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 the road to Hongqi Daban is not a piece of cake
Hongqi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.694m (18,681ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China, in the northwest of the country. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
Dare to drive the dangerous Shangla Wall Tunnel Road
Tucked away in the northwest of Henan province, in China, the dangerous Shangla Wall Tunnel Road is a marvel of engineering dug out by hand. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
Kulun Shanku
Kulun Shanku is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.785m (15,698ft) above the sea level, located in the Qinghai province of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country.
Dongshan Tunnel: enjoy a drive among the clouds
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.
Zhonglong Highway, a chillout drive in high mountains
Zhonglong Highway is a very scenic drive in the heart of Xigazê Prefecture in western Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It's one of the highest roads of the country.
Driving the steep X120 road to the 4,016m Pingsong Pass
The X120, popularly known as the Pingsong Road, is a high-altitude mountain highway located in the northwestern part of Sichuan province, China. Stretching for 150 kilometers between Chuanzhusizhen and the Pignan Highway, this route is a masterpiece of mountain engineering and a nightmare for vehicle logistics. Reaching a staggering summit of 4,016 meters (13,175 ft), the road is fully paved but defined by hundreds of aggressive hairpin turns and a degree of steepness that pushes standard engines to their absolute limit in a high-altitude, low-oxygen environment.
How to drive the mining road to Deyang La in Tibet?
Deyang La is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,381 meters (17,654 ft) above sea level, located in Maizhokunggar County, within the Lhasa prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The route to the summit is an unpaved industrial mine road built for heavy machinery extraction.
Simi La is an absolute must for road lovers
Simi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.364m (14,317ft) above the sea level, located in Gyantse County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Lhamonyin Shan, the road to the holiest lake in Tibet
Lhamonyin Ri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.226m (17,145ft) above the sea level, located in Gyaca County in Shannan Prefecture (Lhoka) of Tibet, in China. Due to the high altitude and extreme weather you should prepare well before.
Mount Haiz
Mount Haiz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.648m (15,249ft) above the sea level, located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.
Driving the Qiwangzhai Wall Tunnel Road is not a piece of cake
Tucked away in the northwest of Henan province, in China, the defiant Qiwangzhai Wall Tunnel Road is a marvel of engineering dug out by hand. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
Driving along the curvy road to Kyungang La
Kyungang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,341m (17,522ft) above sea level, located in Xinjiang Province of China.
A remote and dangerous road to Tra La in Tibet
Tra La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.479m (17,975ft) above the sea level, located in Xaitongmoin County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Serkhyem La
Serkhyem La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.567m (14,983ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.
Road trip guide: Conquering the Kuqiong Gangri Glacier
Kuqiong Gangri (Kuoqionggangri) is a high-mountain glacier located in Damxung, a county of Lhasa City in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
Par La, recommended for drivers with strong nerves
Par La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.578m (18,300ft) 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.
Jiajinshan Pass: a road you really wish you would drive at least once in your lifetime
Jiajinshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.102m (13,458ft) above the sea level, located in the western part of Sichuan province, China.
Sancam La: enjoy a road among the clouds
Sancam La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.198m (17,053ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County, in the large western of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.
Driving the 205 Provincial Road: From Drong La at 5.488m to Zaka La
Located in the heart of the northern Tibet plateau, the 205 Provincial Road (S205) is one of the most extreme high-altitude transits on the planet. Stretching for 472 km (293 miles) between Sangsangzhen and Nyima, this unpaved artery never drops below 4,200m above sea level. It is a journey of mechanical attrition that culminates in two massive mountain barriers: the Drong La, sitting at a staggering 5,488m, and the technical lakeside climb of Zaka La. It is a route where the isolation of Nagqu and the vertical scale of the Transhimalaya demand total vehicle preparation.
Driving the scenic Panshan Highway to Lishan Mountain
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.
