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.

Dongshan Tunnel is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 3.850m (12,631ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Gansu and Qinghai provinces of northwest China.

Zhonglong Highway is a very scenic drive in the heart of Xigazê Prefecture in western Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It's one of the highest roads of the country.

Simi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.364m (14,317ft) above the sea level, located in Gyantse County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Da Xue Shan pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.337m (14,229ft) above the sea level, located in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in northwestern Yunnan province, China.

Zha La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.832m (15,853ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Laerdun Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,723m (8,933ft) above sea level, located in the northwestern part of China.

Tra La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.479m (17,975ft) above the sea level, located in Xaitongmoin County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Ye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.651m (15,259ft) above the sea level, located in Baxoi County, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Quidijiankela pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.047m (16,558ft) above the sea level, located on the Line of Actual Control between China (Tibet Autonomous Region) and India (Jammu and Kashmir).

710 County Road is a high mountain road located in Ngari Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Yangtianshan Panshan Road is the name of an extremely curvy road located in Linqu County in the middle of Shandong Peninsula, Shandong Province of China.

Lalung La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.322m (17,460ft) above the sea level, located in Gar County, in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Dzang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.287m (17,345ft) above the sea level, located in Gyirong county of Xigazê Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Zheduoshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.302m (14,114ft) above the sea level, located in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in China.

Marim La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.494m (18,024ft) above sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.

Tucked away in the northwest of Henan province, in China, the dangerous Shangla Wall Tunnel Road is a marvel of engineering dug out by hand. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Kuqiong Gangri (Kuoqionggangri) Glacier is the name of a glacier located in Damxung, a county of Lhasa City in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. A new gravel road to the glacier tops out at 5.606m (18,392ft) above the sea level.

Nyema La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.481m (17,982ft) above the sea level, located in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region, China. 

Xiaochaomen is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.320m (4,330ft) above the sea level, located in Qianjiang District, in the southeastern part of Chongqing Municipality, People's Republic of China.

Jiabo Co is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 4.774m (15,662ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Drong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.488m (18,005ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Tucked away in the northwest of Henan province, in China, the defiant Qiwangzhai Wall Tunnel Road is a marvel of engineering dug out by hand. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Karatagh Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.473m (17,956ft) above the sea level, located in the Chinese Autonomous region of Tibet. 

Huahu Cliff tunnel road is the name of an awe-inspiring route through remote areas located in Pingshun County, in the southeast of Shanxi province, China. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

605 County Road (X605) is a high mountain road located in Ngari Prefecture, in China's Tibet Autonomous Region. 

Located in Mainling County, in the prefecture-level city of Nyingchi, in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Doxong La tunnel was finished in 2021.

Jiajinshan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.102m (13,458ft) above the sea level, located in the western part of Sichuan province, China.

Naktse La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.533m (18,152ft) above the sea level located in Ngari Prefecture 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.

Yakexia Snow Mountain is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.306m (14,127ft) above the sea level, located in Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, in northwestern Sichuan, China.

Jianan Natural Cave Road is a narrow, winding passage built inside a natural cave in Changshun County, Guizhou Province, China. This section of Tongzu Road was expanded to improve access for local villagers. It’s one of the few roads in the world that runs through a cave.

Nakole is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.510m (18,077ft) above the sea level, located in Coqên County, in the southeast of Ngari Prefecture, in the west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is one of the highest roads of the country.

Mount Li (Lishan Mountain) is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.034m (3,392ft) above the sea level, located in Lintong District, in the prefecture-level city of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, Northwest China.

Shargang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.335m (17,503ft) above the sea level located in Banbar County, Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Gade La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.016m (16,456ft) above sea level, located in Banbar County, a county of the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

Haxilegen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.538m (11,607ft) above the sea level, located in Nilka County, within the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. Before you enter the tunnel, there is a panoramic terrace.

Located in the Jiuzhaigou county of Sichuan, in China, Shenxianchi 28 U-turns is the name of a very defiant drive featuring 28 hairpin turns.

Penma La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.321m (17,457ft) above the sea level, located in Ngamring County, a county of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region, in China. 

Bayi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.366m (17,604ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary between Hotan County, a county in the southwest of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Rutog County, in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

583 Country Road is a high mountain road located in the Chamdo Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It’s one of the highest roads of the country.

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