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.

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.

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.

Lake Jiabucuo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 5.248m (17,217ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, bordering India's Sikkim state to the south.

Napa Lake highway is a seasonal road located in the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province, in China. It’s one of the periodically flooded roads around the world.

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.

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.

Lungkar La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.645m (18,520ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Shigatse Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Chyangchumi La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.177m (16,984t) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.

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. 

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. 

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.

Yingkuoshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.465m (14,648ft) above the sea level, located in the Chindu County of Qinghai Province, in China.

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.

Kura La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.395m (17,700ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Ngamring and Nyalam counties, in Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

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.

Zha La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.086m (16,686ft) above sea level, located in Biru County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Kigunaru pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.407m (17,739ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County, in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Yixula Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.745m (15,567ft) 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’.

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. 

Erzhihala Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.307m (14,130ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Qinghai and Gansu provinces of China.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.216m (17,112ft) above the sea level, located in Gyaca County, a county of Shannan located in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. 

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.

New Changlung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.590m (18,339ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

X605 (County Road 605) is a notoriously demanding high mountain road located in Nagqu, Tibet, in China. This challenging route runs entirely above 4,600 meters (15,090 ft) above sea level, making it an extraordinary test of endurance for both vehicle and driver.

Lungzang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.319m (17,450ft) above the sea level, located in Xaitongmoin County, Shigatse, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Chun La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,516m (14,816ft) above sea level, located in Zayü County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The road to the summit, with countless turns and twists, is said to be “The most primitive road in China.”

Ode La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.468m (14,658ft) above the sea level, located in Banbar County of the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

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. 

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.

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.

Ngai La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.453m (14,609ft) above the sea level, located in the historical region of Kham in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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’.

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.

305 County Road (X305) is a high mountain road located on the boundary of Gonggar County and Nagarzê County, in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Xia Quepu is a glacial lake at an elevation of 4.918m (16,135ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

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