
How To Travel The 412 County Road
China, asia
128 km
4,018 m
hard
Year-round
Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime on 412 County Road, aka Locke Road, deep in the Gānnán Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of southern Gansu, China! This isn't your average Sunday drive – we're talking 128km (almost 80 miles) of pure, unadulterated, unpaved road.
You'll definitely want a two-wheel drive SUV for this one. Forget guardrails – it's just you and the raw landscape. And don't expect to update your Insta, because you'll be totally off the grid with zero cell service.
Winding through the majestic Dieshan Mountains, this road climbs all the way to 4,018m (that's over 13,000ft!). The air gets thin up here, so take it easy and remember to breathe. The views, though, are absolutely worth it. Plus, you'll be following in the footsteps of Joseph Locke, an early 20th-century explorer. Starting near Yiwaxiang, off the S313, and ending in Zhaguluzhen, this wild ride is a must for any adventurous soul!
Where is it?
How To Travel The 412 County Road is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 34.6704, 105.2969
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 128 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,018 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 34.6704, 105.2969
Related Roads in asia
extremeHow to drive the unpaved road from Qusum to Diyag in Tibet?
🇨🇳 China
Get ready for an epic adventure across the Tibetan Plateau! This 147 km (91 mile) stretch of pure, unadulterated off-road bliss connects Qusum and Diyag, two remote outposts in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. We're talking serious isolation here, linking Shannan and Ngari Prefectures through some of the wildest terrain imaginable, near the Chinese border. Forget pavement, this is a gravel and dirt rollercoaster that Mother Nature loves to play with. Expect deep ruts, loose surfaces, and seriously steep climbs. You'll need a high-clearance 4x4 to even think about tackling this beast. Budget 7-9 hours to crawl your way across – it's slow going, but totally worth it. Prepare to conquer six major mountain passes, all soaring above 4,500 meters! Brace yourself for endless twists and turns with heart-stopping exposure. The thin air at these altitudes will test both you and your engine. Be warned: sudden snowstorms are common, even in summer, and the monsoon season turns the unpaved track into an impassable mud bath.
moderateChongnye La, a chillout in high mountains
🇨🇳 China
Okay, wanderlusters, let's talk Chongnye La, a seriously high-altitude pass in eastern Tibet, China. We're talking 4,478 meters (that's almost 14,700 feet!) of pure, breathtaking scenery. You'll find this baby along the G317, China National Highway 317. The good news? It’s paved, so no need for a monster truck. The pass is a 41.5 km stretch connecting Sezhaxiang and Dêngqên, running from west to east. Keep in mind that while it's generally open year-round, winter can throw a curveball with short closures due to bad weather. But when it’s clear, the views are absolutely worth the adventure!
extremeWhere is Par La?
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! Let's talk about Par La, a seriously epic mountain pass that punches through the Himalayas in Tibet's Kyirong County. We're talking proper remote, nestled near the Nepal border in the Shigatse Prefecture. This isn't your Sunday drive; it's a lifeline for isolated villages like, linking them with the outside world. The road here? Well, let's just say your GPS might cry a little. The entire pass climbs to well over . Forget smooth tarmac; it's a rough and ready dirt track that'll test your off-roading skills. Here's the kicker: large chunks of this route cling to the actual ridge line! Think panoramic views for days but also sheer drops and zero room for error. The track is unbelievably narrow in places – just enough room for one 4x4. And speaking of 4x4s, you absolutely need one. After rain, things get sketchy with loose gravel and landslides. The high-altitude section stretches for roughly , snaking north to south with hairpin bends that'll make your head spin. Oh, and did I mention the altitude? We're talking well over 4,300m, so be prepared for snow – potentially year-round! Winter? Forget about it. This road becomes impassable when the Tibetan Plateau throws its full arctic tantrum.
hardWhere are these passes located?
🇨🇳 China
Okay, picture this: Lalung La and Nyalam Tong La — two sky-high passes in Tibet that basically form the edge of the world! Seriously, these passes (you might also hear them called Yakrushong La, Tong La, or Thong La) are the last big hurdle on the Friendship Highway before it dives down to Nepal. We're talking about a 57 km (35-mile) stretch of road from Mainpu to Yalaixiang, clinging to the southern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. But the real reason you're here is the views! **Shishapangma Alert!** Get ready for Shishapangma (all 8,012 meters of it!). It’s the only 8,000-meter peak entirely in China, and from here, you get this insane, up-close panoramic view of the whole Himalayan range. On a clear day, it's mind-blowing. **The "Great Descent"** Hold on tight, because from the top of Nyalam Tong La (5,150m), the road plummets towards Kodari, a border town at a mere 1,500m. That's a wild 3,600-meter drop! You'll start in a high-altitude desert and end up in a jungle. It's epic! **Heads Up!** The road's paved, but don't underestimate this stretch of the China-Nepal Highway. The air is thin, which can mess with your engine and your head. If you've got heart or breathing issues, be super careful. Also, these passes are usually snowed in from October to June, so plan accordingly. While the road looks smooth, it's full of hairpin turns that will test your brakes. Plus, during monsoon season, landslides are a real threat.