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.
Thaga La is an adventure track you will never forget
Thaga La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.411m (17,752ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, near the Indian border.
How to drive the restricted military track to Bedel Pass?
Bedel Pass (Pereval Bedel) is an international high mountain crossing at an elevation of 4,093m (13,428ft) above sea level, situated in the Tian Shan Mountains on the border between Kyrgyzstan (Issyk-Kul Region) and China (Xinjiang). Logistically, this is a restricted military zone and the border is currently closed to civilian transit. The access consists of a grueling 62 km gravel track that requires a heavy-duty 4x4 vehicle and specific border zone permits (propusk) to enter the sector.
Monda La is one of the highest paved roads on Earth
Monda La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.408m (17,742ft) above the sea level, located in the Nagarzê County of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Driving the extreme Tiankong Xian road to Hongpinshan and Tianhedong Daban
The Tiankong Xian is a high-altitude military and logistical road located in the southwestern part of the Hotan Prefecture, within the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of China. This 69.2 km (43 miles) corridor is officially one of the highest roads in the country, crossing several passes exceeding 5,400 meters above sea level.
The Ultimate Road Trip To Huoshaoyun
Huoshaoyun is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.765m (18,914ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China, in the northwest of the country. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.
Driving to Changlung Pangtung La: A 5.647m military mission in Xinjiang
Located in the remote Xinjiang autonomous region of Northwest China, the ascent to Changlung Pangtung La is a high-altitude operation that pushes motorized travel to its absolute limit. Reaching a staggering elevation of 5,647m (18,526ft) above sea level, this is one of the highest roads on the planet. It is a strictly functional military track where the vertical scale of the mountains and the geopolitical isolation of the Kunlun range create an environment where mechanical survival is the only priority.
How To Travel The Qinwang Winding Road
Qinwang Winding Road is the name of a breathtaking drive in the prefecture-level city of Xingtai, in the southern part of Hebei province, China. This winding asphalted road will make you excited and dizzy.
The road to Michen La isn’t an easy one
Michen La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.162m (16,935ft) above the sea level, located in Sog County in the Nagqu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
How to drive through the Jie La pass on the G219?
The Jie La is a high mountain pass located in the Himalayan range of Tibet, reaching an elevation of 4,936m (16,194ft) above sea level. The road to the summit is fully paved and forms part of the China National Highway 219 (G219). Spanning 31 km between Dingjiu and Dongjian in Ngamring County, this sector requires sustained operation at extreme altitudes, where oxygen levels are significantly reduced and weather conditions can compromise vehicle traction in minutes.
Sobiya La
Sobiya La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.084m (16,679ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
The road to Zimei Pass will take your breath away
Zimei Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.557m (14,950ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China. The road encompasses miles of stunning views through twisty hair pin corners, high elevations and steep grades.
Driving to Zezhang La: A 5.541m high-altitude mission in Shigatse
Located in the Ngamring County of the Shigatse prefecture, the drive to Zezhang La is a high-altitude endurance test that pushes motorized travel to its absolute limit. Reaching a staggering elevation of 5,541m (18,179ft) above sea level, this is one of the highest mountain passes of China. It is a raw, unpaved track where the vertical scale of the Himalayas and the notorious absence of oxygen create an environment where mechanical survival is the only priority.
Wanzhang Cliff Highway is for experienced drivers only
Located in Hefeng County, in the southwestern part of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, Wanzhang Cliff Highway is the name of a very dangerous drive. Along the way you’ll have to deal with some dangerous drop offs. One mistake can have serious consequences.
Travelling the strategic China National Highway 580
China National Highway 580 (G580) is the name of a strategic mountain road located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China, in the northwest of the country, close to Central Asia.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the S307 Provincial Road
The challenging S307 Provincial Road is an absolute must for road lovers. Located in Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, if you love to drive, you will love it.
Driving the S306 to Budrang La: 80 hairpins on the Tibetan plateau
Budrang La is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,912m (16,115ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Part of the Provincial Road 306 (S306), the drive is a grueling 86.5 km transit that tests the limits of vehicle aspiration and driver endurance in one of the most isolated regions of the Himalayas.
Yaha Pass
Yaha Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.641m (15,226ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China. Its many twists, turns and narrows can pose a challenge to even the most experienced drivers. The road is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time.
