A paved road to the Riyue Mountain Pass
China, asia
9.1 km
3,529 m
moderate
Year-round
Alright adventure junkies, buckle up for the Riyue Mountain Pass! This beauty sits pretty high up in Northeastern Qinghai Province, Western China, right on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, clocking in at a cool 3,529m (11,578ft) above sea level.
You’ll be cruising along the Ri Yue Line, a well-paved road stretching for about 9.1 km, kicking off and finishing on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (also known as China National Highway 109). The climb? Super mellow – no crazy steep inclines here. Plus, it’s famous! The Tour of Qinghai Lake (Riyue Pass) cycling race tears it up every year.
Once you conquer it, the summit is waiting with pagodas galore and a huge parking lot to chill and soak in the views. Get ready for some seriously stunning scenery!
Where is it?
A paved road to the Riyue Mountain Pass is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.5675, 105.8540
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 9.1 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,529 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 36.5675, 105.8540
Related Roads in asia
extremeDriving the Bingchacha Road is not a piece of cake
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for Bingchacha Road, China's wildest ride! Forget smooth asphalt; this is a 286 km (177 miles) stretch of pure, unadulterated mountain road connecting Yunnan to Tibet. They call it Death Road, but trust me, the scenery is killer—in a good way! Think mind-blowing landscapes that’ll make you forget all about the bone-jarring bumps. Construction started in the early 2000s and finished around 2011. This isn't your typical tourist trap, my friends. We're talking mostly gravel and sand tracks, hugging mountainsides like a long-lost lover. Parts of it follow the ancient Tea Horse Road, so you know it's got history. The "road" is only about 4-5 meters wide. You'll encounter every challenge imaginable on this road. Just keep your eyes on the prize! It's a rough one but well worth it for true thrill-seekers. And they've been improving the road in recent years, so maybe it's less "death road" and more "challenging but doable road" these days.
hardWhere is Nathu La located?
🇮🇳 India
Nathu La Pass sits way up high at 14,140 feet, right on the Indo-China border! This epic spot connects India's Sikkim state with Yadong County in Tibet. Where can you find it? About 34 miles east of Gangtok (Sikkim's capital) and 270 miles from Lhasa, Tibet. It's one of the few spots where trade happens between China and India. Heads up, getting here isn't a breeze. You'll need a special permit if you're Indian. Sadly, no cameras allowed, but there is a world’s highest ATM! The drive itself, nicknamed Nathula, Natu La, or Natula, is completely paved. Think twisty roads, rugged mountains, and major cliff views as you cruise part of the old Silk Road. Road conditions can be rough because of snow and crazy weather. The air is thin at this altitude, so hydrate and take it easy to avoid altitude sickness. Speaking of weather, this high Himalayan pass is closed part of the year because of snow. Heavy snowfall makes it impassable for about 4-5 months. Even when the snow stops around May, landslides are common because of the heavy rain. If you're planning a trip, the border is only open Wednesday to Sunday, and is guarded by soldiers from both countries.
hardIs Dzamba La paved?
🇨🇳 China
Dzamba La is a high mountain pass at an elevation of above sea level, located in Batang County, Sichuan Province, China Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture , the road through the pass is fully paved yet quite , with countless curves—many of them hairpin turns—and How long is Dzamba La? long, running north-south from Baqiongxicun to Buzhong Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson Pic&more info: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202110/1237506.shtml Driving the Remote Unpaved Road to Nyadong La in Tibet A Memorable Road Trip to Kora La Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
moderateLawu Pass: a paved steep road to the top
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure junkies, buckle up for Lawu La! This epic mountain pass punches a hole through the sky at a staggering 14,340 feet in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. You'll find it in Markham County, snaking along the Langcang River. This section of the legendary 318 National Road (G318), also known as the Tibet-Sichuan highway, is no Sunday drive. Think 47.3 kilometers of paved road twisting and turning from Rumeizhen to Markam. Hold on tight, because this stretch is steep, with hairpin turns galore! But trust me, the views are worth every white-knuckle moment. Get ready for some serious high-altitude thrills and scenery that'll blow your mind.