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.

Churi Meri La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,507m (14,786ft) above sea level, located in Nangqên County, in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Tro La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.390m (17,683ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Lhari and Gongbo’gyamda counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

The Wuersisan Radome Road is one of the highest and most restricted vehicle tracks on Earth, reaching a staggering elevation of 5,570m (18,274ft) above sea level. Located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture, in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, this unpaved route cuts through the heart of the Aksai Chin, a high-altitude desert on the disputed border between China and India. This is a 277-kilometer journey through a sensitive military zone where the extreme altitude, the lack of infrastructure, and the geopolitical tension make it one of the highest mountain roads of China.

Zhanailakashan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.760m (15,616ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai province, China.

Located in the Seni District of Nagqu, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Langlu La is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,829m (15,843ft) above sea level. This pass is a key point along the China National Highway 317 (G317), also known as the Northern Sichuan-Tibet Highway, a route famous for its rugged landscapes and high-altitude challenges.

Ma La is a high mountain pass located in Nyalam County, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Situated on the vast Tibetan Plateau, this road connects the town of Gyirong with the stunning Paiku Co lake. It is a remote high-altitude driving route that demands full concentration and a capable vehicle.

Riong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.153m (16,906ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Dolo La is a high mountain pass reaching an extreme elevation of 4,857m (15,935ft) above sea level in the Xigazê Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Sitting on the boundary between Ngamring and Lhatse counties, the pass is a critical but primitive link between the Yarlung Zangbo and Duoxiong Zangbo valleys. This is a high-altitude desert journey where the lack of pavement and the brutal atmospheric conditions turn a 20 km climb into a grueling test of vehicle endurance and driver patience.

Tangkar La is an international high mountain pass located on the border of India and China.

The 232 Country Road (also known as Y232) is a high-altitude mountain route located in Ngamring County, within the remote Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Running entirely above 4,000 meters, the road is a grueling logistical transit across the northern Tibet plateau, reaching a maximum elevation of 5,274m (17,303ft) above sea level.

Tsola La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,553m (14,937ft) above sea level, located in Lhatse County, Shigatse Prefecture. Situated in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, it serves as a critical transition point on the legendary route toward the Himalayas.

Darecuo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 5.411m (17,752ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The road to the summit is rocky and gravel. Large, sharp rocks require tight maneuvering, increasing the likelihood of tire damage. 

Heka Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.939m (12,923ft) above the sea levele, located in Xinghai County, in the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the east-central part of Qinghai Province, People's Republic of China.

The Taihang Mountains form a mountain range along the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Shanxi, and Hebei. Extending 400 kilometers from north to south, the range boasts an average elevation of 1500 to 2000 meters.

Dadongshu Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.120m (13,517ft) above the sea level, located in Qilian County of Qinghai Province, part of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Bingchacha Road is said to be the most primitive road in China. It’s a new stretch of the G219 national road, running from Yunnan county to Tibet.

Aba La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.190m (17,027ft) above the sea level, located in Seni District, within the Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, western People's Republic of China.

Located in the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region, within the Zanda County of Ngari Prefecture, Puling La is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,954m (16,253ft) above sea level. This pass is situated in one of the most desolate and awe-inspiring landscapes on Earth, where the Himalayas meet the trans-Himalayan ranges in a labyrinth of eroded canyons and high-altitude plateaus.

Lamo Latse La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.370m (17,618ft) above the sea level, located in Ngari Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

Balagezong Mountain Road is the name of a very exciting drive located in the northwest of Shangri-la county, in Northwestern Yunnan Province of People's Republic of China.

Xuebaoding Snow Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.015m (13,172ft) above the sea level, located in Songpan county of northwestern Sichuan province, in China.

Kongque Shan Yakou (Peacock Mountain Pass) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.891m (12,765ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Nujiang and Dêqên Prefectures, in Yunnan Province, China.

Dabanshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,944m (12,939ft) above sea level, located on the border of Haibei and Xining Prefectures in China's Qinghai Province. Situated within the rugged Qilian Mountains, this crossing is a vital link along the G227 national road, a route steeped in the history of the ancient Silk Road.

Hongshan Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.530m (14,862ft) above the sea level, located in Northwestern Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China.

Gochak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.755m (15,600ft) above the sea level, located in Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, near the border with Bhutan.

The Samto La is an international high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 5,064m (16,614ft) above sea level, situated on the border between China (Tibet) and Nepal (Mustang District). Logistically, this is a dead-end corridor; while the Chinese side is serviced by a military track starting from Qukane, there is no road, trail, or motorable path on the Nepalese side. Driving to the summit requires a high-clearance 4x4 and is strictly restricted to authorized personnel due to its sensitive border location.

Chipchap Pass is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,301m (17,391ft) above sea level, located in the Hotan Prefecture of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. Situated in a sensitive border area, this pass is one of the highest navigable points in the region.

Xiangpi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.824m (12,545ft) above the sea level, located In Gonghe County, in Qinghai Province, China under the administration of Hainan Prefecture.

Gao'ersi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.352m (14,278ft) above the sea level, located in the traditional Kham Region of the eastern Tibet, under the administation of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Bangmeilong Peak is an extreme high-altitude summit located in Yadong County, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Reaching an elevation of 5,190m (17,027ft) above sea level, the peak sits in the strategic Chumbi Valley near the Bhutanese border. The road to the summit is a high-mountain service track that leads to an astronomical observatory, offering one of the most visually stunning and technically demanding zig-zag climbs in the Himalayas.

The Tingri-Penjixiang mountain road is a very challenging journey in the heart of Tingri County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Juetu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.916m (12,847ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Ela Shankou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.502m (14,770ft) above the sea levele, located in Xinghai County, in the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the east-central part of Qinghai Province, People's Republic of China.

At an elevation of 5,016m (16,456ft) above sea level, Regong La is a high-altitude mountain pass located in Namling County, within the Shigatse prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. This crossing serves as a remote link between the Jomo Chu and Mang Chu valleys, traversing a barren high-plateau environment.

Götse La (also known as Gray Head Pass or Gose La) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,628m (15,183ft) above sea level, located in Dêgê County, within the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, China. This remote track is famous for its extreme altitude and for being the primary access route to the historic Palpung Monastery.

Nangpa La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,884m (16,023ft) above sea level, located in Baiyü County, in the western part of the Sichuan province, China. This remote crossing sits on the rugged border with the Tibet Autonomous Region, offering a challenging drive through the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.

Pang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.736m (15,538ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Changlashan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,708 m (15,446 ft) above sea level, located in Zadoi County, in the southwest of Qinghai Province, China, bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region to the south.

Lunkar La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.390 m (17,683ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Xigazê Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

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