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.
How is the drive through Gele La pass on the G317?
Crossing the Gele La is a test of mechanical and physical endurance in the heart of the Tibet Autonomous Region. At an elevation of 4,369m (14,333ft) above sea level, this pass in Jomda County is a critical and high-risk point on the legendary China National Highway 317. It is a route where the vastness of the Tibetan plateau meets the raw engineering challenges of high-altitude asphalt, offering a driving experience that is as breathtaking as it is exhausting.
Is the Pongkor La pass the ultimate challenge on Tibet’s X202 road?
Pongkor La is an epic high-mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,962m (16,279ft) above sea level, located in Gyantse County, within the Xigazê prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. Traversing this pass via the X202 road is a journey through one of the most remote and oxygen-deprived landscapes on the planet.
A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Gang La
Gang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.538m (14,888ft) above the sea level, located in Ngamring County, a county of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Driving to the Sengri Mountain Observatory: A High-Altitude 4x4 Climb in Tibet
Located in the Bayi District of Nyingchi, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, Sengri Mountain offers a challenging high-altitude drive to one of the most remote astronomical observatories in the world. Reaching an elevation of 4,632m (15,196ft) above sea level, this peak provides a brutal test for both drivers and vehicles amidst the thinning air of the Himalayas.
Take An Unforgettable Drive to Zhawa La
Zhawa La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,021m (16,473ft) above sea level, located in Batang County, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China.
Driving the 5.031m Damne La: A high-altitude road in Biru County
Damne La is an extreme high-mountain pass at an elevation of 5,031 meters (16,505 ft) above sea level, located in Biru County, within the Nagqu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The unpaved mountain road connects the localities of Gongmaduocun and Duogeiduo.
Driving the Guanxing Highway: China's engineering marvel in the sky
The Guanxing Highway (also known as the Guanxing Expressway) is a spectacular and technical toll road located in the Guizhou Province of China. Known as the "Highway in the Sky," this 160-kilometer route is celebrated for its engineering daring, winding through the complex and vertical karst mountain terrain of southwestern China.
The road to Kharpo La is not for the sissies
Kharpo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.002m (16,410ft) above the sea level, located in Lhünzê County in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
Driving the high-altitude unpaved road to Orkyi La in Tibet
Orkyi La is a high-altitude mountain pass reaching an elevation of 5,567m (18,264ft) above sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê, within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Positioned near the Bhutanese border, it is officially one of the highest roads in the country, demanding extreme mechanical preparation.
Driving the unpaved road to Phenpogo La north of Lhasa
Phenpogo La, also known as Penpogo La or Penbogo La, is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,086 meters (16,686 ft) above sea level, located on the boundary of Chengguan and Lhünzhub districts in the Lhasa City Prefecture, Tibet. Situated directly north of the capital, the road to the summit is predominantly unpaved and represents a significant mechanical challenge. The route is defined by its steep gradients, narrow ledge sections, and a complex sequence of tight bends that test the vehicle's torque and the driver's focus in a high-load, low-oxygen environment.
How to drive the 5,561m Jizha La Pass in the Himalayas?
Jizha La is an extreme high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 5,561m (18,244ft) above sea level, located in Lhozhag County, Shannan, Tibet. Known as Jí Zhā Lā, it is one of the highest roads of China, representing a logistical frontier where mechanical performance is severely compromised by extreme hypoxia and glacial proximity.
Trawo La: Driving the high plateau road between Tibet and Qinghai
Trawo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,946m (16,227ft) above sea level, situated on the border between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province in China. This remote crossing connects Nyainrong County (Nagqu) with Zadoi County, traversing a desolate high-altitude plateau in the northern part of the Tibetan highlands.
Ker La: Driving the 26km Unpaved Ascent in Riwoche
At an elevation of 5,024m (16,482ft) above sea level, Ker La is a high mountain pass in Riwoche County, within the Chamdo prefecture of Tibet. This remote crossing connects the town of Ratsaka with Shagongxiang, running along the high ridges above the Ngom River.
Drongu La: Driving the paved 18% gradients in Tibet
Drongu La is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,929 meters (16,171 ft) above sea level in Sa'gya County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Traversed by the paved Sa Chu County Road (X508), the high-altitude route connects Zhaxigangxiang with Mabujiaxiang across the Himalayan rain shadow.
Driving the wild Dongu La
Dongu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.944m (16,220ft) above the sea level, located in the Namling County of Shigatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.
Driving the steep road through Men La
Men La is a high mountain pass situated at an elevation of 4,265m (13,992ft) above sea level. It is located in Zayul County, within the Nyingchi Prefecture of the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region in China. This remote pass is part of the rugged landscape that characterizes the border regions of southeastern Tibet, where high altitudes and steep terrain are the norm.
How to drive the challenging mountain road to Gang La in Tibet?
Gang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.824m (15,826ft) above sea level, located in Biru County, the most populated county within Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.
Gongga Co: Driving the steep 11.79% ascent to the Bhutanese border
Gongga Co, also known as Lake Gongga, is a high-altitude alpine lake at an elevation of 4,642 meters (15,229 ft) above sea level, located in Lhozhag County of the Shannan Prefecture, in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region. Positioned deep within the Himalayas, the remote track to the lake runs close to the international border with Bhutan.
