Kunshan Tunnel Road is China's Handmade Marvel Constructed by Farmers
China, asia
1.6 km
1,300 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: Henan Province, China. You're about to experience the insane Kunshan Tunnel Road!
This isn't just any road; it's a mind-blowing tunnel carved right through the Taihang Mountains. Seriously, the villagers of Kunshan Village, desperate to escape their isolated cliffside community (think treacherous paths and stone steps!), literally hand-chiseled their way to freedom.
Get ready to climb! You'll be cruising between 1,000 and 1,300 meters above sea level, winding through a series of tunnels. The road itself is about 1.6 km long and includes six mini-tunnels. The craziest part? They blasted windows right into the cliff face to get rid of the rocks!
Pro tip: hit this road between May and November. Winter? Forget about it. Snowfall turns it into a no-go zone.
Everyone raves about the Guoliang Tunnel, but this one? The Kunshan Tunnel is longer and arguably tougher. The good news is that back in 2009, they gave it a major facelift, so you can now cruise from the Wangmang Mountains Scenic Area entrance all the way to Kunshan Village, about 3 km north. Get ready for some epic views and a serious adrenaline rush!
Where is it?
Kunshan Tunnel Road is China's Handmade Marvel Constructed by Farmers is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.9663, 103.5587
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 1.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,300 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 36.9663, 103.5587
Related Roads in asia
extremeHow long is the Highway Empty Quarter?
🌍 Arabian Peninsula
Opened in 2015, the Saudi Arabia-Oman highway, known as Highway Empty Quarter, directly connects both countries through the Rub’ al Khali desert, also known as The Empty Quarter, the largest and most barren sand desert in the world. The road has been called an engineering marvel as it was built through the moving sands of the vast Empty Quarter. How long is the Highway Empty Quarter? The road, which snakes through the world’s largest desert, is totally paved. It’s a dual-carriageway that dramatically cuts down the journey times and distances between the two countries. On the Oman side, it is about 160km long, starting from Tanam in Ibri and ending at the Saudi border. From Saudi Arabia, it stretches 247km from the Omani border to the Shaybah Oil Field and 319km from Shaybah to the Batha-Haradh road, which leads to Riyadh. The new road cuts the distance between Saudi Arabia and Oman by about 800 km. Is the Highway Empty Quarter challenging? The highway is one of the longest roads in the Middle East, through one of the harshest, extreme climates in the world, overcoming extreme logistical challenges and achieving demanding service requirements to reach Saudi Arabia’s ambitious infrastructure development program. The construction was extremely hazardous. Intense heat, farness from the nearest inhabited city, shifting sand dunes, and harsh topography and climate all spelled the difficulties in the construction project. The desert is characterized by steep terrain and sand dunes elevated as high as 250 meters (820ft), and this did not hinder the completion of the road construction project. Among other difficulties, the workers and machines had to cope with extreme desert temperatures, reaching 50ºC degrees in the day and dropping to below 0ºC at night. How to get ready to drive the Saudi Arabia-Oman highway? While the highway provides an essential link between the two countries, travelers need to exercise caution due to the extreme desert conditions, including high temperatures, limited access to services, and the potential for sandstorms. Proper preparation and adherence to safety guidelines are essential for anyone undertaking a journey along the Saudi Arabia-Oman Highway. Is the Highway Empty Quarter worth it? The Rub' al Khali desert is one of the largest sand deserts in the world, covering parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The highway traverses through this vast and inhospitable desert terrain, making it an engineering marvel. Traveling along this highway offers breathtaking views of the desert landscape, with endless stretches of sand dunes and arid terrain. The route is also significant for its strategic importance, connecting key cities and regions in Saudi Arabia and Oman. http://tradearabia.com/news/CONS_287225.html Driving Saudi Arabia's Highway 10, one of the world's longest straight roads Is Jebel Al Mebrah harder than Mortirolo and Angliru? 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.
extremeIs the Road to Kaldama Pass Unpaved?
🌍 Kyrgyzstan
Alright, adventure junkies, buckle up for Kaldama Pass! Perched way up high at 9,816 feet, this epic pass straddles the border of two awesome regions in Kyrgyzstan. Forget smooth asphalt – we're talking a full-on unpaved experience! The road is more of a rocky, narrow track, the kind that whispers "adventure" with every bump. It's steep, twisty with hairpin turns galore, and you probably won't see many other travelers. Clocking in at around 66 miles, this east-west route stretches from Arslanbob, that village with a cool history, in the southwest of Kyrgyzstan. Heads up, though: this road is generally only passable in the summer months. Plus, near the top, a little gravel side-road climbs even higher to an elevation of 10,239 feet!
extremeGyandrak Monastery
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure junkies, picture this: Gyandrak Monastery, perched way up in Tibet's Purang County at a dizzying 5,090m (16,699ft)! This place isn't just a monastery; it's a meditation haven with views that'll knock your socks off… if the altitude doesn't get you first. Let's be real, getting here is no picnic. Think thin air that'll leave you gasping, seriously steep climbs, and a distinct lack of oxygen for your engine (yep, even your car will struggle!). Oh, and the Tibetan wind? It's a force to be reckoned with. Pack for anything – summer days can swing from warm to freezing overnight, and rain or even snow is always a possibility. The "road" is a gravelly, rocky, bumpy rollercoaster with hairpin turns and cliff edges that'll test your nerves. You’ll probably want to avoid this place October through June when the weather closes it off completely. But if you're an experienced off-roader in a 4x4 and not afraid of heights, this could be your ultimate challenge. Starting from Darchen, the climb is only 4.03 km (2.50 mi), but the elevation gain is intense, hitting gradients of up to 15%! But trust me, even with the insane driving, the Gyandrak Monastery is worth it. It’s the oldest and most important Drikung monastery in the region, and the views are out of this world. Just be prepared for an epic adventure!
extremeA steep road to the top of Kadan Khyasaa
🌍 Mongolia
Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in the Khövsgöl Province of Mongolia, hiding in the Khoridol Saridag mountains, awaits the Kadan Khyasaa pass, topping out at a cool 7,929 feet. Forget pavement, this is a raw, unadulterated 4x4 experience all the way. They call it Khyasaa Uul or Khyasaaya Uul sometimes. Word to the wise: that final stretch? Yeah, that's off-limits to personal vehicles. This trail is no joke, clocking in at just under 4 miles, but with an average incline of 11.5% and some sections hitting almost 20%, you'll be earning every single meter. Summer is really your only window to tackle this beast. But trust me, the reward is huge, as you'll get insane views overlooking the beauty of Khovsgol Lake. This is definitely one of the best drives in the country, if you're up for it!