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.

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. 

217 Provincial Road (S217) is the name of a very scenic drive located on the border between Sichuan and Qinghai provinces, in China.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Langlu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.829m (15,843ft) above the sea level, located in Seni District, within the Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China.

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.

Puling La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.954m (16,253ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Bangmeilong Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.190m (17,027ft) above the sea level, located in Yadong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, near the border with Bhutan. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Regong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.016m (16,456ft) above the sea level, located in Namling County, a county of Shigatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Drakde La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.611m (15,127ft) above the sea level, located in the Maqên County of Qinghai Province in China, under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Quzhong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.885m (16,026ft) above the sea level, located in the Nagqu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of 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.

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.

Samto La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.064m (16,614ft) above the sea level, located on the Nepal-China border.

Birukangqing La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.288m (17,349ft) above the sea level, located in Biru County, within Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

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.

Yilanga La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.555m (18,225ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.

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. 

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.

Zhilung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,970m (16,305ft) above 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.

Located on the boundary between Garzê and Sichuan, in China, the road from Ka'erza to Yinkecun is a very challenging experience.

Tratsang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.292m (17,362ft) above the sea level, located in Gyirong County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Xuemenkan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.984m (13,070ft) above the sea level, located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province of Southwest China.

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