Driving the road to Zixia Palace with 49 dizzying hairpin bends
China, asia
5 km
3,245 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Yunnan Province, China, Dongchuan District to be exact. You're heading up Guniu Mountain on a wild adventure to Zixia Palace, a mind-blowing building perched way up at 3,245m (10,646ft)!
The road? Let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. It's a totally unpaved, 5km (3.10 mile) rollercoaster that climbs a staggering 1,000 meters. Buckle up for 49 hairpin turns and some seriously steep sections hitting a 20% gradient! The road starts at Dongchuan Wangjiaqing Village.
Most cars can handle it, but be prepared for a bumpy ride! Keep an eye out for a gate that might block the way. But trust me, the views from the top are absolutely worth it. Imagine yourself surrounded by breathtaking scenery – a reward for conquering this thrilling, challenging, and beautiful climb!
Where is it?
Driving the road to Zixia Palace with 49 dizzying hairpin bends is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 33.8884, 105.4620
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 5 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,245 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 33.8884, 105.4620
Related Roads in asia
extremeHow To Travel The Challenging Gushuang Cliff Tunnel Road
🇨🇳 China
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for the Gushuang Cliff Tunnel Road! You'll find this defiant drive snaking through Gulin County in the southern reaches of Sichuan Province, China. Trust me, it lives up to its reputation as one of China's most famous tunnel roads. Clocking in at 33.8 km (21 miles) between Gulin and Shuangsha, this isn’t your average Sunday drive. Picture this: a super narrow path that's basically a one-car-only zone. You might recognize it from the movie "Hands Up," which filmed some scenes here. Built in the early 1980s through the Xinyan Gorge, this road is a testament to human grit. It was carved by hand using explosives and hammers. Legend has it that 20 or 30 people died during the construction of the tunnel.
extremeMore than 100 hairpin turns to Sangbu La
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're REALLY looking to get off the beaten path, let me tell you about Sangbu La, aka Chaagagang La. This insane international mountain pass sits way up high on the China-Bhutan border at a whopping 17,345 feet. Picture this: you're winding your way up a seriously rugged, unpaved road on the Chinese side, switchbacking through over 100 hairpin turns. I'm talking a climb of 6,000 feet over just 18 miles from Bianbaxiang, with an average gradient of 6%. The views? Absolutely mind-blowing. The oxygen? Considerably less so - so take it easy! Keep in mind this isn't a Sunday drive! Don't expect any luxuries up here. Electricity, hot showers, or western toilets are pretty much non-existent. And forget about it in the winter – this military road becomes totally impassable. Oh, and the Bhutan side? No road at all! But hey, who needs a smooth ride when you've got bragging rights like this? Just make sure you're prepared for a serious challenge and some unforgettable scenery.
hardTaking on the Twists and Turns of Zhong Daban
🇨🇳 China
Okay, buckle up, road trippers, because Zhong Daban Pass in Qinghai, China is calling your name! Straddling the border between Haibei and Xining, this high-altitude adventure tops out at a breathtaking 3,779 meters (that's 12,398 feet!). The road, also called Dabanyahuo Pass or S105 (Qiaoyin Highway), is totally unpaved but easily doable in a regular car. Get ready for 71.2 kilometers (44.24 miles) of pure, unadulterated driving bliss running between Datong Hui and Tu to Menyuan Hui. But, hold on tight! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about 25 hairpin turns and some seriously steep sections. At times, you'll be grinding up a 25% gradient! The scenery is epic! So, are you ready to conquer Zhong Daban?
extremeWhat are the highest roads in Bhutan?
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Bhutan, nestled high in the Himalayas of south-central Asia, is about the size of Switzerland and seriously mountainous. Think rugged terrain, steep climbs, and plunging valleys, squished between India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Tibet. Some of those northern peaks soar to over 7,000 meters! Elevations here are wild, going from a mere 100m near the Indian border all the way up to the 7,554m Kulha Gangri peak bordering Tibet. The climate? Just as varied! All this means the roads are an adventure, carved through some of the world’s most challenging and scenic mountain passes. If you are looking for epic driving, look no further than Bhutan!