How to Travel the Duku Highway to Laerdun Daban?

Get ready for the ride of your life on the Laerdun Daban pass! This incredible route winds its way up to 2,723m (8,933ft) in northwestern China, linking Xinyuan County and Hejing County.

Also called Tuilan Sala Daban, this section of the Duku Highway (G217) is entirely paved, though watch out for gravel in landslide-prone spots. This 42.7 km (26.53 mile) stretch is an engineering marvel, packed with over 30 hairpin turns that will test your driving skills.

But the views! Oh, the views! Expect to be surrounded by clouds, mist, and the stunning beauty of green plateau meadows, lush pine forests, and majestic mountains. The whole area is unreal.

The Duku Highway is typically open from June to the end of September due to snow, so plan accordingly. July and August are peak season, so be prepared for more traffic. Keep an eye out for landslides and rockfalls, especially during bad weather. The speed limit is 40 km/h overall, dropping to 30 km/h on curves.

Heads up: the road generally has specific entry hours. Except for the section from Nalati to Bayinbuluke (Laerdun Daban), which has no time limit, the entire route is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nighttime restrictions are in place, prohibiting entry into the mountainous area from 21:00 to 9:00 am.

Important stuff to know: the entire highway is accessible to vehicles with seven seats or less. However, trailers are not allowed, and the height limit for RVs is 4.5 meters. Also, there are no service stations on the winding mountain road, so fill up in Nalati Town or Bayinbuluke Town before you hit the mountains. You also need to pack all your supplies in advance, as there are no stores along the way.