Jingyangling Pass is worth the white-knuckle drive
China, asia
67.9 km
3,770 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, buckle up, road trip adventurers! Today we're tackling Jingyangling Pass in China's Qinghai Province. Picture this: you're snaking your way up the G227, a fully paved road that climbs to a whopping 3,770m (12,368ft)!
Located high in the Qilian Mountains, get ready for some serious hairpin turns. If your travel buddies get carsick easily, maybe pack some ginger ale! This isn't a Sunday drive - the road is steep, with gradients hitting 8% in places.
Stretching for 67.9km (42.19 miles) between Ebuzhen and Yaocaoliang, Jingyangling Pass will throw some amazing views your way. Just remember, snow usually closes it from late October to late June/early July, so timing is everything! Get ready for an unforgettable adventure.
Where is it?
Jingyangling Pass is worth the white-knuckle drive is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 34.4645, 102.8280
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 67.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 3,770 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 34.4645, 102.8280
Related Roads in asia
extremeThe New Road from Jomsom to Rara Lake: A High-Altitude Frontier in Nepal
🇳🇵 Nepal
Get ready for an epic adventure in the Himalayas! A brand-new road is being carved through the remote and mystical Dolpo region of Nepal, connecting the legendary Upper Mustang to the pristine Rara Lake. This is going to be one seriously scenic – and seriously wild – ride! Your journey kicks off near the Kali Gandaki River at Ekle Bhatti, nestled between Jomsom and Kagbeni. From there, hold on tight as the road throws you straight into a relentless climb into the heart of the rugged mountains. This ambitious route punches its way west toward Rara Lake, cresting a series of crazy-high passes that create a direct link across the watershed. Keep an eye out for these key landmarks; they mark your progress through this incredible landscape. But be warned, this is still a work in progress! Expect a narrow, unpaved track of dirt and loose gravel clinging precariously to steep slopes. In many places, it's barely wide enough for a single 4x4, and sheer drops without guardrails are the norm. The plan is for this new road to eventually connect with other remote tracks, like the Sangda La and Mo La. When it's all finished, it'll offer a vital (if somewhat nerve-wracking) connection to the Rara Lake region, bypassing the busier routes below. Buckle up – this is a drive you won't soon forget!
extremeThe wild road to the blue fire of Kawah Ijen
🌍 Indonesia
Nestled between Banyuwangi and Bondowoso in East Java, Indonesia, Mount Ijen is home to the stunning turquoise crater lake, Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater). The adventure to this incredibly acidic lake, famed for its sulfur deposits, starts above the Ijen Plateau. The 3.2 km (2 mile) unpaved road begins at Pos Perijinan Kawah Ijen, the starting point before you ascend. It's a bumpy ride to the trailhead, followed by a 1.5-hour hike, including some pretty steep sections. Once you reach the crater rim, you'll likely see miners carrying heavy baskets of sulfur. The lake itself is a reservoir of sulfur, where it's mined daily. Watch out for the miners carrying incredible loads (75-90 kg!) up the trail. This sulfur mining has been going on since 1968. The acid lake here is the world's largest! This volcano is famous for its electric blue fire, acidic crater lake, and the grueling sulfur mining. This sulfur, nicknamed "Devil's Gold," gets its name from its yellow color and the dangerous conditions. The water is so acidic it can dissolve flesh, clothes, even metal! Seriously, within 15 seconds, it can start to decompose human skin. Swimming? Definitely not recommended. You can descend into the crater, but be quick and at your own risk. Masks are crucial to avoid inhaling those toxic fumes. It's incredibly hot, smells awful, and the air is terrible, making a long stay pretty much impossible. Don't touch anything, and definitely don't touch your face. In 2018, the crater was closed for months because of toxic gas emissions, evacuating hundreds of locals. The road is super narrow and incredibly steep, making a 4x4 absolutely necessary. No private vehicles are allowed. In recent years, Kawah Ijen has become a popular tourist spot. One of the big draws is the "blue fire," one of the only places on Earth you can see this phenomenon. When sulfuric gases meet high temperatures, the sulfur ignites, creating blue flames. You can only see these flames at night, though they burn 24/7. Temperatures can reach a scorching 600˚C (1112°F), but the blue flames are only visible at night. Sulfur ignites at 360˚C (680°F), but a chemical reaction causes the blue hue, not the temperature.
extremeLongga La
🇨🇳 China
Longga La is a seriously high mountain pass in the Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, China, topping out at a staggering 5,159m (16,925ft) above sea level! The road to the summit is paved, so that's a plus. But don't let that fool you – this isn't a Sunday drive! Up here, the weather can turn on a dime. Expect strong winds, freezing temperatures, and even snow, even in summer. Road closures due to bad weather are common. Ice and snow can make things tricky. Take it slow and steady! If you have respiratory issues or heart problems, maybe skip this one. And definitely no babies under 4 months, the altitude is no joke. The climb is steep, about 13.1km long from the 219 National Road at 4,559m above sea level. You'll gain 600 meters in elevation, with an average gradient of 4.58% and a fun 16 hairpin turns. Despite the challenges, the views are incredible. Definitely a road for those seeking a serious adventure!
hardWhere is Kenashi Pass?
🇯🇵 Japan
Okay, picture this: you're cruising along Gunma-Nagano Prefectural Road 112, right on the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures in Japan, heading toward Kenashi Pass. This baby tops out at 1,910m (6,266ft), so you know the views are gonna be epic. "Kenashi" literally means "no hair," because no tall trees grow in this high-altitude location, which also means panoramic views! The road itself? Paved, but seriously narrow. We're talking hairpin bends galore and blind corners that'll keep you on your toes. Make sure to use those handy mirrors on the turns! Because this area is east of Nagano and a gateway to spots like Mt. Hafu and Mt. Omeshi, expect a mix of drivers – not all of them experts on mountain roads. The climb is pretty consistent, averaging around 8%, but those turns can kick it up to 10%. You'll definitely feel it, with grades hovering around 7% and the occasional burst to 10-11%. The summit has a parking lot and some old transmission towers, but the adventure doesn't have to stop there. You can continue another 3km to the Ogushi sulfur mine ruins, though that last stretch is unpaved and closed to vehicles.