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.
Yarto Drak La: A Paved 5,038m Mountain Pass in Tibet
At an elevation of 5,038m (16,528ft) above sea level, Yarto Drak La is a high mountain pass located in Qusum County, within the Tibet Autonomous Region. The pass is a key feature of the S202 Road, positioned between the Nedong and Qusum counties in the Yarlung Valley.
Anglet Daban: enjoy a road among the clouds
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.
Lawu Pass: a paved steep road to the top
Lawu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.371m (14,340ft) above the sea level, located in Markham County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Yingkuoshan Pass: Driving the scenic G214 high-altitude route in Qinghai
Located in the Chindu County of Qinghai Province, the Yingkuoshan Pass (also known as Jarong La) is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,465m (14,648ft) above sea level. Situated on the vast Tibetan Plateau between the cities of Yushu and Xining, this pass is a legendary segment of the historic G214 National Highway.
A rollercoaster road to Shibapan Diecai Cave
Shibapan Diecai Cave is one of the most popular attractions in Xiuwu County, in the northwest of Henan province, China, bordering Shanxi province to the north.
Sala La: A high-altitude paved pass in Sêrxü County
Sala La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,459m (14,629ft) above sea level. Located in Sêrxü County, within the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of northwest Sichuan, it is one of the key high-altitude crossings on the paved Provincial Road S217.
Driving the curvy unpaved road to the summit of Shera La
Shera La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.563m (18,251ft) above sea level, located in the Shannan Prefecture of Tibet, in China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.
The extreme high-altitude 4x4 road to the emerald Lake Jiabucuo in Tibet
Lake Jiabucuo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 5,248m (17,217ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated in the heart of the Himalayas, this otherworldly drive takes you to one of the highest lakes on the planet, right along the border with India's Sikkim state.
How to drive the S514 Road to Nye La in Tibet
Nye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,925m (16,158ft) above sea level, located in Dinggyê County, within the Xigazê prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.
Haizi Pass: enjoy a road among the clouds
Haizi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.689m (15,383ft) above the sea level, located in Batang County, in western Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China. The area has a lunar landscape.
How steep is the 4x4 road to Kigunaru Pass in Tibet?
Kigunaru Pass (also known as Yeban Xian) is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,407m (17,739ft) above sea level, located in Rutog County, within the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Reaching such an altitude puts this track among the highest motorable routes in the world, crossing a desolate and oxygen-thin landscape in western China.
Driving the road to Cuo Ga Bu Lake is not a piece of cake
Cuogabu is a glacial lake at an elevation of 5.229m (17,155ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
How dangerous is the unpaved X305 road to Thib Pass in Tibet?
Thib Pass is an extreme high-mountain crossing reaching an elevation of 5,028m (16,496ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Gonggar and Nagarzê counties in Tibet. This is not a tourist route; it is the 305 County Road (X305), a vital and brutal unpaved link that stays entirely above 3,500 meters. Driving here means battling a constant flow of heavy trucks on a narrow gravel track where the lack of oxygen and the pulverized road surface make every kilometer a mechanical struggle.
Ultimate 4wd destination: Takum La
Takum La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.590m (15,059ft) above the sea level, located in Qusum County in the Shannan Prefecture of Tibet, in China.
A paved road to the Riyue Mountain Pass
Riyue Mountain Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.529m (11,578ft) above the sea level, located in Northeastern Qinghai Province, in Western China, by the Tibetan Plateau.
Driving the unpaved Bingchacha Line to Yixula Pass
Yixula Pass, also known as Yixu La or Tsong La, is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,745 meters (15,567 ft) above sea level, located in Zayü County, Nyingchi Prefecture, Tibet. Traversed by the notorious Bingchacha Line, this route is widely considered the most primitive road in China. Connecting Chawalong to Zayü, the drive is a relentless 46.6-kilometer struggle against raw terrain, where long dangerous cliffs and a totally unpaved surface create a high-load environment for both the vehicle's suspension and the driver's focus.
Driving the paved G349 road to Ka La in Tibet
Ka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,805m (15,764ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Situated in a remote and barren landscape, the pass is an essential link in the high-altitude road network of western Tibet.
Tug La: Driving the high-altitude X301 cliff road in Tibet
Located in the heart of Nagarzê County, within the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region, Tug La is a high mountain pass reaching an extraordinary elevation of 5,209m (17,089ft) above sea level. This pass is situated just north of the pristine Puma Yumco Lake, one of the highest altitude lakes on the planet, making it a pinnacle destination for extreme high-altitude driving.
Dare to drive the dangerous Debo La
Debo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.178m (16,988ft) above the sea level, located in Gê'gyai County, in Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
Taking on the Twists and Turns of Laofan Pass
Laofan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.155m (13,631ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Gansu and Qinghai provinces of northwest China.
