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.

Tian Men Shan Big Gate Road is a winding drive with 99 turns located in Tianmen Mountain National Park of China. From its construction in 1998 to the 11-kilometer journey, this road offers a unique experience.

In August 2010, China witnessed the creation of the mother of all traffic jams, an epic event that unfolded over 12 agonizing days. The chaos extended over an astonishing 62 miles (100 km), marking it as the longest traffic jam in recorded history. As vehicles came to a standstill along the China National Highway 110, a makeshift economy emerged, offering overpriced essentials like food, water, and cigarettes.

Located in the northwest of Henan province, in China, Guoliang Tunnel is famous for its dangerous location and difficult construction. Built in the early 1970s, it has been dubbed as the road that does not tolerate any mistakes. It’s one of the most famous Chinese tunnel roads.

The Burma Road was a crucial supply route built during World War II, linking Lashio in eastern Burma (now Myanmar) with Kunming in Yunnan province, China.

Located in Xuan'en County of southwestern Hubei province, in People's Republic of China, the Shiziguan floating bridge is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway is a high mountain road located in China. Nonetheless, it’s a regular route for truck drivers heading to the roof of the world.

Located in the Kashgar region of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China, the Panlong Ancient Road is not for the faint of heart or anyone prone to motion sickness.

High altitude, thin, freezing dry air; intense harsh sunlight, galeforce winds with sub-zero windchill for hundreds and hundreds of kilometres. China National Highway 219 (G219) is a true adventure.

China-Nepal Highway is the name of a very scenic drive on the Tibetan Plateau. It’s regarded as one of the best overland journeys on Earth. The road tops out at 5,260 m (17,260 ft) above sea level.

Located near Qinglong town in Guizhou Province, 24-Zig Road is a curvy mountain road with 24 hairpin turns. The road was built by the Chinese during WWII to transport supplies to help resist the Japanese invasion. It’s one of the most famous hairpinned roads in the world.

Located in the Hunan Province of China, Heaven's Gate is one of the most famous landmarks in the country.

Located in the Guzhao district of Hubei province, in central China, Over-Water Highway is the name of a motorway completely built over water. It’s one of the world’s most scenic drives.

Located in Yongxiu County, in northern Jiangxi province of People's Republic of China, a road built across Poyang Lake is flooded every year. It’s one of the periodically flooded roads around the world.

China National Highway 318 (G318) is a challenging road running from Shanghai to Zhangmu, the westernmost border with Nepal. It is said to be the longest highway in China.

Located in southwest China's Sichuan province, the Yaxi Highway is an engineering marvel with 270 viaducts and 25 tunnels.

Dubbed as the highway above the clouds, the Tianlongshan Highway is a marvel of engineering located in Jinyuan District, in China.

Located in Southeast Asia, China is the world's third largest country, after Russia and Canada. China's mountains are a major feature of its physical geography with mountains, plateaus and hills accounting for about 65 percent of the country's landmass.

Shipki La is an international high mountain pass and border post on the India-China border, at an elevation of 3,954m (12,972ft) above sea level. The border is no longer open for non-residents.

China, with its expansive landscapes, not only showcases nature's grandeur but also stands as a testament to human resilience and innovation. In the towering Taihang Mountains, certain remote villages were nearly cut off from the rest of the world, guarded by imposing cliffs and mountains. To reach these enclaves, one had to traverse treacherous, narrow paths. Yet, with sheer determination and ingenuity, some villagers carved tunnels through mountains, creating pathways that were less daunting but intricately winding.

Gyatso La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.220m (17,125ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Located in the eastern coastal region of China, the Hangzhou Bay Bridge spans across the Hangzhou Bay and is one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Tuen Mun Road is a very congested highway located in Hong Kong, linking Tuen Mun and Tsuen Wan. Local folklore says it’s haunted by the ghosts of those who have been killed while traveling on it. It's considered one of the Top Haunted Roads in the world.

Hubei Enshi Sidu River Bridge is located in Badong County of the Hubei Province of China. It opened in November 2009 and was the world’s highest bridge, rising more than 1,500 feet in the air. It’s one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.

Located in Wuxi County, in China, the infamous Lanying Cliff Road is an awesome path carved out of the mountains. It’s one of the famous Chinese tunnel roads.

Located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Mount Everest Base Camp sits at an elevation of 5.157m (16,919ft) above sea level. The road to the base camp is a magnificent feat of engineering. It’s mostly paved.

Located in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Tarim Desert Road is the name of a paved road running across the Taklamakan, China’s largest desert.

Torugart Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 3.752m (12,310ft) above sea level, located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China. 

Pang La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.205m (17,076ft) above sea level, located in Tingri County, under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Xigazê in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.

Erkeshtam Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.838m (9,311ft) above sea level, located on the border of Kyrgyzstan and China. This is a popular border crossing for travelers journeying across Central Asia.

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

The Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway ranks among the most congested roads on Earth. While the road is fully paved and boasts up to 50 lanes in some sections, post-holiday traffic is notoriously challenging.

China National Highway 217 (G217) is a challenging road located in southwest Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, in the northwestern part of China.

Chamkang is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,953 meters (19,530 feet) above sea level, located on the border between Xinjiang and Tibet in China. It is probably the world's highest motorable road.

Suge La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5,453m (17,890ft) above sea level, located in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China.

The Zhongnanshan Tunnel, located in the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province of China, connects Xi’an and Ankang. Running beneath Mount Zhongnan, it is one of the longest tunnels in the world.

Lajiong La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 5.830m (19,127ft) above sea level located in Coqên County, in the Ngari Prefecture, in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It's one of the highest motorable roads in the world.

Located in Henan Province, the Kunshan Tunnel Road is one of China's iconic tunnel roads. Unique features include cliff-facing windows made for the disposal of rock debris.

Khunjerab Pass is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 4,706m (15,439ft) above sea level, located on the border of Pakistan and China. It is said to be the highest border-crossing in the world and is the highest point on the Karakoram Highway.

Wenquan is a high mountain town at an elevation of 5.100m (16,732ft) above sea level located in the Qinghai province of China. It’s one of the highest towns accessible by car on Earth.

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