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.

Mihman Yoli Pass is an international high mountain pass on the border of Afghanistan and China, at an elevation of 4.787m (15,705ft).

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. 

Located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China, the road from Wuersisan to Radome is one of the highest roads of the country.

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.

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.

Langla La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.538m (14,888ft) above the sea level, located in the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, 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.

Dolo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.857m (15,935ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Ngamring and Lhatse counties, Xigazê Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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.

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.

Located in Sinan County, in the northeast of Guizhou Province, China, the scary Niujiaoyan chain bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

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.

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.

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.

The Tingri-Penjixiang mountain road is a very challenging journey in the heart of Tingri 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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

Dabanshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.944m (12,939ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Haibei and Xining Prefectures, in Qinghai Province, 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.

Chipchap Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.301m (17,391ft) above the sea level, located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China. 

Zhilung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.970m (16,305ft) above the sea level, located in Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

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.

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.

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.

Yarto Drak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.038m (16,528ft) above the sea level, located in Qusum County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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.

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.

Anglet Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.189m (10,462ft) above the sea level, located in Qapqal Xibe Autonomous County in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in Northern Xinjiang, in China.

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.

Tsola La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.553m (14,937ft) above the sea level, located in Lhatse County, in Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Gõtse La (Gray Head Pass) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.628m (15,183ft) above the sea level, located in Dêgê County, in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in far northwestern Sichuan province, China.

Tug La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.209m (17,089ft) above sea level, located in Nagarzê County, in China. Remember this is a mountainous area, climbing up a high mountain, with a notorius absence of oxygen. 

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