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.

Gongnaisi Daban is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3,066m (10,059ft) above sea level, located on the boundary between Hejing and Xinyuan counties, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China.

Ljou La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.759m (15,613ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Baxoi and Riwoqê Counties,Chamdo Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Yaksang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.894m (16,056ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Comai and Qonggyai counties of Shannan in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Karkang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.785m (15,698ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Qusum and Lhünzê counties, in Shannan Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Zaka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.920m (16,141ft) above the sea level, located in Nyima County of the prefecture-level city of Nagqu, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Driving from Tinizi to Bianlongduo, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, is a challenging high mountain experience.

Wakhjir Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.836m (15,866ft) above the sea level, located on the Afghanistan-China border. China has finished building a road across the pass.

Chuka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.318m (17,447ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Shigatse Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Teganaqik Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.778m (12,395ft) above the sea level, located in Akto County within the Kizilsu Kyrgyz Autonomous Prefecture, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.

Maryan Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,347m (14,261ft) above the sea level located in the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture in western Xinjiang, China. This majestic pass owes its name to the nearby Maeryangxiang village.

Tayeparva La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.497m (18,034ft) above the sea level, located in Zhongba County of Shigatse Prefecture in China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Karu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.063m (16,610ft) above the sea level, located in Comai County, a county of Shannan, 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 4.046m (13,274ft) above the sea level, located in the Samzhubzê District of the prefecture-level city of Shigatse, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the China.

Chure Chu Valley Road is a very scenic yet demanding drive located in the Shannan prefecture in the southeastern Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Racaka La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.641m (15,226ft) above the sea level, located in Riwoche, a county of the prefecture-level city of Chamdo in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Shakaleb La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.143m (16,873ft) above the sea level, located in the Comai County of Shannan, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Ye La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.041m (16,538ft) above sea level, located in Nagarzê County of Shannan Prefecture, in Tibet, China.

Khung La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.425m (17,798ft) above the sea level, located on the border of China and Nepal.

Lugu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.065m (16,617ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Qonggyai and Zhanang counties of Shannan in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Jimu Gong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,483m (17,988ft) above sea level. It's located on the boundary between Lhozag and Cona counties in the Shannan Prefecture of Tibet, China.

Dagchu La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.894m (16,056ft) above the sea level, located in Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, in China.

Zongguo Monastery is a high mountain Buddhist temple at an elevation of 4,196m (13,766ft) above sea level, located in Nangqên County, Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province of China.

Tuzanchi is an international high mountain peak with an elevation of 4.893m (16,053ft) above sea level, situated on the border between China and Tajikistan.

Lagen La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.259m (17,253ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

The Taihang Mountains form a mountain range along the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Shanxi, and Hebei. Extending 400 kilometers from north to south, the range boasts an average elevation of 1500 to 2000 meters.

Pereval Nayzatash is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.134m (13,562ft) above sea level, located in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

Kaindı is an international high mountain peak with an elevation of 4,915m (16,125ft) above sea level, situated on the border between China and Tajikistan.

Tso-Le Road is a very scenic drive located in the heart of Cona County, in Shannan Prefecture of China.

Imis La is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.290m (17,355ft) above the sea level, located between Ladakh (India) and Tibet (China). It is one among the major passes over the main Himalayan Range. 

Dawagenzha Peak is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 3,862m (12,670ft) above sea level, located in Baoxing County, under the administration of Ya'an City, in Sichuan Province, China.

Lamaling Shankou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.993m (13,100ft) above sea level, located on the border of Zoigê and Jiuzhaigou counties, Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, in China.

Tsekne La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5057m (16,591ft) above sea level, located on the border of Baqên County, Tibet, and Zadoi County, Qinghai Province, in China.

Kyakyen La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.837m (15,869ft) above sea level, located in the heart of Cona County, in Shannan Prefecture of China.

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