Tanggu La is one of the China's top drives
China, asia
80 km
5,231 m
hard
Year-round
Alright, thrill-seekers, buckle up for Tanggu La! This beast of a pass hits a whopping 17,162 feet above sea level in the heart of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province, China.
Nestled in the Tanggula Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau, you might also hear it called Dang La, Tanggula, or Tanggu. You'll find it along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway (part of China National Highway 109), which is paved, linking Beijing to Lhasa. Prepare for some serious altitude – you'll be cruising above 16,400 feet for nearly 50 miles before the next pass! The highway itself stretches almost 2,500 miles, heading west from Beijing through a string of cities before hooking southwest to Lhasa.
Keep your eyes peeled on the weather, though. Conditions here are notoriously harsh and change on a dime. Sunny skies can quickly turn into a snowstorm. Once you reach the top, soak in the endless plains – if you can handle the killer winds, that is!
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 80 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,231 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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