How To Travel The Qinwang Winding Road
China, asia
40 km
N/A
moderate
Year-round
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because Qinwang Winding Road in Xingtai, China, is about to blow your mind (and maybe make you a little carsick)!
Picture this: you're cruising through the southern part of Hebei province, weaving through the gorgeous Taihang Mountains. The road, a ribbon of smooth asphalt, dances around Qinwang Lake (yep, it used to be Dongshiling reservoir), about 40 km from Shahe City.
Seriously, this road is *all* curves. We're talking switchbacks galore and pigtails that loop-de-loop all over themselves! Built right between two mountains, it's a climber, twisting and turning to gain elevation like nobody's business. Fair warning: if you're prone to motion sickness, maybe pack some ginger ale! But the views? Totally worth it.
Where is it?
How To Travel The Qinwang Winding Road is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 37.7362, 102.1141
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 40 km
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 37.7362, 102.1141
Related Roads in asia
extremeHow challenging is the drive from Womacun to Jilonggou?
🇨🇳 China
Picture this: you're in Gyirong County, Tibet, smack-dab in the Shigatse Prefecture. You're about to tackle a seriously epic mountain pass that tops out at a lung-busting altitude. This road is the gateway between the towering Tibetan plateau and those lush, green valleys heading towards Nepal. Forget bumpy gravel tracks! This road is paved and kitted out with bright red and white concrete barriers. But don't get too comfy – you're hugging massive limestone cliffs, so watch out for falling rocks! We're talking a north-south route that hooks up different villages. It's not a twisty-turny nightmare, but it is seriously steep. And at that altitude, your engine will be gasping for air. If you've got a turbo, now's the time to use it. Night driving? Nope. This gorge gets dark and shadowy fast, and you don't want to meet any unexpected debris (or wildlife!). Plus, this road's a lifeline, so expect trucks. Passing them in this narrow canyon takes patience. Heads up: Winter is harsh! Snow can hit hard from October to May, and black ice loves those shady spots. Altitude sickness is a real thing too – you'll likely feel it kicking in way before you reach the top. Before you go, make sure your ride is in tip-top shape. That descent towards Jilonggou needs some serious engine braking to save your brakes. But get this: You're driving through the Himalayas, carving a path between ancient rocks. It's a drive that will keep you focused and leave you in awe of nature's power.
extremeWhat are the highest roads in Bhutan?
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Bhutan, nestled high in the Himalayas of south-central Asia, is about the size of Switzerland and seriously mountainous. Think rugged terrain, steep climbs, and plunging valleys, squished between India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Tibet. Some of those northern peaks soar to over 7,000 meters! Elevations here are wild, going from a mere 100m near the Indian border all the way up to the 7,554m Kulha Gangri peak bordering Tibet. The climate? Just as varied! All this means the roads are an adventure, carved through some of the world’s most challenging and scenic mountain passes. If you are looking for epic driving, look no further than Bhutan!
extremeThe wild road to the blue fire of Kawah Ijen
🌍 Indonesia
Nestled between Banyuwangi and Bondowoso in East Java, Indonesia, Mount Ijen is home to the stunning turquoise crater lake, Kawah Ijen (Ijen Crater). The adventure to this incredibly acidic lake, famed for its sulfur deposits, starts above the Ijen Plateau. The 3.2 km (2 mile) unpaved road begins at Pos Perijinan Kawah Ijen, the starting point before you ascend. It's a bumpy ride to the trailhead, followed by a 1.5-hour hike, including some pretty steep sections. Once you reach the crater rim, you'll likely see miners carrying heavy baskets of sulfur. The lake itself is a reservoir of sulfur, where it's mined daily. Watch out for the miners carrying incredible loads (75-90 kg!) up the trail. This sulfur mining has been going on since 1968. The acid lake here is the world's largest! This volcano is famous for its electric blue fire, acidic crater lake, and the grueling sulfur mining. This sulfur, nicknamed "Devil's Gold," gets its name from its yellow color and the dangerous conditions. The water is so acidic it can dissolve flesh, clothes, even metal! Seriously, within 15 seconds, it can start to decompose human skin. Swimming? Definitely not recommended. You can descend into the crater, but be quick and at your own risk. Masks are crucial to avoid inhaling those toxic fumes. It's incredibly hot, smells awful, and the air is terrible, making a long stay pretty much impossible. Don't touch anything, and definitely don't touch your face. In 2018, the crater was closed for months because of toxic gas emissions, evacuating hundreds of locals. The road is super narrow and incredibly steep, making a 4x4 absolutely necessary. No private vehicles are allowed. In recent years, Kawah Ijen has become a popular tourist spot. One of the big draws is the "blue fire," one of the only places on Earth you can see this phenomenon. When sulfuric gases meet high temperatures, the sulfur ignites, creating blue flames. You can only see these flames at night, though they burn 24/7. Temperatures can reach a scorching 600˚C (1112°F), but the blue flames are only visible at night. Sulfur ignites at 360˚C (680°F), but a chemical reaction causes the blue hue, not the temperature.
hardDare to drive the dangerous Bursatyn Davaaa
🌍 Mongolia
Alright, adventure junkies, listen up! I've got a killer road trip idea for you: Bursatyn Davaa in western Mongolia's Bayan-Ölgii Province! This ain't your grandma's Sunday drive. We're talking a whopping 2,644 meters (8,674 feet) of pure, unadulterated mountain pass awesomeness. Forget pavement, baby! This is a 139 km (86 mile) stretch of raw, unpaved Asian Highway 4 (AH4) that'll test your mettle (and your suspension). Think your 4x4 is tough? It'll need to be! Expect a long, challenging trek through some seriously rugged terrain. We're talking steep, sudden turns, and more bumps than you can shake a stick at. But trust me, the views are worth it. We're talking dramatic vistas and snow-covered mountains as far as the eye can see. Most of the track is decent, but get ready for some seriously rough patches. Just a heads up: keep an eye on the weather, because things can get hairy real quick up here. This route runs east-west from Tolbo to Khovd, the capital of the Khovd Province. Get ready for the ride of your life!