The road to Kyi La is not for the faint of heart
Kyi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.106m (16,751ft) above sea level, located in the Comai County of Shannan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
How to manage the 25% gradients of the S315 road to Lach La?
Lach La is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,731 meters (15,521 ft) above sea level, located in Nangqên County, within the Qinghai province of China. The pass is crossed by the S315 road, a high-mountain route connecting Xiangdazhen and Zhuoxiao that features extreme ramps reaching up to 25% gradient.
Hor La: Driving the S202 High Mountain Pass in Tibet
Hor La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,807m (15,771ft) above sea level, located in the Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Yamtse La
Yamtse La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.685m (15,370ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region, bordering India's Sikkim state to the south.
How to drive the nice turns on the way to Lumu La?
Lumu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.797m (15,738ft) above sea level, located in Sichuan, in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.
Rathi La: Driving the high-altitude paved road in Batang
Rathi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.689m (15,383ft) above sea level, located in Sichuan, in China.
Norchung La: A scenic and steep high-altitude pass on the S206
Norchung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,090m (16,699ft) above sea level, located in Coqên County, in the southeast of the Ngari Prefecture in China.
How dangerous is the road with 60 hairpins to Teganaqik Pass in Xinjiang?
Teganaqik Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,778 meters (12,395 ft) above sea level located in Akto County, Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, in China. The unpaved mountain route connects Aiqi Kuoyuzi Agezi with the Poke Tao'aige Zi area over a 46.4-kilometer track featuring 60 sharp hairpin switchbacks.
The Ultimate Road Trip To Galaga Pass
Galaga Yakou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.504m (14,776ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province of China.
Dzekri La, an absolute must for road lovers
Dzekri La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.693m (15,396ft) above the sea level, located in Riwoche county, in the prefecture-level city of Chamdo in the northeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
Driving the remote road to Ji La
Gyai La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.979m (16,335ft) above the sea level, located in Tingri County in the prefecture-level city of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
The rough and curvy road to Racaka Pass
Racaka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.641m (15,226ft) above sea level, located in Riwoche, a county of the prefecture-level city of Chamdo in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.
Driving the unpaved 205 Provincial Road to Zaka La
Zaka La is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,920 meters (16,141 ft) above sea level, located in Nyima County within the Nagqu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Traversed by the rugged 205 Provincial Road, this pass is a test of mechanical endurance. Running along the desolate shores of lake Dangqiong Cuo (Tangshung Tso), the road is an unpaved track where the reality of driving at nearly 5,000 meters means managing extreme engine power loss and a surface that shifts between hard-packed dirt and deep, loose gravel.
Driving the S101 through Sangchi Mountain Pass: A 4.061m mission in Qinghai
Sangchi Mountain Pass (Sangchi Shan Yakou) is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,061 meters (13,323 ft) above sea level, located in Jigzhi (Jiuzhi) County within the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. Traversed by the S101 Provincial Road (formerly designated as G345), the route crosses the high-altitude grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau near the Nianbaoyuze mountain range.
The road to Ye La will take your breath away
Ye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.041m (16,538ft) above sea level, located in Nagarzê County of Shannan Prefecture, in Tibet, China.
Driving the dizzying 564 Country Road
Located in Zogong County of the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, 564 Country Road (Y564) is the name of a defiant road through the mountains with many deep drop offs.
Huajiang Canyon Bridge: How It Feels to Cross the World's Highest Suspension Bridge
The Huajiang Canyon Bridge is a suspension bridge located in Guizhou province, China. It crosses the Beipan River within the deep Huajiang Canyon and serves as a vital section of the Guizhou S57 (Liuzhi-Anlong Expressway).
It currently holds the world record for the highest bridge, measured by the vertical distance from the bridge deck to the water surface. The bridge was constructed to significantly improve regional transportation and stimulate economic development and tourism as part of the Chinese government’s infrastructure campaign. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
Travel guide to the top of Wahusi Pass
Wahusi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.456m (14,619ft) above sea level, located in Qinghai Province, in China.
Driving the Jiu Ruo Road to Lamaling Shankou: 1,000 curves in the Minshan Mountains
Lamaling Shankou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,993 meters (13,100 ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Zoigê and Jiuzhaigou counties, within the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China. The pass cuts through the limestone ridges of the Minshan mountain range via a fully paved regional road.
Anwu La Pass: Crossing the high-altitude G317 in Northern Tibet
Anwu La, also known as Angu La or Angwu La, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,602 meters (15,098 ft) above sea level, located in the Nagqu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Situated on the China National Highway 317 (G317), the pass is a critical logistical link between Baqen and Zaqu. While the road is totally paved, the physical reality of driving at 4,600 meters involves managing extreme oxygen deprivation for the internal combustion engine and navigating high-altitude plateaus where road conditions can shift from clean asphalt to treacherous ice in minutes.
An epic enthralling road to Chepzi Observation Post
Chepzi Observation Post is a military facility at an elevation of 4.835m (15,862ft) above the sea level, located in Zanda County, Ngari Prefecture, Tibet.