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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Nyema La is an extreme high-mountain pass reaching a staggering elevation of 5,481m (17,982ft) above sea level in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Serving as a primary access route for the Luobusa (Luobusazhen) mine, the road is a brutal industrial track designed for heavy-duty mining machinery. At nearly 5,500 meters, this is one of the highest motorable points on the planet, where the combination of oxygen deprivation and a punishing rocky surface makes it a high-stakes journey for any driver.

Shargang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.335m (17,503ft) above the sea level located in Banbar County, Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Dangbe La is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 5,183m (17,004ft) above sea level. It is located in Xaitongmoin County (also known as Zhetongmön), within the Xigazê Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Situated northwest of Shigatse, this pass crosses a rugged and isolated section of the Tibetan Plateau.

Jiabo Co is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.774m (15,662ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of 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.

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.

Karatagh La is an extreme high-mountain pass reaching a staggering elevation of 5,473m (17,956ft) above sea level in the Aksai Chin region of Tibet. This is one of the highest and most isolated vehicle tracks on the planet. Connecting the tiny settlement of Oufu Jilega with the main China National Highway G219, the road is a 246-kilometer journey through a high-altitude desert where the silence is only broken by the struggle of your engine to find oxygen in the thin, freezing air.

Penma La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.321m (17,457ft) above the sea level, located in Ngamring County, a county of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. 

Reaching the Bayi Daban is a journey into one of the most desolate and oxygen-starved corners of the planet. At 5,366m (17,604ft) above sea level, this pass—also known as Lingkyithang La—sits on the brutal boundary between Xinjiang and the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet. This isn't just a road; it’s a test of survival for your vehicle’s engine and your own lungs. At this elevation, the sky feels dangerously close and the silence is only broken by the sound of your transmission fighting the thin air.

Shangshang La is an extreme mountain pass located at an elevation of 5,228m (17,152ft) above sea level. Situated in Cona County (Shannan Prefecture) in the southern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, it sits near the border with India, making it a remote and strategically significant route.

Haxilegen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.538m (11,607ft) above the sea level, located in Nilka County, within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Before you enter the tunnel, there is a panoramic terrace.

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.

Laozhong Line is a very exciting mountain drive in northeastern Gansu province, People's Republic of China. The average gradient is 8.78%.

Shel La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,904 m (16,089 ft) above sea level, located in Dêngqên County, Chamdo City, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

The road connecting the villages of Kangbeicun and Zhangcun, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, is a 60-kilometer test of mechanical and human endurance. Running east-west near the Nepalese border, this unpaved high-altitude track climbs through some of the most unforgiving terrain in the Himalayas. At these elevations, the lack of oxygen isn't just a physical challenge for the driver; it is a constant struggle for the vehicle’s internal combustion engine.

Zixia Palace is a stunning building at an elevation of 3.245m (10,646ft) above the sea level, located in Dongchuan District, in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China. It’s a road that combines thrills, excitement and beauty.

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.

Trel La, also known as Tsay La, is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 5,441m (17,851ft) above sea level. It is located on the border between Nagarzê and Lhozhag counties, in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. This remote mountain pass crosses the rugged Himalayan range and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks and the scenic Lake Langbu.

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.

Reaching the Zagashershar Pass is a brutal climb into the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan. At 4,130m (13,549ft) above sea level, this high mountain gap is a gateway to the remote wilderness of Western China. While the road has been recently paved, the smooth surface is a trap for the unwary; the combination of extreme altitude, vertical drops, and sudden visibility loss makes the S217 one of the most demanding drives in the region.

The high mountain road connecting Qusum and Diyag is situated in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This remote route traverses some of the most isolated terrain in the southern part of the plateau, linking Shannan and Ngari Prefectures.

Mihman Yoli Pass is an international high mountain crossing at an elevation of 4,787m (15,705ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Afghanistan (Badakhshan Province) and China (Xinjiang). Located within the Wakhan Corridor Nature Refuge, the pass links the remote north-eastern panhandle of Afghanistan with the Kashgar Prefecture. Logistically, this is a restricted and high-risk sector where the road consists of an unpaved, steep track that is only accessible during a narrow window from July to September.

The X603 (County Road 603) is a formidable high mountain road located in Nyima County, within the Nagqu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This remote route is a true test of endurance for both drivers and machinery, as it runs entirely at an elevation of over 4,500 meters above sea level through the desolate beauty of the Tibetan Plateau.

Hongjing Road is the name of a very curvy winding mountain road located in Fangshan District, in the southwest of Beijing province, in China.

583 Country Road is a high mountain road located in the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

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

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.

Bunggar La is a high-altitude pass that tests the mechanical limits of any vehicle. Reaching an elevation of 5,228m (17,152ft) above sea level in the Tibet Autonomous Region, this 12.8km track is a vital link for the region's mining operations. Located between Maizhokunggar and Lhari counties, the road is far from a scenic mountain drive; it is a working route where the loose surface and extreme gradients are secondary to the challenge of sharing the narrow path with heavy industrial traffic.

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.

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.

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

Lata La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.047m (13,277ft) above the sea level, located in the southern part of Gyirong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

The Niujiaoyan chain bridge is a technical engineering marvel located in Sinan County, Tongren City, within the Guizhou Province of China. Straddling the Wujiang River, this suspension structure is a critical logistical link, located 50 km from Sinan County and 260 km from the provincial capital, Guiyang. Known for its lack of central piers and extreme flexibility, it is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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