
Is the road to Kyapsang La unpaved?
China, asia
N/A
5,886 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, adventure junkies, because Kyapsang La in China's Xinjiang region is seriously off the beaten path! We're talking a lung-busting 5,886 meters (19,311 feet) high – that's practically scraping the sky!
Locally known as ‘Sky Line road’ or ‘Skyway’ this wild stretch of road, nicknamed Tiankong Way, is totally unpaved, so you'll definitely need a 4x4 to tackle it. Built back in 2016 by the army to connect their remote border outposts, this route snakes its way from Wenquan (Hot Springs) up and over along a relentless series of hairpin turns.
Word to the wise, though: this road is super exclusive. Perched way up in the Himalayas near the Indian border and the contested Aksai Chin region, it's currently off-limits to regular folks and international travelers. Plus, you'll only have a shot at getting up here during the summer months. But hey, a road tripper can dream, right?
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Max Elevation
- 5,886 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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