Ela Shankou: enjoy a drive among the clouds
China, asia
110 km
4,502 m
moderate
Year-round
Ela Shankou is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 4.502m (14,770ft) above the sea levele, located in Xinghai County, in the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in the east-central part of Qinghai Province, People's Republic of China.
Set high in the Tibetan plateau, the road to the summit is totally paved. It’s called G214 Highway. Always check the weather forecast before you start your journey: adverse conditions are common. Expect strong winds. The pass has been bypassed by the scenic G0613 (Gongyu Expy Toll Road).
The pass is 110 km (68 miles) long, running from Wenquan Town to Hekazhen. It features steep sections, hitting a 10% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. There are hot springs just below the pass.
Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson
Travel guide to the top of Peacock Mountain Pass
Driving the wild Tingri-Penjixiang road
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.
Where is it?
Ela Shankou: enjoy a drive among the clouds is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 37.8262, 104.9509
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 110 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,502 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 37.8262, 104.9509
Related Roads in asia
easyDeserted Roads and Empty Towers: Driving Through Forest City, Malaysia’s Ghost Island
🌍 Malaysia
Craving an offbeat road trip? Forest City in Johor, Malaysia, right across from Singapore, is calling your name! Forget bustling cities; this place is a modern, reclaimed-island complex with wide-open roads and a seriously surreal vibe. Getting here is easy – just hop on the Coastal Highway and cruise over the bridges connecting the islands to the mainland. Once you're there, prepare for empty, well-maintained roads and minimal traffic. It's a driver's dream… or is it? The scenery is a mix of planned perfection and eerie emptiness. Think manicured forested areas meeting deserted beaches and streets. Keep your eyes peeled for bizarre sights like rusty vintage cars, a lonely playground, and a concrete staircase leading nowhere. Even the shopping mall feels like something out of a movie, with many shops closed and a children’s train chugging around an empty track. While authorities are working to breathe life into this project, for now, it's a unique and slightly unsettling experience. Cruise through the quiet streets, soak in the odd atmosphere, and decide for yourself: is it a ghost city or a diamond in the rough?
hardWhere is Sang Da La Pass?
🇳🇵 Nepal
Okay, buckle up adventure junkies, because Sangda La Pass in Nepal is calling your name! Nestled way up in the Dhawalagiri Zone, this baby is one of the highest roads you can actually drive in the whole country. Reaching Sangda La Pass is a serious off-road affair. Think completely unpaved, super narrow sections (forget passing), ridiculously steep climbs, hairpin turns that'll make your head spin, and massive drop-offs that'll test your nerves. The air is THIN, so take your time to adjust. And be warned: landslides can be a real problem, making the road totally impassable. Clocking in at just over 15 km (or about 9.5 miles), the climb from Chhusang in Upper Mustang is intense. You'll be gaining serious altitude – we're talking an average gradient of over 13%! When should you go? Definitely aim for late spring or early autumn (September to mid-November) to avoid the worst of the weather. Heads up: you'll need special permits to even get near Sangda La Pass, issued by Nepal's Department of Immigration. You can't just roll up solo either; you gotta arrange it all through a local trekking agency. Permits cost money, and you need to have them on you at all times. But here's the thing: despite all the challenges, the views are mind-blowing! Think untouched landscapes and raw, rugged beauty in a region that feels a million miles away from civilization. Plus, you can also explore the scenic Mo La Pass nearby or take the New Road from Jomsom to Rara Lake. This is the kind of trip that'll change you, for real.
extremeNangpa La: Driving the unpaved border pass in Baiyü
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure junkies, let's talk Nangpa La! This insane mountain pass punches through the western Sichuan province in China, teetering right on the edge of Tibet. At a whopping 4,884m (16,023ft) high, you're basically breathing space dust up here. Forget paved roads, this is raw, untamed terrain for serious off-roaders only. Seriously remote doesn't even begin to cover it. We're talking no services, no help, just you, your trusty 4x4, and some seriously stunning views of the Tibetan Plateau. The climb kicks off north of Shamaxiang and winds for almost 24 kilometers. Don't let the distance fool you - this isn't a Sunday drive! Expect an average gradient of almost 8%, but hold on tight because some sections crank up to a gut-busting 31%! You'll need every ounce of horsepower you can muster, especially with the altitude robbing your engine of its mojo. Think hairpin turns galore, loose gravel under your tires, and views that'll make your jaw drop. And keep an eye on the sky – weather here changes on a dime, and snow can shut things down any time of year. Oh, and one more thing: this being a sensitive border zone, you'll need to sniff out local intel on road conditions and snag any necessary permits before you even think about heading up. Happy trails!
moderateDare to drive the dangerous Kotal-e Lashkar Rah
🌍 Afghanistan
Kotal-e Lashkar Rah is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.934m (9,625ft) above the sea level, located in Ghor Province, in central Afghanistan. The winding mountain road to the summit is unpaved. It’s called Asian Highway 77 (AH77), a main road running from Jabal Saraj, Afghanistan to Mary, Turkmenistan. 4x4 vehicle recommended after rains. The area is very remote. Open to traffic throughout the year, the road may be closed for short periods in winter when the weather is bad. The pass is 115 km (71.45 miles) long running west-east from Chaghcharān, also called Firozkoh, on the southern side of the Hari River, to Lal wa Sarjangal, also called La'l Wa Sar Jangal or simply Lal. Facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find. Travel guide to the top of Pereval Torbulak Navigating Shah Mansoor Pass, Afghanistan's Majestic Heights 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.