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.

Pendang La is a high mountain pass, at an elevation of 4.848m (15,905ft) above the sea level, located in Xigazê Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous 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.

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.

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.

Sengri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.632m (15,196ft) above the sea level, located in Bayi District in Nyingchi in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Tipta La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,118m (16,791ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal. It’s an important trade route.

Gola La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.247m (17,214ft) above the sea level, located in Lhari County, within the prefecture-level city of Nagqu in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Lazhi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.501m (14767ft) above the sea level, located in Chamdo Prefecture, on the boundary between Karuo District and Jomda County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Bamtso La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.465m (17,929ft) above the sea level, located on the Chinese-Indian border. 

Eboling Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.700m (12,139ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Qinghai and Gansu provinces, in the Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.

Tienpo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.324m (14,186ft) above sea level, located in Lhorong County of the Qamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Zholpel La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.615m (15,141ft) above the sea level, located in Qamdo district, in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Jingyangling Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.770m (12,368ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Qilian and Menyuan Hui counties of Qinghai Province, in the Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.

Lhari Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 4.861m (15,948ft) above the sea level, located in the disputed Demchok sector between China and India.

Ganden Monastery is a monastery at an elevation of 4.327m (14,196ft) above the sea level, located in Dagzê District, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Siyaba La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.847m (15,902ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.

Longshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.542m (14,901ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan, in China.

Dingo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.047m (16,558ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County, in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Gu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,075m (16,650ft) above sea level, located in Cona County, in People's Republic of China.

Pongkor La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.962m (16,279ft) above the sea level, located in Gyantse County, a county of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Wugeshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.351m (14,274ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Tianjun and Qilian counties, in Qinghai Province, China.

Yepuchen La is a challenging high mountain pass located deep within the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Situated at a staggering elevation of 5,113 meters (16,774 ft) above sea level, this route—also known as Yipuqin La—tests the limits of both the vehicle and the driver due to its remote location and demanding gradients..

Gyandro La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.147m (16,886ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Lhünzê and Cona counties in Shannan perfecture in southern part of Tibet Autonomous Region in People's Republic of China.

Damne La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.031m (16,505ft) above the sea level, located in Biru County, in Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Shobo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.119m (16,794ft) above the sea level, located in Qusum County, a county under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Shannan in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Tsogugye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.999m (16,400ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Qusum and Gyaca counties, under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Shannan in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Beru La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.780m (15,682ft) above the sea level, located in Sog County in the Nagqu Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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.

Gang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.824m (15,826ft) above the sea level, located in Biru County, the most populated county within Nagqu of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

Kyi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.106m (16,751ft) above the sea level, located in the Comai County of Shannan, in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Tiejiangshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.796m (15,734ft) above the sea level, located in Litang County, in southwest of Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China.

Gya La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.968m (13,018ft) above the sea level, located in the Samzhubzê District of the prefecture-level city of Shigatse, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the China.

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.

Chugyu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,415m (14,484ft) above sea level, located in Tingri County, within the Xigazê Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Rong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.831m (15,849ft) above the sea level, located in Dêngqên County, in the east of the Tibet Autonomous Region. It is not suitable for those who get dizzy.

Lumu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.797m (15,738ft) above the sea level, located in Sichuan, in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.

Kanggar Tzoxe La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.613m (18,415ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Tolung Dechen and Qüxü Counties of Lhasa Prefecture, in Tibet, China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Trawo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.946m (16,227ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Nyainrong County, under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Nagqu, in the north of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Zadoi County, in the southwest of Qinghai Province, bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region to the south, in China.

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.

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