How dangerous is the 5,570m high Wuersisan Radome Road in China?
The Wuersisan Radome Road is an extreme high-altitude military mountain track reaching an elevation of 5,570 meters (18,274 ft) above sea level, located in the Hotan Prefecture of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. Cutting through the remote and arid Aksai Chin plateau, the route is positioned among the highest mountain roads of China.
| Road facts: Wuersisan Radome Road | |
|---|---|
| Location | Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang (China) |
| Elevation | 5,570 m (18,274 ft) |
| Length | 277 km (172 miles) |
| Max Gradient | 13% |
| Surface | Unpaved (Dirt, loose shale, and permafrost) |
| Access | Private (Restricted military zone) |
Where does the Wuersisan Radome Road run?
The unpaved military road spans 277 kilometers (172 miles), running on a north-south axis through the high-altitude desert coordinates of the Aksai Chin sector. The track serves as a tactical supply line route to the high mountain outposts near the frontier line. The entire 277-kilometer path consists of a single unpaved lane completely devoid of civilian infrastructures, towns, fuel stations, or roadside facilities.
What are the driving hazards on the Wuersisan Radome track?
The road surface is unmaintained, featuring a rough base of deeply corrugated dirt washboards, loose rock shale, sand patches, and frozen permafrost. The track climbs via sustained slopes hitting maximum gradients of 13%, where the extreme 5,570-meter altitude cuts engine power by more than half due to low oxygen density. A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is required to drive around dirt sections washed out by seasonal snowmelt or blocked by rock debris.
Is the Wuersisan Radome Road open in winter?
Due to its extreme altitude, the track faces severe winter freezing conditions with temperatures dropping to -40°C, remaining completely blocked by heavy snowdrifts and solid ice sheets for most of the year. The route receives no civilian winter clearing services, turning the sector into an impassable dead end. During the brief summer opening, sudden high-altitude blizzards can occur instantly.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson