A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Shengli Daban
China, asia
140 km
850 m
extreme
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in Northwest China, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, cruising along the 216 National Road. You're headed for Shengli Daban, or Victory Pass, a staggering 4,091 meters (13,421 feet) up in the Tian Shan – that's right, the Mountains of Heaven!
The road is mostly paved, but hold on tight, because it's a wild ride of hairpin turns on a narrow track. Especially if you're coming from Ürümqi, you'll be climbing from just 850 meters all the way up, up, up for 140 km. The final push is unreal – imagine a steep wall and a road that zigzags endlessly to the top.
The traffic's pretty light, which is great because you'll want to soak in the scenery. Think dramatic gorges, gleaming glaciers, and towering peaks.
FYI, there's a massive 22-kilometer tunnel in the works (the Tianshan Shengli tunnel) that'll eventually bypass this crazy climb. It’s a six-year project and it's going to make things safer and easier to promote the local economy. But until then, buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Where is it?
A Most Tricky Scenic Drive to Shengli Daban is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.3474, 102.4016
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 140 km
- Max Elevation
- 850 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 36.3474, 102.4016
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