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.

Sala La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.459m (14,629ft) above the sea level, located in Sêrxü County of the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the northwest of Sichuan Province, 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.

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.

Chun La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.516m (14,816ft) 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’.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Chen-ne La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.077m (16,656ft) above the sea level, located in the Sangri County of Shannan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region, 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Xiagete Wall Road is the name of a scary cliff road located in Shuicheng county, in the west of Guizhou province, China, bordering Yunnan province to the west, in China. If you're afraid of heights, it's probably best to keep your eyes forward.

The Taihang Mountains form a mountain range along the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Shanxi, and Hebei. Extending 400 kilometers from north to south, the range boasts an average elevation of 1500 to 2000 meters.

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.

Yepuchen La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.113m (16,774ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Biru County (Nagqu) and Banbar County (Chamdo) 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.

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.

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.

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.

Chugyu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.415m (14,484ft) above the sea level, located in Tingri County, under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Xigazê 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.

Nye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,925m (16,158ft) above sea level, located in Dinggyê County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region 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.

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.

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.

Shimo Co is a glacial lake at an elevation of 5.070m (16,633ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

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.

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.

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.

Ruro La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.547m (14,917ft) above the sea level, located in Zhag’yab County, Chamdo Prefecture, in Tibet.

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.

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.

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