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.

Orkyi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.567m (18,264ft) above the sea level, located in Kangmar County of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

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.

Lach La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.731m (15,521ft) above the sea level, located in Nangqên County, the southernmost county-level division of Qinghai province, in China.

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.

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.

Gele La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.369m (14,333ft) above the sea level, located in Jomda County, in Chamdo in the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Drongu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.929m (16,171ft) above the sea level, located in Sa'gya County, under the prefecture-level city of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Gora La is an international high mountain pass located on the border of India and 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.

Gongga Co is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.642m (15,229ft) above the sea level, located in Lhozhag County, a county of Shannnan in the south-east of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

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

Lungdri La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.689m (15,383ft) above the sea level, located Baiyü County of far western Sichuan province, China, on the border with the Tibet Autonomous Region.

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.

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.

Ker La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.024m (16,482ft) above the sea level, located in Riwoche county, under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Chamdo in the northeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Norchung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.090m (16,699ft) above the sea level, located in Coqên County in the southeast of Ngari Prefecture in the west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Riadong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.005m (16,420ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Zadoi and Zhidoi counties, in Yushu Prefecture of Qinghai, in China.

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.

Rathi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.689m (15,383ft) above the sea level, located in Batang County, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China.

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.

Gongnaisi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,066m (10,059ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Hejing and Xinyuan counties, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

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.

Men La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.265m (13,992ft) above the sea level, located in Zayul County, in the Nyingchi Prefecture in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

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.

Hei Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.364m (14,317ft) above the sea level, located in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, in Zhangye Prefecture of Gansu Province, in 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lenglongling Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.254m (13,956ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Menyuan County (in Haibei Prefecture of Qinghai province) and Sunan County (Zhangye Prefecture of Gansu province) in China.

Fengxue Yakou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.157m (10,357ft) above the sea level, located in Lushui county, in the Nujiang Prefecture, western Yunnan Province of China.

Gydzhen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.988m (13,083ft) above the sea level, located in Akto County, in Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.

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.

Phenpogo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.086m (16,686ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Chengguan and Lhünzhub districts, in Lhasa City Prefecture, in Tibet, China.

Hor La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.807m (15,771ft) above the sea level, located in the Shannan prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Sese La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.474m (17,959ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and India. 

Ilfsu Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.858m (15,938ft) above the sea level, located in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture in Western Xinjiang, China.

Longro La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.340m (14,238ft) above the sea level, located on the Indo-China border.

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