Ngamba La: Driving the high-altitude border between Qinghai and Sichuan
Situated on the high-altitude boundary between the provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai, Ngamba La (also known as Anba La) is a significant mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,583m (15,036ft) above sea level. This pass serves as a strategic gateway on the Tibetan Plateau, connecting the remote pastoral landscapes of both provinces through a demanding high-mountain environment.
Travel guide to the top of Mobdi La
Mobdi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.788m (18,989ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous regions of China. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.
A road trip on the Lapche La pass is truly epic
Lapche La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.933m (16,184ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.
Road to Sepu Kangri: a truly outstanding 4x4 adventure
Sepu Kangri is a high mountain peak located in Biru County, within Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. A minor gravel road north of the peak climbs up to 4.751m (15,587ft) above the sea level.
Lamar La
Lamar La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.916m (16,128ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China.
Dare to drive the dangerous 711 County Road
County Road 711 (X711) is a high-altitude mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Known for its extreme isolation and brutal conditions, it is one of the highest roads in the country, constantly challenging drivers with altitudes that rarely drop below 4,500 meters.
Shuangping Cliff Road (Cliff Heaven Road): Driving China's Hand-Dug Tunnel
Shuangping Cliff Road, also known locally as Cliff Heaven Road (端公岩), is a highly challenging and historically significant tunnel route located in the Kaizhou District of Chongqing Municipality, China. This paved road is one of the country's famous 'tunnel roads' (Guoliang style), known for its sheer vertical exposure and the incredible effort required for its construction.
Get behind the wheels for Guangzhou Green Tunnel Road
Guangzhou Green Tunnel Road is a very scenic tunnel, with open windows on the top, located in Guangzhou, the capital and the largest city of Guangdong province in China.
How to drive the G109 road through the frozen Fenghuo Pass?
Fenghuo Pass (also known as Fenghuoshan) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,961m (16,276ft) above sea level, located in the Tanggula Mountains of the Tibetan Plateau. Traversed by the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (G109), it is a critical logistical link where the road does not drop below 5,000m for a continuous 80km stretch toward the next pass. This is one of the most technically demanding paved sectors in China due to extreme permafrost instability.
Driving the S202 Road: The 224km High-Altitude Corridor in Tibet
The S202 Road is a critical high-mountain highway located in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Spanning 224 km (139 miles), this fully paved route serves as a north-south corridor between Shannan (Lhoka) and Cona, situated north of the Line of Actual Control near the India-Tibet border.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Chishui Cliff road
Chishui Cliff road is the name of a very challenging drive, located 200 meters above the Chishui River canyon in Xuyong County, in the southeast of Sichuan Province, China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
21 hairpin bends on the Zig-zag road of Sichuan
Located in SW China's Sichuan, a challenging mountain road features 21-consecutive-hairpin-bends built on a cliff.
Ali CMB, a road you'll never forget
Ali CMB Polarization Telescope (AliCPT) is a ground-based CMB observatory at an elevation of 5.176m (16,981ft) above the sea level, located in Gar County in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
An Explorer's Guide to Jang La
Jang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.262m (17,263ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Gyirong and Saga counties, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
The wild road to Shugu La
Shugu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.478m (17,972ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
234 Country Road is an awe-inspiring drive through extremely remote areas
234 Country Road is a wild drive located in Ngamring County, Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Langla La is an epic climb in the Tibet
Langla La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.538m (14,888ft) above the sea level, located in the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
S304 is an unforgettable journey in Tibet
304 Provincial Road is a very scenic mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
72 bends to the summit of Ye La
Ye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.651m (15,259ft) above the sea level, located in Baxoi County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Driving the G214 to Hung La: A 4,237m mountain pass in Tibet
Hung La is a high-altitude mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,237m (13,900ft) above sea level. Located in Markam County, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the pass is a critical sector of the 214 National Road (G214), also known as the Tibet-Yunnan Highway.
Muri La: Driving the steep Zogqen Pass in Sichuan
At an elevation of 4,569m (14,990ft) above sea level, Muri La is a major mountain pass located in the northwestern part of Sichuan Province, China. Also known as Zogqen Pass, it stands as a critical high-altitude hurdle on the paved S217 road, connecting the remote regions of Derge and Yushu across the Tibetan Plateau.
A road with 90 hairpin turns to Tinki La
Tinki La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.222m (17,132ft) above the sea level, located in Dinggyê County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.