Driving the military road to Chhatang La on the Nepal-China border
Chhatang La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,674m (18,615ft) above sea level, located on the border between Nepal and China. It stands as one of the highest roads in China, serving as a high-altitude military corridor with extreme logistical constraints.
How to drive the unpaved road to Wuyishan Pass in western Sichuan
Wuyishan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.721m (15,488ft) above sea level, located in western Sichuan Province, in China.
How to drive to Nakole in the Tibet Autonomous Region?
Nakole is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,510m (18,077ft) above sea level, located in Coqên County, China. It is one of the highest roads in the country, situated within the remote and high-altitude desert of the Tibetan Plateau.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Huahu Cliff tunnel road
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.
Tuer Pass
Tuer Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.633m (15,200ft) above the sea level, located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.
Driving the old S302 road to Yakexia Snow Mountain in Sichuan
Yakexia Snow Mountain is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,306m (14,127ft) above sea level. Located in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern Sichuan, China, this pass was once a critical point on the 302 Provincial Road (S302). Today, while most traffic uses the modern tunnel, the old mountain road remains a challenging trek for those seeking high-altitude off-road logistics.
Doxong La tunnel: watch out for oncoming vehicles in the dark
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.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Xialondong Cliff Tunnel Road
Xialondong Cliff Tunnel Road is the name of a very inspiring drive through remote areas located in Huayuan County of Hunan Province, China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.
Lalung La is an awe-inspiring road through extremely remote areas
Lalung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.322m (17,460ft) above the sea level, located in Gar County, in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Ngajuk La
Ngajuk La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.470m (14,665ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.
A road trip to Marim La is truly epic
Marim La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.494m (18,024ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.
Driving the paved hairpins of Zha La: A 4.832m pass in Gyirong
Located in Gyirong County, within the Shigatse prefecture of Tibet, the ascent to Zha La is a high-altitude transit that has undergone a massive transformation. Reaching an elevation of 4,832m (15,853ft) above sea level, the road was fully paved in the early 2020s, turning what was once a rough mountain track into a modern but high-exposure highway. Despite the new asphalt, the route remains a formidable challenge for any vehicle, demanding precision and respect for the extreme verticality of the Himalayas.
How to drive the paved road to Tientsuwa Shan Pass?
Tientsuwa Shan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.455m (14,616ft) above sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.
Zheduoshan Pass
Zheduoshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.302m (14,114ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.
Shangshang La: The technical 24-hairpin unpaved climb in Tibet
Shangshang La is an extreme high-mountain pass at an elevation of 5,228 meters (17,152 ft) above sea level, located in Cona County, within the Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The road through the pass is a technical 30-kilometer unpaved track that connects the settlements of Changda and Jisong. The physical reality of this route involves managing 24 tight hairpin turns on a raw gravel surface where the extreme altitude causes a massive drop in engine torque and the thin air makes cooling the motor a critical logistical challenge.
S217 Road: Driving the remote 315km route through Sichuan and Qinghai
The S217 Provincial Road is a high-altitude paved route crossing the rugged border between Sichuan and Qinghai provinces in Western China. Stretching for 315 km (195 miles), this road connects Xiewuzhen (Chindu County) with Manigangezhen (Dêgê County), offering a deep dive into the remote pastoral landscapes of the Tibetan Plateau.
Dzang La: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Dzang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.287m (17,345ft) above the sea level, located in Gyirong county of Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
How to drive the high-altitude track to Mihman Yoli Pass?
Mihman Yoli Pass is an international mountain crossing at an elevation of 4,787 meters (15,705 ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Afghanistan (Badakhshan Province) and China (Xinjiang). The unpaved mountain track links the remote northwestern panhandle of Afghanistan with the Kashgar Prefecture, forming a wild dirt shelf that is only clear of snow from July to September.
Taking on the Twists and Turns of Shenxianchi 28 U-turns road
Located in the Jiuzhaigou county of Sichuan, in China, Shenxianchi 28 U-turns is the name of a very defiant drive featuring 28 hairpin turns.