Who built the road to Xifanggoucun?
China, asia
N/A
914 m
extreme
Year-round
, in China's north-western Shaanxi province, the road to
stands as a testament to human determination. Tucked away in the formidable
, this terrifying mountain drive is one of the most remarkable
tunnel roads in China
, literally hanging approximately 3,000ft high above the valley floor.
Road facts: Xifanggoucun Road
Ningqiang County, Shaanxi, China
~915 m (3,000 ft) drop
Cliff-hanging Tunnel Road
Who built the road to Xifanggoucun?
Unlike modern highways, this precarious path was
constructed entirely by local residents
between 2000 and 2006. For decades, Xifanggoucun village was practically isolated from the world; villagers had to climb over the mountain peaks and walk for two hours just to reach the nearest bus stop. Determined to change their fate, they carved this road out of the sheer cliffs. Today, what used to be a grueling two-hour hike is now a 10-minute drive, although the journey is far from relaxing for those behind the wheel.
Is the road to Xifanggoucun paved?
6,000-meter-long road is totally paved with concrete
. However, the paving does little to alleviate the fear factor. The track is extremely narrow and is
totally impassable to bigger vehicles
; only small cars or motorcycles can navigate the tight squeezes. The most iconic feature of the drive are the "windows" carved into the side of the tunnels. These openings were originally made to dump debris during construction, but now they offer wonderful, yet dizzying views of the 3,000ft drop to the valley below.
Why is the drive to Xifanggoucun dangerous?
The drive is considered high-risk because it lacks almost all modern safety features. There are
no barriers, no safety mirrors, and no lamps
along the entire stretch. Driving through the hand-hewn tunnels feels like entering a cave, where the jagged ceiling is often just inches above the car roof. The transition from the dark tunnels to the bright cliff-side openings can be blinding, and the constant threat of rockfalls in the Daba Mountains adds another layer of danger. One wrong steering input on the narrow concrete surface could be fatal, as there is nothing between the tires and the abyss.
What should you expect when conquering this Chinese tunnel road?
Conquering the Xifanggoucun road requires absolute focus and a high tolerance for vertigo. The path is the only transportation route connecting the village to the outside world, so you might encounter local motorcycles in the most inconvenient, narrow spots. Because the road is carved into a vertical cliff,
extreme care is needed
during rainy weather, as water cascades directly over the tunnel openings. It is a masterpiece of folk engineering that demands respect for both the people who built it and the terrifying landscape it inhabits.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Get behind the wheels for Guangzhou Green Tunnel Road
A road trip on the Lapche La pass is truly epic
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Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Max Elevation
- 914 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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