
Kyapsang La is one of the World's highest motorable roads
China, asia
N/A
5,886 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Deep in the Xinjiang region of China, you'll find Kyapsang La, a sky-high pass reaching a staggering 19,311 feet! Also called Yiyepusang La, this spot is seriously remote and a total off-road experience. We're talking Tiankong Way, a.k.a. the "Sky Line road" or "Skyway" - and trust me, those names fit.
Built by the People's Liberation Army, the road winds with hairpin turns from Wenquan (Hot Springs) to Kongka La. You'll need a serious 4x4 to tackle this unpaved beast.
The views? Absolutely unreal. You're up in the Himalayas near the Indian border, practically touching the sky. Heads up, though, this road is usually only open in the summer, and it's a no-go for civilians and foreigners. So, if you ever get a chance to experience this road, you're in for something epic!
Where is it?
Kyapsang La is one of the World's highest motorable roads is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 35.4961, 108.2390
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Max Elevation
- 5,886 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 35.4961, 108.2390
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