The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Xialondong Cliff Tunnel Road
China, asia
1 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Okay, road trip lovers, listen up! Tucked away in the remote Huayuan County of Hunan Province, China, awaits the Xialondong Cliff Tunnel Road – a seriously inspiring drive and a total hidden gem.
This fully paved path clings to a high cliff on the western edge of the province, stretching for about a kilometer with 200 meters burrowing right through a mountain in a cool tunnel!
Heads up: this road was carved back in the '60s and '70s, so it's narrow! Take it slow, and keep your fingers crossed you don't meet anyone coming the other way. The tunnel itself is something special, with window-like openings every few meters cut right into the rock face. Keep an eye out for potential rockslides and maybe skip it during the rainy season, just to be safe.
But honestly, the views alone make this detour worth it! Recent improvements like lights inside the tunnel and a scenic lookout point make it even better. This road itself has become a tourist attraction and it's easy to see why. Get ready for some seriously breathtaking views along X710 – it's like driving amongst the clouds!
Where is it?
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Xialondong Cliff Tunnel Road is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 36.7902, 101.7393
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 1 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- 36.7902, 101.7393
Related Roads in asia
hardFriendship Highway
🇳🇵 Nepal
# The Friendship Highway: Tibet's Epic Journey on Wheels Ready for one of the most breathtaking road trips on the planet? The Friendship Highway—officially China National Highway 318—is your ticket to adventure, stretching a whopping 800 kilometers from Lhasa straight down to Zhangmu on the Nepal border. Trust us, this isn't just any drive. This route is seriously impressive. You'll be crossing multiple mountain passes that hover above 5,000 meters—we're talking the Gyatso La at 5,220 meters and the Lalung La at 5,050 meters—while catching sight of four of the world's fourteen 8,000-meter peaks. The views alone are worth the elevation headaches (maybe pack some altitude sickness meds!). The scenery is absolutely unreal. You'll cruise through endless Tibetan Plateau grasslands dotted with yaks, spot turquoise lakes that look almost photoshopped, and pass through yak-herding valleys that feel like stepping back in time. Then, get ready for the drama—the landscape suddenly plunges into subtropical gorges as you approach Nepal, switching from high-altitude wilderness to lush, green terrain in what feels like the blink of an eye. The highlights are pretty stellar too. Gyantse's ancient Kumbum stupa, the stunning Tashilhunpo Monastery in Shigatse, and the mind-blowing Rongbuk Monastery—literally the highest monastery in the world—will leave you speechless. And if you time it right, you might catch that iconic view of Mount Everest's north face. Built back in the 1960s, this road is also a stunning example of human engineering at its absolute finest.
extremePereval Chapchyma
🌍 Kyrgyzstan
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! Pereval Chapchyma in Kyrgyzstan's Jalal-Abad Region is calling your name. This isn't your average Sunday drive; we're talking about a heart-pumping mountain pass soaring to 9,320 feet! Get ready for a wild ride on a gravel road that's dusty, bumpy, and oh-so-Kyrgyzstan. This climb throws a relentless series of tight zigzags your way, hugging the mountainside with some seriously impressive drops. Vertigo sufferers, maybe sit this one out! The views? Absolutely breathtaking. Think panoramic mountain vistas that will leave you speechless. But stay focused! This road is steep, with hairpin curves and those aforementioned drop-offs that demand your full attention. This pass connects Kurulush and Terek-Say, typically open from May to November. Trust us, it's an experience you won't soon forget, and one of the most challenging drives in the country!
hardHow long is 24-Zig Road in China?
🇨🇳 China
Okay, buckle up road trip lovers! I've got a crazy one for you. Picture this: you're cruising through Guizhou Province in China, near a town called Qinglong. Suddenly, the road throws you into a frenzy of hairpin turns – *twenty-four* of them to be exact! This is the legendary 24-Zig Road. This crazy, curvy climb is only about 4km (2.5 miles) long, but don't let the short distance fool you. Built on a seriously steep 60-degree slope, this "S" shaped road was built back in 1935. It's only 5 meters wide and climbs like crazy! The road climbs 264 meters (866 feet), taking you from 1,296 meters (4,252 feet) to 1,560 meters (5,118 feet) above sea level. The average gradient is around 8%. Back in the day, this unpaved road was a vital supply line. It was so gnarly that drivers were literally praying before they even attempted it! Word is, there were plenty of overturned trucks back in the day. While it's not actively used anymore, you might spot a motorbike or three-wheeler braving the climb. And hey, if you need a break from the twists and turns, there's a sightseeing platform across the valley with an incredible view of the whole zig-zagging masterpiece.
hardWhen was Kawazu-Nanadaru Loop Bridge built?
🇯🇵 Japan
Okay, picture this: you're cruising down Highway 414 from Tokyo, heading towards the Izu Peninsula's hot springs, when BAM! You stumble upon the mind-blowing Kawazu-Nanadaru Loop Bridge. This isn't your average overpass; it's a double spiral of pure architectural genius, built in 1982. Think giant serpent, gracefully coiling between mountainsides. It's the only way to descend into the valley because the slopes are just too steep for a normal road. As you drive its 80-meter diameter loops, you'll climb or descend a full 147 feet (45 meters), feeling like you're suspended in mid-air. The panoramic views are absolutely stunning, but keep your eyes on the road. This corkscrew requires careful navigation – a slow and steady 30 km/h to be exact, which gives you more time to take in the views anyway! Definitely a must-see landmark and a thrill for any driver!