Driving the unpaved S217 road to Daxuenshan Pass in the Hengduan Mountains
Daxuenshan Pass (Da Xue Shan) is a high-mountain pass at an elevation of 4,337m (14,229ft) above sea level, located on the border between the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan and the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, China.
| Road facts: Daxuenshan Pass | |
|---|---|
| Location | Border of Yunnan and Sichuan, China |
| Length | 30 km |
| Max Elevation | 4,337 m (14,229 ft) |
| Road Name | Provincial Road 217 (S217) |
| Surface | Unpaved, mud, and loose rock |
Is the road to Daxuenshan Pass unpaved?
The road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s called Provincial Road 217 (S217). It’s in poor condition, with 18 sharp hairpin turns near the summit. The road is frequently littered with large rocks and deep ruts.
How long is the road to Daxuenshan Pass?
The road through the pass is 30 km long, running between Paicang (Sichuan) and Kele (Yunnan).
Can I drive my vehicle to Daxuenshan Pass?
A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is required. This is a road through a desolate high-mountain landscape where self-sufficiency is required.
Is Daxuenshan Pass open during the winter?
Set high in the Hengduan range, the pass is subject to extreme winter weather. From late October until early June, heavy snowfall and ice make the S217 virtually impassable for standard expedition vehicles. The road is not regularly plowed. The pass is often shrouded in thick clouds that can reduce visibility to less than five meters without warning.
Pic: https://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/52459650.jpg