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.
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.
The rugged road to Dza La: a high mountain drive in Qinghai province
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
Driving Through Jianan Natural Cave Road in China
Jianan Natural Cave Road is a narrow, winding passage built inside a natural cave in Changshun County, Guizhou Province, China. This section of Tongzu Road was expanded to improve access for local villagers. It’s one of the few roads in the world that runs through a cave.
Chenjiayuan Hanging Highway is a dangerous road cut from a cliff
Chenjiayuan Hanging Highway is the name of a challenging mountain road located in Lingchuan County in Shanxi Province, in China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
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.
Get behind the wheels for Yangi Daban, one of Earth’s highest roads
Yangi Daban is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.899m (19,353ft) above the sea level, located in the northwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.
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.
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.
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.
Lanak La: Driving the high-altitude border track in Aksai Chin
Lanak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,495m (18,028ft) above sea level, situated in the disputed Aksai Chin region. This pass sits on the territorial line between India (Ladakh) and China (Tibet), making it one of the most politically sensitive and geographically isolated mountain crossings in the world.
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.
Is the road through Koshbel Duban in Xinjiang difficult to drive?
Crossing the Koshbel Duban is like driving through a desert made of ice and rock. At 4,279m (14,038ft) above sea level, this pass in southwestern Xinjiang is a critical point on the legendary China National Highway 219 (G219). Also known as the Tibet-Xinjiang Highway, this is one of the highest paved roads on the planet. It’s a place where the horizon never ends, the oxygen is scarce, and the wind blows so hard it feels like it’s trying to push your vehicle off the plateau.
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.
How to drive to the summit of Lame La in Ngari Prefecture
Lame La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,832m (15,853ft) above sea level, located in Ngari Prefecture 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.
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.
218 Country Road (S218): Conquering Buze La Pass at 5,418m
The 218 Country Road (County Road 218 or S218) is a famously rugged high mountain road located in the southern Tibet Autonomous Region of China, offering one of the most challenging drives in the Tibetan/Nepalese Himalayas. This unpaved, high-altitude journey traverses the remote Ra Chu Valley and demands maximum preparedness from all travelers.
Driving the defiant X716: A 223km high-altitude journey across Tibet
The X716 (716 County Road) is an epic high mountain road located in the Ngari Prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It is one of the most remote and challenging unpaved routes in the country, designed only for those prepared to handle extreme altitudes and a total lack of modern facilities.
The road to Sha Zi La isn't an easy one
Sha Zi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.717m (15,475ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
The journey is the destination along the Yunguichuan Cliff sky road
Tucked away in Wuxi County, in People's Republic of China, the defiant Yunguichuan Cliff sky road is a marvel of engineering dug out by hand.
A paved road to the summit of Kudi Pass
Kudi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.312m (10,866ft) above the sea level, locared in Kargilik County, in southwest of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.
How to Travel the Duku Highway to Laerdun Daban?
Laerdun Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,723m (8,933ft) above sea level, located in the northwestern part of China.
A road through West Taiji Nai´er Lake
West Taiji Nai´er Lake (Xitai Jiner Lake) is a beautiful two-color lake located in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, in China.
Driving the unpaved X701 road to Lawoche La in Tibet
The X701 County Road is one of the most demanding high-altitude routes in the world, located in the Ngari Prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Running for 425 km (264 miles), this unpaved corridor is a logistical challenge that tops out at the Lawoche La pass, reaching a staggering elevation of 5,387m (17,673ft) above sea level.
A road trip to Sing La is truly epic
Sing La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.914m (16,122ft) above 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.
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.
Kheriya ancient road is a drive you'll never forget
Kheriya ancient road is the name of a 4x4 unforgettable adventure through the infamous Kunlun Mountains in Tibet, China.
S201, a road through the mountains
S201 Provincial Road is a high mountain road located in Zayü County, in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
How to drive the military track to Nilung La?
The Nilung La is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Reaching an elevation of 5,730m (18,799ft), it is one of the highest roads in the world. The road, also known as Zulung La or Zulang La, is a totally unpaved military track that connects Naiwuse with Nerbole. Driving at this altitude is a high-risk operation that requires a vehicle specifically prepared for extreme low-pressure environments and a driver experienced in high-altitude desert logistics.
Driving the 5,486m Samye La: A high-altitude challenge in Tibet
Samye La is a high mountain pass at a staggering elevation of 5,486 m (17,998 ft) above sea level, located in Zhongba County, within the Xigazê Prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Standing near the 5,500m mark, it is one of the highest navigable points in the world.
Chola Shan Pass
Chola Shan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.920m (16,141ft) above the sea level, located in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, an autonomous prefecture of northwestern Sichuan, in China.
How to drive the County Road 787 in the Tibetan Plateau?
The County Road 787 is a high-altitude unpaved corridor located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Spanning 139 km (86 miles), this north-south route connects the X711 road with the China National Highway 219. Driving this track involves operating at a sustained elevation of over 5,000m, reaching a maximum summit of 5,518m (18,103ft). It is one of the highest roads in the country.
Driving the hand-carved Xiya Valley Hanging Tunnel
The Xiya Valley Hanging Tunnel, also known as Xiyagou Guabian Road, is a legendary feat of manual labor hidden deep within the Taihang Mountains of China's Shanxi Province. This is not a standard highway; it is a raw, hand-carved spiral through vertical cliffs that was hammered out over three decades. The road was the only lifeline for Xiyagou village, and today it remains one of the most technical and visually overwhelming drives in the world, where the layers of asphalt overlap inside the mountain like a concrete corkscrew.
Dajia Lake
Dajia Lake is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 5.247m (17,214ft) above the sea level, located in the Shigatse Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Yak La
Yak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.357m (14,294ft) above the sea level, located in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the northwest of Yunnan province, China.
Gyandrak Monastery
Gyandrak is a high mountain monastery at an elevation of 5.090m (16,699ft) above the sea level, located in Purang County of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
How to drive the military road to Tun Jun La?
Tun Jun La is an international high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,976m (16,325ft) above sea level, situated on the border between India and China. Located in the Kumaun Himalayas and the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, the pass is served by an unpaved military road. This route is a critical tactical corridor and is strictly closed to foreigners. Logistically, the road is only suitable for specialized 4x4 vehicles due to the extreme altitude, steep gradients, and the total absence of civilian infrastructure along the 19.5 km transit.