under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Jiangxia Wall Hung Road is the name of a very defiant drive located in Hui County, in the southeast of Gansu Province, in China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Bingchacha Road is said to be the most primitive road in China. It’s a new stretch of the G219 national road, running from Yunnan county to Tibet.

X603 (County Road 603) is a high mountain road located in Nyima County, Nagqu, Tibet, in China.

Riong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.153m (16,906ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Aba La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.190m (17,027ft) above the sea level, located in Seni District, within the Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, western People's Republic of China.

Trel La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.441m (17,851ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Nagarzê and Lhozhag counties, in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

Located in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, near the border with Nepal, the road from Kangbeicun to Zhangcun is a challenging adventure.

Dangbe La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.183m (1,7004ft) above the sea level, located in Xaitongmoin County or Zhetongmön, in Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

214 County Road is an asphalted high mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, bordering Nepal.

Bangmeilong Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.190m (17,027ft) above the sea level, located in Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, near the border with Bhutan. 

Xiaochaomen is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.320m (4,330ft) above the sea level, located in Qianjiang District, in the southeastern part of Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China.

Chhatang La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.674m (18,615ft) above the sea level, located on the Nepal-China border. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Puling La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.954m (16,253ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Mount Li (Lishan Mountain) is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.034m (3,392ft) above the sea level, located in Lintong District, in the prefecture-level city of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, Northwest 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.

Located on the boundary between Garzê and Sichuan, in China, the road from Ka'erza to Yinkecun is a very challenging experience.

Domo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.434m (14,547ft) above the sea level, located in Dêgê County, in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in far northwestern Sichuan province, China.

Namja La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.005m (16,420ft) above the sea level, located on the Nepal-China border.

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