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.

A371 is the name of a high mountain road running through the south of Kyrgyzstan, from Sary-Tash to the border with China at Irkeshtam Pass.

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.

The challenging S307 Provincial Road is an absolute must for road lovers. Located in Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, China, if you love to drive, you will love it.

The Western Europe-Western China (WE-WC) Highway is a transcontinental expressway linking China's Yellow Sea coast with Western Europe. It is a key transportation route connecting Europe and Asia.

Located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, the Tasha ancient road is a very challenging drive.

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.

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. 

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.

Bunggar La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.228m (17,152ft) above the sea level, located in Lhasa prefecture-level city in Maizhokunggar County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. 

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.

Zagashershar is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.130m (13,549ft) above the sea level, located in the Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture prefecture of China.

Darecuo is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 5.411m (17,752ft) above the sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The road to the summit is rocky and gravel. Large, sharp rocks require tight maneuvering, increasing the likelihood of tire damage. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Ma La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.245m (17,208ft) above the sea level, located in Nyalam County of China’s Tibet autonomous region. 

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

Laozhong Line is a very exciting mountain drive in northeastern Gansu province, People's Republic of China. The average gradient is 8.78%.

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.

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. 

Thaga La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.411m (17,752ft) above the sea level, located in the Ngari Prefecture to the extreme west of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, near the Indian border. 

Tucked away on the border between Shannan and Ngari Prefectures, in Tibet, China, a high mountain road running from Qusum to Diyag is a defiant adventure.

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. 

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.

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.

Kagye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.814m (15,793ft) above the sea level, located in Karuo District of Qamdo, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Jiabuxi La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.705m (18,717ft) 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

West Taiji Nai´er Lake (Xitai Jiner Lake) is a beautiful two-color lake located in Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai, in China.

232 Country Road is a high mountain road running entirely over 4.000 meters above the sea level located in Ngamring County, a remote section of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China. 

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

X603 (County Road 603) is a high mountain road located in Nyima County, Nagqu, Tibet, in China.

Tangkar La is an international high mountain pass located on the border of India and China.

Drakde La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.611m (15,127ft) above the sea level, located in the Maqên County of Qinghai Province in China, under the administration of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Zhanailakashan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.760m (15,616ft) above the sea level, located in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai province, China.

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