How difficult is the 38% gradient road to Qiuchi Mountain in China?
Qiuchi Mountain is a high mountain summit reaching an elevation of 1,759m (5,770ft) above sea level, located in Xihe County, within the Longnan prefecture of Gansu Province, China. The road to the summit is one of the most visually staggering climbs in the country, featuring dozens of tight hairpin turns carved directly into a near-vertical mountainside. This is an extreme driving challenge where the primary obstacle is not the altitude, but a series of brutal ramps that push vehicle traction and engine torque to their absolute limits.
A dusty remote track to Chuseng La
Chuseng La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.224m (17,139ft) above the sea level, located in Gêrzê County, in Ngari Prefecture in the northwest of the Tibet Autonomous Region, bordering Xinjiang to the north, southwest of China.
Lung La is a truly outstanding SUV adventure
Lung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.216m (17,112ft) above sea level, located in Gyaca County, a county of Shannan located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
Lanma La, one of the toughest tracks in the world
Lanma La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.098m (16,725ft) above the sea level, located in Tingri County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
How dangerous is the high-altitude road to Lungzang La in Tibet?
Lungzang La is an extreme high-mountain pass reaching a staggering elevation of 5,319m (17,450ft) above sea level, located in Xaitongmoin County, Shigatse, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The road to the summit, known as the Qingqu Line, is a brutal test of human and mechanical endurance. Crossing the pass means driving at an altitude where oxygen is dangerously thin and the weather can turn lethal in minutes. This is one of the highest vehicle tracks in the world, where the isolation is total and the terrain is unforgiving to anyone without a prepared 4x4 and high-altitude driving experience.
Tielimaiti La is an epic road in the Narat Range
Tielimaiti Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.335m (10,941ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region under the administration of the Aksu Prefecture, in China. The road offers breathtaking views of giant peaks, summits and deep gorges.
Chak La, a Most Tricky Scenic Road
Chak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.854m (15,925ft) above the sea level, located in Lhünzhub County, in Lhasa towards the north-east of the main center of Chengguan, Tibet, China.
Chu La is one of the gnarliest roads in Tibet
Chu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.665m (15,305ft) above the sea level, located in Zayü County in the Nyingchi Prefecture in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The road to the summit, with countless turns and twists, is said to be ‘The most primitive road in China’.
How To Travel The 412 County Road
412 County Road is a very exciting drive located in the heart of Gānnán Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the Gansu Province of China.
How To Travel The Challenging Gushuang Cliff Tunnel Road
Gushuang Cliff Tunnel Road is the name of a very defiant drive located in Gulin County, in the south of Sichuan Province, in China. It’s one of the most famous Chinese tunnel roads.
Driving the paved high road to Pe La in Tibet
Pe La is an ultra-high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,136m (16,850ft) above sea level, located in Ngamring County, within the Xigazê Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. It stands as one of the highest paved mountain passes in the world, offering a smooth but breathless journey through the heart of the Himalayas.
How to drive the unpaved road to Erzhihala Daban?
Erzhihala Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.307m (14,130ft) above sea level, located in China.
Cona Qu
Cona Qu is a high mountain lake located in the south of the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. The road to the lake climbs up to 4.835m (15,862ft) above the sea level.
What are the driving challenges on the G317 road through Ngai La?
Ngai La is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,453m (14,609ft) above sea level, situated in the historical Kham region of the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region. Technically, the pass is a critical sector of the China National Highway 317 (G317). Navigating this pass involves managing high-volume commercial traffic on a roadbed that frequently transitions into narrow, single-track segments under extreme alpine conditions.
Driving the unpaved Y236 road to the 5,442m Sebseb La
Sebseb La is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,442 meters (17,854 ft) above sea level, located in Ngamring County, within the Xigazê prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Traversed by the unpaved Y236 (236 Country Road), this pass is a technical and logistical challenge that links Zire with the rugged 205 Provincial Road. Reaching a summit of nearly 5,500 meters means driving in an environment where the physical laws of internal combustion are pushed to the limit, requiring a high-clearance 4x4 and a driver prepared for total isolation.
Dare to drive the dangerous road to Chiasa La
Chiasa La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.887m (16,033ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu County, in Qinghai Province of China.
Kamba La Observatory
Kamba La observatory is a high mountain observatory at an elevation of 5.151m (16,899ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. Do not take this drive if you have respiratory problems or any type of heart condition.
How to drive the remote 4x4 road to Ruro La in Tibet?
Ruro La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,547m (14,917ft) above sea level, located in Zhag’yab County, within the Chamdo Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This remote crossing is situated in one of the most rugged and less-traveled parts of eastern Tibet.
The road to Luanshi Daban is not for the faint of heart
Luanshi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.412m (17,755ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China.