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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, China.

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.

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 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.

The X607 (County Road 607) is a high-altitude mountain road located in Nyima County, Nagqu, Tibet. Reaching a maximum elevation of 5,089m (16,696ft) above sea level, this 138 km unpaved corridor is one of the most demanding logistical transits in the region, requiring specialized 4x4 equipment and mechanical self-sufficiency for extreme high-altitude environments.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Norgo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.256m (17,244ft) above the sea level, located in Coqên County in the southeast of Ngari Prefecture in the west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Par La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,334m (14,219ft) above sea level, located in Kyirong County, within the Shigatse Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. This remote mountain track is known for its dramatic ridge sections and its role in connecting isolated settlements in the southwestern Himalayas.

Kawak Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.126m (16,817ft) above the sea level, located in Pishan County, within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, under the administration of the Hotan Prefecture in China.

Dangjin Shankou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.655m (11,991ft) above the sea level, located in Jiuquan, in the northwesternmost part of Gansu Province in the People's Republic of China.

Chen-ne La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,077 m (16,656 ft) above sea level, located in Shannan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Boi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,950m (16,240ft) above sea level, located in Cona County, within the south-eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This pass is a true test of endurance and mechanical reliability, situated in one of the most rugged and least-traveled sections of the Himalaya mountain range.

Guza La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.084m (16,679ft) above the sea level, located in Bomê County in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

Sebseb La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.442m (17,854ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngamring County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. 

562 Country Road is a defiant high mountain road located in Zogong County, in the Chamdo Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Rib La is an epic high-mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,760m (15,616ft) above sea level, located in Lhünzê County, within the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This dangerous and narrow route is the vital link to one of the most isolated settlements in the world.

Xila Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.292m (17,362ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

At an elevation of 4,936m (16,194ft) above sea level, Zing La is a high mountain pass in Cona County, part of the Shannan prefecture in southern Tibet. Located deep in the Himalaya range near the border, this remote crossing is a technical drive through one of the highest regions in the world.

The journey to Yuximolegai Pass is a trip into the decay of high-altitude engineering. At 3,438m (11,279ft) above sea level, this pass in Nilka County was once a key part of the Duku Highway. However, since the opening of the tunnel that bypasses the summit, the old mountain road has been left to the elements. Without regular maintenance, the path is rapidly returning to a wild state, presenting a significant challenge for any vehicle attempting the climb.

Mata La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.348m (17,545ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Comai and Cona counties, in the south of the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Lisuo Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.675m (15,337ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province of Southwest China. If you're afraid of heights, it's probably best to keep your eyes forward.

Mengkete Ancient Road is the name of a thousand-year old road located in the Xinjiang Province of China, on the boundary of Nilka County and Usu City district, in Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture.

Chak La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.514m (14,809ft) above the sea level, located in Nagqu, a prefecture-level city in the north of the Chinese autonomous region of Tibet.

Ljou La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.759m (15,613ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Baxoi and Riwoqê Counties,Chamdo Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Maryan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,347m (14,261ft) above the sea level located in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture in western Xinjiang, China. This majestic pass owes its name to the nearby Maeryangxiang village.

Chongnye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.478m (14,691ft) above the sea level, located in the east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

Jangkhu La is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,935m (16,190ft) above sea level, located in the Seni District of Nagqu, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. As part of the legendary G317 (Northern Sichuan-Tibet Highway), this pass is a critical link for those driving across the vast and remote Tibetan Plateau.

Located in the remote Sêrxü County, within the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of northwest Sichuan, Dzi La is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,799m (15,744ft) above sea level. Tucked away in the rugged Ngonkhori mountain range, this pass represents the rawest form of high-altitude driving in the Kham region.

Located in the remote Lhari County within the Nagqu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Gola La is a high mountain pass reaching a staggering elevation of 5,247m (17,214ft) above sea level. This pass is one of the hidden giants of the Tibetan Plateau, offering a raw and technical driving experience far from the more traveled highways of the region.

Tari La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.521m (18,113ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Gyantse County (Xigazê) and Nagarzê County (Shannan) in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Zongbala La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.161m (13,651ft) above the sea level, located in Markham County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Drive Us to Your Road!

With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click here to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.