
Dzang La: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
China, asia
22.5 km
5,287 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for Dzang La (aka Khojang La), a seriously high mountain pass in Gyirong County, Tibet, China. We're talking about a lung-busting 5,287m (17,345ft) above sea level!
This mostly paved road is a rollercoaster of hairpin turns snaking through the Ublung Chu valley. Keep your eyes peeled for the stunning Kochang Kangri peak (6,022m) towering above. Pro tip: always check local conditions before heading up—things can change fast up here.
The climb kicks off from the G216 and it's a leg-burner, with some sections hitting a crazy 13% gradient. It's a 22.5km (13.98 miles) haul to the top, gaining a whopping 1448 meters in elevation. That's an average gradient of 6.43%, so get ready for some serious uphill action! But trust me, the views are SO worth it.
Where is it?
Dzang La: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 34.5371, 104.2516
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 22.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,287 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 34.5371, 104.2516
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