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.

How to drive the 301 Provincial Road (S301) in Tibet?

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.

How to get by car to Zizhu Temple in Tibet?

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.

Driving one of the world’s highest roads to Kye La in Tibet

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.

A Brutal Road to the Edge of the Sky: Shiquanhe Observatory and AliCPT

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.

How to drive the 5,915m military road to Medo La?

Medo La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,915m (19,406ft) above sea level, situated on the border between China (Kamba County, Tibet) and India (Sikkim). Finished in 2021, this purely military road is one of the highest motorable road passes in the world. The route is a strategic logistical corridor located in a totally isolated area, requiring specialized 4x4 vehicles and military authorization that is extremely difficult to obtain due to its proximity to the sensitive international border.

A drive to the top of Wenquan Daban

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.

The mountain road to Najia in Tibet

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.

Driving the scenic yet challenging Yunnan-Tibet Highway

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

Tielong Pass: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

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.

S206 Road: A 401km journey across the Tibetan Plateau's highest plains

The S206 Provincial Road is one of the most remote and highest paved highways in the world. Located in the Ngari Prefecture of central Tibet, this 401 km (249-mile) route serves as a strategic shortcut between the northern (S301) and southern (G219) regional roads. Fully paved in 2015, the S206 is a lonely journey through the "middle of nowhere," crossing vast uninhabited stretches of the Tibetan Plateau.

Tai Tam Road

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.

Driving the Huilong-Hanging Tunnel in the Taihang Mountains

The Huilong-Hanging Tunnel, also known as the Huilong Wall-Mounted Highway, is a staggering feat of engineering located in the Southern Taihang Mountains of Henan Province, China. This 8-kilometer road, which connects Henan and Shanxi provinces, is one of the most technical tunnel roads in China. Carved directly into a vertical cliff face, the route is defined by its claustrophobic dimensions and a 1-kilometer-long S-shaped tunnel that forces drivers to manage tight clearances and unpredictable surface conditions in a high-load mountain environment.

Driving the extreme 205 Provincial Road across Tibet

The 205 Provincial Road is one of the most extreme and high-altitude mountain routes in the world, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. Stretching for 472 kilometers between Sangsangzhen and Nyima, this unpaved track is a technical endurance test that runs entirely above 4.200 meters. Reaching its peak at Drong La, at an elevation of 5,488 meters (18,005 ft), the road is a high-load environment where the lack of oxygen, brutal winds, and raw terrain force a total reliance on 4x4 mechanical reliability and expert logistics.

Hongshi Highway is an Internet celebrity of Yunnan

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.

How to drive the unpaved road to Spanggur Gap?

Spanggur Gap is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 4,308m (14,133ft) above sea level, situated on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India (Ladakh) and China (Tibet). This strategic gap in the mountains is a critical mountain road, located just west of Spanggur Lake. The 20 km unpaved road connecting Chushul to Jieso Gongma serves as a high-altitude transit route, requiring specialized vehicle preparation due to the extreme thin air and volatile terrain conditions.

Mi La: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide

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.

S207 Provincial Route

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

Driving to Cho La: A high-mountain military pass in the Himalayas

Cho La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,593m (15,068ft) above sea level, situated in the heart of the Himalayas. Linking the Indian state of Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region in China, this strategic pass is located just four miles northwest of the famous Nathu La.

Driving the high altitude road to La Ken La in Tibet

La Ken La, also known as Lakenla, is a staggering high-mountain pass sitting at 5,190 meters in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This is a massive crossing that serves as the gateway to Namtso Lake, the second-largest salt lake in the region. While the road is paved, driving here means operating at altitudes where the air is painfully thin and the weather can turn from a clear day to a lethal snowstorm in minutes. It is a world of prayer flags and thin air, where the wind never stops and every gear change is a struggle for a motor gasping for oxygen.

A Once in a Lifetime Drive through Daoda Top

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

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.

S217, a remote high mountain road in Tibet

S217 is a very remote high mountain road located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in southwestern China. The road is mostly paved running entirely above the 4.200m above the sea level.

Road trip guide: Conquering Bongru La

Bongru La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.838m (19,153ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture of China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Shengli Daban

Shengli Daban (Victory Pass) is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.091m (13,421ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China in Northwest China.

Driving the cliff Jingdi Hanging Tunnel to Shenlongwan Village

Located in Shanxi province, Pingshun county, in China, the infamous Jingdi Hanging Tunnel is a very exciting drive surrounded by high mountains. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Driving the scary Blade Sky Road with cliffs on both sides

Located in Shizhu Tujia Autonomous County, in southeastern Chongqing, China, Blade Sky Road is the name of a very defiant road.

How to drive the military road to Karakoram Pass?

The Karakoram Pass is one of the highest motorable points on the border between China and India, reaching an elevation of 5,542m (18,182ft). Located in the Karakoram Range, it connects the Xinjiang region with the Ladakh sector. Logistically, this is not a public road; it is a restricted military corridor. While the Chinese side is serviced by the Hashen Highway, the Indian side relies on the high-altitude DS-DBO Road, a technical track that ends near the Daulat Beg Oldie military base, just south of the pass. It's one of the highest roads in the country.

The Old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is not for the faint of heart

Located in Pingshun County, in the southeast of Shanxi province, China, the old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is a scary drive with an incline of about 30 degrees. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Driving the G317 road to the high Anwu La Pass in Tibet

Anwu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,602 meters (15,098 ft) above sea level, located in the Nagqu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, IN China. Traversed by the National Highway 317 (G317), the pass—also known as Angu La or Angwu La—is a high-altitude link in northern Tibet. the road is fully paved.

A wild road to Cho Oyu base camp

Located in Tibet, an autonomous region of China on the northern side of the Himalayas, the Cho Oyu base camp sits at an elevation of 5.573m (18,284ft) above the sea level. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Driving the most beautiful Spiral Highway of Shanxi

Located in Zezhou County, in the southeast of Shanxi province, China, a spiraling section of the National Highway 207 is one of the most challenging drives in the world.

Xiaguo Wall Road is a dangerous drive carved out of the mountains

Xiaguo Wall Road is the name of a challenging mountain road located in the prefecture-level city of Xingtai, in the southern part of Hebei province, China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Kǒng Táng Lā: Driving the 32 hairpin turns of the abandoned 5,251m pass

Located in the Nyalam County of the Shigatse Prefecture, Kǒng Táng Lā is a high mountain pass reaching an extraordinary elevation of 5,251m (17,227ft) above sea level. Situated in the heart of the Tibetan Plateau, this pass is a legendary crossing on the route between Gyirong and the stunning Paiku Co lake, offering one of the most technical driving experiences in the region.

Qizil Dawān: Driving the extreme sandy road at 5,317m in Xinjiang

Qizil Dawān is one of the highest driveable points in the southwestern part of the Hotan Prefecture, in China. Reaching an elevation of 5,317m (17,444ft) above sea level, this mountain pass is located north of Tso Tang Lake in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. More than a simple road, the route to the summit is a high-altitude logistical mission where the thin air and the unpredictable terrain of the Aksai Chin border region test the limits of both driver and machine.