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.
How to drive the 705 County Road (X705) in Tibet?
Located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the 705 County Road (X705) is a high mountain road running entirely over 4,000m for about 60km. If you do choose this route, please check up-to-date information.
A winding road with 41 switchbacks to Xiaochaomen Mountain
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Yangtianshan Panshan Road in Shandong
The Yangtianshan Panshan Road, also known as the Jiulong Pan, is a spectacular but technical mountain passage located within the Yangtianshan Natural Scenic Area in Linqu County, Shandong Province, China. This short, 3.5-kilometer stretch of asphalt is a masterpiece of vertical engineering, designed to scale the steep slopes of the Shandong Peninsula. It is defined by its twelve tight hairpin turns and a maximum gradient of 13%, making it a high-load environment where the physical reality of continuous climbing tests the torque of any vehicle and the focus of every driver.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Driving the unpaved S217 to Daxuenshan Pass in the Hengduan Mountains
Daxuenshan Pass (Da Xue Shan) is a high-altitude mountain crossing at an elevation of 4,337m (14,229ft) above sea level, located on the border between the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan and the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, China. Part of the Provincial Road 217 (S217), the track is a raw, unpaved expedition through the rugged Hengduan mountain system.
Tra La, a scary and dangerous journey 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.
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.
How to drive the mine road to Deyang La in Tibet?
Deyang La is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,381m (17,654ft) above sea level, located in Maizhokunggar County, within the Lhasa prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Technically, the route is a specialized industrial mine road characterized by severe surface degradation and extreme atmospheric constraints. Navigating this 8.9 km track requires a highly modified 4x4 vehicle and advanced technical driving skills.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wuyishan Pass
Wuyishan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.721m (15,488ft) above the sea level, located in western Sichuan Province, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.