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.

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.

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.

Drongu La is a high-altitude mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,929m (16,171ft) above sea level in Sa'gya County, part of the Xigazê prefecture in Tibet. While the road over the pass is fully paved, the extreme elevation and the brutal geometry of the terrain make it a high-risk route. Known locally as the Sa Chu Xian, this asphalt track is a masterclass in mountain engineering, but for the driver, it is a constant battle against oxygen depletion and the mechanical strain of one of the steepest paved climbs in the region.

Located in the heart of the Himalayas, within the Lhozhag County of Shannan Prefecture, Gongga Co (also known as Lake Gongga) is a high-altitude alpine lake at an elevation of 4,642m (15,229ft) above sea level. This remote body of water is situated in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region, near the sensitive and rugged international border with Bhutan.

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.

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.

The Lach La is a high-altitude mountain pass at an elevation of 4,731m (15,521ft) above sea level, situated in Nangqên County, within the Qinghai province of China. Technically, the pass is traversed by the S315 road, an unpaved high-mountain corridor that connects Xiangdazhen and Zhuoxiao. The route is defined by its extreme verticality, with specific ramps reaching a maximum gradient of 25%, placing it among the steepest unpaved provincial roads in the region.

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.

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.

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.

Rathi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.689m (15,383ft) above sea level, located in Batang County, within the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, China. Also known as Rato La, this pass is a key transit point in the rugged mountains of western Sichuan.

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.

Pang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.221m (13,848ft) above the sea level, located in Zogong County, is a county of the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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.

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, this pass is one of the major geographical hurdles on the S206 Provincial Road in the west of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Upyang Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.927m (16,164ft) above the sea level, located in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture in Western Xinjiang, China.

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.

Teganaqik Pass is a high mountain crossing reaching an elevation of 3,778m (12,395ft) above sea level in Akto County, within the Xinjiang region of China. Tucked away in the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, the road over this pass is a relentless zig-zag carved into a barren, rocky landscape. It is a world of 60 tight hairpin turns where the air is thin, the drops are unprotected, and the mechanical endurance of your vehicle is tested at every single bend of the 46-kilometer journey.

Kyipogo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.054m (16,581ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary in the Xaitongmoin County of Xigazê, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

At an elevation of 5,005m (16,420ft) above sea level, Riadong La is a high mountain pass located on the border of Zadoi and Zhidoi counties, in the Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai, China. This crossing is part of a wild and recently developed corridor that penetrates the high-altitude wilderness of the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Hei Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,364m (14,317ft) above sea level, located in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County in China.

Kazi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.439m (14,563ft) above the sea level, located in Litang, in southwest of Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China.

Wahusi Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.456m (14,619ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Tianjun County (Haixi Prefecture) and Qilian County (Haibei Prefecture) of Qinghai Province, in China.

Kongpo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.327m (17,477ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Nang County (Nyingtri Prefecture) and Lhünzê County (Shannan Prefecture) in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Fengxue Pass, also known as Fengxue Yakou, is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,157m (10,357ft) above sea level in Lushui County, Yunnan Province. Located in the Gaoligong mountain range near the Burmese border, this pass is traversed by the S327 road. It is one of the most physically demanding drives in western China, not because of the altitude alone, but because of its unique surface and the relentless sequence of turns that define the journey from Pianmazhen to Luzhangzhen.

The Mingyue Gorge Ancient Plank Road is located in Chaotian District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, China. It sits at the entrance of the Jialing River Valley and marks the starting point of the Jianmen Shu Road Scenic Tourist Line. Once a crucial transportation route, this ancient road was carved into cliffs to connect the region, playing a vital role in both daily life and military strategy. It’s one of the most famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Chuka La (also known as Quka La) is an extreme high-mountain pass at an elevation of 5,318m (17,447ft) above sea level, located in Zhongba County, within the Shigatse Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Tucked away in the rugged Godong Gangri range, this unpaved track is one of the most remote and oxygen-deprived routes in western China, offering a true test for high-altitude explorers.

Zhong Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.779m (12,398ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Haibei and Xining Prefectures of Qinghai in China.

Chake La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.338m (17,513ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Nyima and Shuanghu (Tsonyi) counties, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

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.

Reaching an elevation of 5,065m (16,617ft) above sea level, Lugu La is a high mountain pass situated on the boundary of Qonggyai and Zhanang counties in the Shannan prefecture of Tibet, China. Located to the east of the Yamzho Yumco lake, the pass serves as a remote crossing through the high-altitude ridges of the Transhimalaya.

Gydzhen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,988m (13,083ft) above sea level, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China. It offers a remote route through the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, near the border with Tajikistan.

Lenglongling Pass is a high-altitude mountain crossing at an elevation of 4,254m (13,956ft) above sea level, situated on the boundary between Menyuan County (Qinghai) and Sunan County (Gansu) in China. This 64.8 km (40.2 miles) unpaved corridor is a critical but remote link in the Qilian Mountains.

Located in Lhozhag County, within the Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the road from Lakangzhen to Gong La is one of the most demanding high-altitude drives in the Himalayas. This remote mining track winds its way through the rugged mountains near the border with Bhutan, offering a brutal but breathtaking experience for experienced off-roaders.

Karu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.063m (16,610ft) above the sea level, located in Comai County, a county of Shannan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Situated on the rugged border between Zoigê and Jiuzhaigou counties in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Lamaling Shankou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,993m (13,100ft) above sea level. This pass is a vital link through the Minshan mountain range, a region famous for its dramatic limestone peaks and deep, forested valleys in northern Sichuan.

Sangchi Shan Yakou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.061m (13,323ft) above sea level, located in Jigzhi County, Golog Prefecture, Qinghai Province of China.

Located in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture, in the far west of Xinjiang, Ilfsu Pass is a high mountain pass reaching an elevation of 4,858m (15,938ft) above sea level. This remote crossing, also known locally as Gaijiake Daban, is situated in a sensitive border region near the Gilgit-Baltistan province of Pakistan and the mountains of Tajikistan.

The Chure Chu Valley Road is a mountain route located in the Shannan Prefecture of the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region. Following the Chure Chu-Xia Chu river valley, this section connects Lhozhag and Comai counties.

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.