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 Hefeng County, in the southwestern part of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, Wanzhang Cliff Highway is the name of a very dangerous drive. Along the way you’ll have to deal with some dangerous drop offs. One mistake can have serious consequences.

S202 is the name of a high mountain road located in the southeastern part of Tibet Autonomous Region in People's Republic of China.

Lapche La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.933m (16,184ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.

China National Highway 580 (G580) is the name of a strategic mountain road located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China, in the northwest of the country, close to Central Asia.

Fenghuo Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.961m (16,276ft) above the sea level, located in the Tanggula Mountains, a mountain range in the central part of the Tibetan Plateau in the People's Republic of China. 

Ali CMB Polarization Telescope (AliCPT) is a ground-based CMB observatory at an elevation of 5.176m (16,981ft) above the sea level, located in Gar County in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Mobdi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.788m (18,989ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Xinjiang and Tibet autonomous regions of China. It’s one of the world's highest motorable roads.

Pereval Bedel is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.093m (13,428ft) above the sea level, located on the border between Kyrgyzstan and China.

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

Jang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.262m (17,263ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Gyirong and Saga counties, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

Guangzhou Green Tunnel Road is the name of a very scenic tunnel with open windows on the top located in Guangzhou, the capital and the largest city f Guangdong province in southern China.

X120 is a high mountain road located in northwestern Sichuan province, in China. The road is very steep, with hundreds of hairpin turns.

Located in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme south west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, the 705 County Road (X705) runs over 4.000m for about 60km.

304 Provincial Road is a very scenic mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Shugu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.478m (17,972ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. 

Muri La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.569m (14,990ft) above the sea level, located in northwestern Sichuan province, in China.

Located in Ningqiang County of Shaanxi province, in north-west China, the road to Xifanggoucun is a scary mountain drive carved by residents of a rural village, hanging approximately 3,000ft high above ground. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

711 County Road (X711) is a high mountain road located in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. There is a real risk of AMS (altitude-mountain-sickness). It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Hung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.237m (13,900ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China.

Serkhyem La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.567m (14,983ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

234 Country Road is a wild drive located in Ngamring County, Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Shuangping Cliff Road is the name of a very challenging drive located in Kaizhou District of China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Kulun Shanku is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.785m (15,698ft) above the sea level, located in the Qinghai province of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country.

Lhamonyin Ri is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 5.226m (17,145ft) above the sea level, located in Gyaca County in Shannan Prefecture (Lhoka) of Tibet, in China. Due to the high altitude and extreme weather you should prepare well before.

Located in SW China's Sichuan, a challenging mountain road features 21-consecutive-hairpin-bends built on a cliff.

Tinki La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.222m (17,132ft) above the sea level, located in Dinggyê County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Hongqi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.694m (18,681ft) above the sea level, located in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China, in the northwest of the country. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

S305 is a high mountain road located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Mount Haiz is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.648m (15,249ft) above the sea level, located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.

Ngajuk La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.470m (14,665ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Wuyishan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.721m (15,488ft) above the sea level, located in western Sichuan Province, China.

Deyang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.381m (17,654ft) above the sea level, located in Lhasa prefecture-level city in Maizhokunggar County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Kyungang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,341m (17,522ft) above sea level, located in Xinjiang Province of China.

Tuer Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.633m (15,200ft) above the sea level, located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of China.

Sancam La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.198m (17,053ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County, in the large western of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

Buze La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.418m (17,775ft) above the sea level, located in southern Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the heart of the Tibetan/Nepalese Himalayas.

Par La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.578m (18,300ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Xigazê Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

Tientsuwa Shan is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.455m (14,616ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Chishui Cliff road is the name of a very challenging drive, located 200 meters above the Chishui River canyon in Xuyong County, in the southeast of Sichuan Province, China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

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