Driving the wild 303 Provincial Road in Tibet
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.
How long is 303 Provincial Road?
The S303 road is mostly paved, with a few unpaved parts. It’s 709 km (440 miles) long, running east-west from G214 Road on Suonacun (Baxoi County, Chamdo) to G317 Road, near Bulong Town (Biru County, Nagqu).
How high is 303 Provincial Road?
The road runs entirely over the 4,200m above sea level and tops out at 5,086m (16,686ft) above sea level, on Zha La pass. It climbs many mountain passes:
Gade La at an elevation of 5,016m (16,456ft) above sea level
Quzhong La at an elevation of 4.885m (16,026ft) above sea level
Mob La at an elevation of 4,802m (15,754ft) above sea level
Red Mud Pass at an elevation of 4,732m (15,524ft) above sea level
Puti La at an elevation of 4,483m (14,708ft) above sea level
Tekhar La at an elevation of 4,476m (14,685ft) above sea level
Ode La at an elevation of 4,468m (14,658ft) above sea level
Tienpo La at an elevation of 4,324m (14,186ft) above sea level
Can I drive my vehicle on the 303 Provincial Road?
It has very steep parts. Along the road, there are several muddy, rough-surfaced unlit tunnels to traverse — dripping water and speeding trucks only add to the terror. Due to the general condition of the road, you'll need a 4x4 vehicle to complete the drive. It's in very poor condition and includes countless hairpin turns.
How long does it take to drive the 303 Provincial Road?
Expect more than 20 hours to complete the drive. The road is surrounded by snowy mountains, and runs along the course of many rivers on its way.
Is 303 Provincial Road open?
Do not travel this road in severe weather conditions. Avalanches, heavy snowfalls, and landslides can occur anytime, being extremely dangerous due to frequent patches of ice. The road is often underwater and severely damaged by rain and landslides, and can be closed anytime because of the weather condition.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
Pic: jlguo