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.

Located in the Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture of the Yunnan province in China, Nujiang River Road is one of the most scenic yet challenging roads in the world. It is a dangerous road built on cliff, completely by hand work.

Qieshan La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,392m (17,690ft) above sea level, located in Tibet, north-east of the Himalayas, in the People's Republic of China.

Bodpo La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,774m (18,943ft) above sea level, located in the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It's one of the world's highest motorable roads.

Kirgizjangal Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,950m (16,240ft) above sea level, located in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Located in the northwest of Yunnan Province, in China, Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest and most spectacular river canyons in the world.

The infamous Arniko Highway is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. It provides Nepal’s overland link with Tibet and China. "One mistake, game over".

303 Provincial Road is an extreme high mountain road located in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The drive is simply terrible, with a notorious lack of oxygen that tests the organisms and a high degree of steepness. Most people feel altitude sickness at around 2,500–2,800 meters.

Milarepa’s Footprint is a sacred rock imprint located at an elevation of 5,235m (17,175ft) above sea level, located near the southern face of Mount Kailash in Tibet.

Satsum La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,350m (17,552ft) above sea level, located in Tibet, northeast of the Himalayas, in the People's Republic of China.

Mount Davis is a mountain peak at an elevation of 269m (883ft) above sea level, located on Hong Kong Island, in China. It is an old military site with many war ruins, including five gun emplacements, ammunition stores, and accommodation buildings.

Dungda La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,090 m (16,699 ft) above sea level, located in Chamdo, in the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Located in Southwest China’s Tibet autonomous region, the Mi La Mountain Tunnel is one of the world’s highest vehicular tunnels at an average altitude of 4.752m (15,590ft) above the sea level.

Kulma Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,362m (14,311ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Tajikistan.

Located near Shiquanhe town, in the Ngari (Ali) Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region in China, the road to the Shiquanhe (Ali) Observatory and the Ali CMB Polarization Telescope (AliCPT) is a high-altitude concrete route built to provide access to these scientific facilities.

The Karakoram Highway (informally known as the KKH) is said to be the highest paved international road in the world, running between Western China and Pakistan. It's the road to paradise for those who love exploring the mountains, offering a once-in-a-lifetime road trip for adventure lovers.

Located in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the 301 Provincial Road (S301) is a very scenic trip through the middle of nowhere.

Najia is a high mountain town at an elevation of 5,154m (16,909ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It's one of the highest accessible towns by car on Earth.

Kye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.829m (19,124ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.

Zizhu is a high mountain temple at an elevation of 4,474 m (14,678 ft) above sea level, located in the Chamdo Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.

Located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, the Tasha ancient road is a very challenging drive.

Tielong Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.200m (17,060ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County in far western Tibet, in the People's Republic of China.

Running along the Hengduan Mountains, in China, the Yunnan-Tibet Highway is a very scenic drive. The road is 702-kilometer-long.

Bum La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.508m (14,790ft) above sea level, located on the Indo-China border. The road through the pass has disastrous conditions, and only 4wd vehicles with competent drivers are allowed.

Wenquan Daban (Hot Springs Daban) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.808m (19,055ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China. It’s one of the highest roads on Earth.

Kilik Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.745m (15,567ft) above the sea level, located between Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan and Xinjiang in China.

Medo La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.915m (19,406ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and India. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.

Spanggur Gap is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.308m (14,133ft) above the sea level, located on the border between India (Jammu and Kashmir state) and China.

Located in Ngari Prefecture, in the central part of Tibet, in China, the 206 Provincial Road (S206) is a lonely trip in the middle of nowhere.

Tai Tam Road is a very scenic drive located in the eastern part of Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The journey is a plesaant surprise.

205 Provincial Road is one of the highest roads in the world. This extreme high mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, reaches a top elevation of 5.488m (18,005ft) above the sea level at Drong La. The road is unpaved, with some sections in very bad conditions.

Located in the prefecture-level city of Xinxiang, in Henan Province, China, the Huilong-Hanging Tunnel is a very challenging road. Be careful: this road is not for the sissies. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Mi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.010m (16,437ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

La Ken La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.190m (17,030ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Hongshi Highway is a very defiant drive located in Shiping County, in the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture in the southern part of the Yunnan province of China.

Daoda Top is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.175m (16,978ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayan mountain range, in Tibet, China. 

Kompas La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.476m (17,965ft) above the sea level, located in the southwestern part of Hotan Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, in China. 

Cho La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.593m (16,068ft) above the sea level, located in the Himalayas.

Kongka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,192m (17,034ft) above sea level, located in the disputed region of Aksai Chin along the Chinese-Indian Line of Control. This remote and rugged area lies at the intersection of Ladakh (administered by India) and Xinjiang (administered by China), making it a flashpoint in one of the most sensitive border disputes in Asia. 

S207 Provincial Route is a high mountain road located in the Ngari Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

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.