A paved road to the summit of Mayum La
China, asia
N/A
5,225 m
extreme
Year-round
Alright, adventurers, buckle up for Mayum La, a mountain pass that'll leave you breathless – literally. We're talking serious altitude here: 5,225m (17,142ft) in the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, China.
You'll be cruising on the 219 National Road, the legendary Tibet-Xinjiang Highway, a route carved through history and hardship. Construction kicked off way back in '51 and finally got fully paved in 2013. Don't think it's all smooth sailing though – this "Sky Road" lives up to its name.
The air is THIN, so if you're not acclimatized, take it seriously. Winds whip through here like nowhere else. You're smack-dab in the Himalayas, surrounded by scenery that's as stunning as it is unforgiving. Think vast, empty stretches where you'll be on your own for hundreds of kilometres. Showers? Forget about it for weeks. Nights? Prepare for bone-chilling temperatures that can plummet to -25°C.
Mayum La sits between Huore and Paryang. At the top, listen for the shouts of "shou shou shou shou" from Tibetan drivers – a prayer for a safe journey ahead.
Before you even THINK about hitting this road, obsessively check the weather. Winter is brutal, with blizzards and insane winds closing roads left and right. Even summer can throw snowy days your way! Truck stops are spaced about a day apart, so pack plenty of food and a good sleeping bag. A tent could be a lifesaver. Monsoons hit hard in July and August, turning self-driving into a real challenge.
Where is it?
A paved road to the summit of Mayum La is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 35.7744, 100.9706
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Max Elevation
- 5,225 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 35.7744, 100.9706
Related Roads in asia
hardTanggu La is one of the China's top drives
🇨🇳 China
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Tanggu La! This beast of a pass hits a whopping 17,162 feet above sea level in the heart of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China. Nestled in the Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau, you might also hear it called Dang La, Tanggula, or Tanggu. You'll find it along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (part of China National Highway 109), which is paved, linking Beijing to Lhasa. Prepare for some serious altitude – you'll be cruising above 16,400 feet for nearly 50 miles before the next pass! The highway itself stretches almost 2,500 miles, heading west from Beijing through a string of cities before hooking southwest to Lhasa. Keep your eyes peeled on the weather, though. Conditions here are notoriously harsh and change on a dime. Sunny skies can quickly turn into a snowstorm. Once you reach the top, soak in the endless plains – if you can handle the killer winds, that is!
hardThe road to Kalmak Ashuu Pass has taxed the nerves of more than a few drivers
🌍 Kyrgyzstan
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Let me tell you about Pereval Kalmakashu, a seriously epic mountain pass chilling way up in Kyrgyzstan's Naryn province. We're talking 3,446 meters (that's 11,305 feet!) above sea level. This isn't your Sunday drive kind of road. Situated in the Tian Shan mountains, you're gonna need a 4x4 beast to tackle this unpaved path. The views? Incredible. The challenge? Real. Oh, and heads up: this area is infamous for its crazy-thick fog. Seriously, visibility can drop to practically zero in an instant. Plan your trip wisely; this pass is usually snowed in from November to March. Even in July, you might encounter snowdrifts, so pack layers! The road itself? Get ready for endless hairpin turns and a relentlessly steep climb. It's one of four passes that will take you to the stunning Son-Kul Lake. Trust me, the views are worth the white-knuckle drive!
moderateShawall Road
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Shawall Road in North Waziristan, Pakistan! This isn't your average Sunday drive – we're talking serious off-roading in the mountains. You'll definitely need a 4x4 to tackle this 65.8km stretch of gravel and rocky terrain. Picture this: you're winding along the Shawal River, deep inside Shawal Ziran Park. The scenery is stunning, but keep your eyes on the road! This route is definitely a wild ride.
hardRong La: The dizzying 22-hairpin ascent in Eastern Tibet
🇨🇳 China
Deep in eastern Tibet's Dêngqên County lies Rong La, a mountain pass that'll leave you breathless – literally! We're talking 4,831m (15,849ft) above sea level. This isn't just a road; it's a battle against a near-vertical Himalayan mountainside. Get ready for some serious twists and turns – this road is dizzying, to say the least. You'll need a steady hand and a vehicle in tip-top shape. The air's thin, and the dust... oh, the dust! It's fine, pervasive, and will coat everything in seconds. If you're not a fan of heights, this one's a challenge, both mentally and physically. Connecting Zhuodu and Anlacun, the most intense section is a 6.41 km (3.98 miles) climb from Zhuodu with a whopping 447 meters of elevation gain. Forget gentle slopes; we're talking about an average gradient of almost 7%, but that doesn't even tell half the story. Brace yourself for 22 hairpin bends, so tight that even some 4x4s might need a little wiggle to get around. Forget asphalt; it's all about loose dirt and crushed stone here. In dry conditions, "dizzying and dusty" doesn't even begin to cover it. If you're following another vehicle, prepare for a total brownout. A high-clearance 4x4 is a must, not just for traction but to avoid getting stuck in the ruts carved into the switchbacks. And remember, entering Tibet in your own wheels requires a ton of paperwork and a government-approved guide. Up here, your engine's gonna be struggling for air. That lack of oxygen means reduced power, so expect to spend most of those 22 hairpins in first or second gear. Keep a close eye on your engine temperature, as cooling systems aren't as efficient at this altitude. And that dust? It's brutal! Protect your air intake and bring a spare filter if you're travelling with others. There are zero facilities on Rong La. This is a truly remote corner of Tibet, where the weather can flip from a dust storm to a blizzard in minutes. Self-sufficiency is key! Pack recovery gear, plenty of water, and make sure your brakes are in perfect condition for the equally challenging descent. Rong La is an incredible drive, but it demands respect and leaves absolutely no room for mistakes.