The Old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is not for the faint of heart
China, asia
N/A
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventurers, buckle up for the old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road in China's Shanxi province! Nestled in Pingshun County, get ready for a seriously steep climb—we're talking a 30-degree incline!
This isn't your typical highway; this is raw, unpaved dirt road, winding through the South Taihang Mountains. What makes it epic? Five cliffside tunnels carved way back in 1968. Imagine 800 villagers, basic tools, and sheer determination creating this route between Tihou-Cun Village and Hongtiguan Pass. The height difference between the first and last tunnel is around 200 meters!
Bring your camera because the views are insane. Picture majestic landscapes, hidden springs, cascading waterfalls, and sleepy villages dotting the scenery. While there's now a new expressway (the S76) bypassing this old road, the original Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is still there waiting for the adventurous!
Where is it?
The Old Hongtiguan Tunnel Road is not for the faint of heart is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 32.4450, 103.8496
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 32.4450, 103.8496
Related Roads in asia
moderatePendang La: enjoy a road among the clouds
🇨🇳 China
Okay, adventure awaits! Let's talk about Pendang La, a seriously high mountain pass nestled in the Xigazê Prefecture of Tibet, China. We're talking 4,848 meters (that's 15,905 feet!) above sea level. You'll find it in western Tibet, and fair warning, the road to the top? Completely unpaved. It's called the X217, and it stretches for 188 km between Zhongba and Saga. Think epic scenery, but also think rough and rugged. Summer is really your only window of opportunity to tackle this one. Also, a heads up: this is seriously remote. Forget about finding things like electricity, medical help, or even the simple comforts of hot water and western-style toilets. This is a true off-the-grid experience!
hardHere's What You Need to Know about Driving the Road to Chaguola post
🇨🇳 China
Chaguola is a military outpost at an elevation of 5.261m (17,260ft) above the sea level, located in Yadong County of the Tibet region of China, part of its Shigatse Prefecture. The military road to the outpost, also known as Thog La, is unpaved, with hundreds of curves and hairpin turns. A 4x4 vehicle is required. The climb requires a military authorization very difficult to obtain (even for a national) because it is located in a totally isolated area near the Indian border. Weather here is brutally harsh: the annual average temperature here is minus 4 degrees Celsius, and the oxygen content of the air is about 40% of that at sea level. It is called the “forbidden zone of life”. The road is impassable in winters and there is snow and very strong winds all year round. Starting at Luojiao, the road to the military outpost is 23.2km (14.41 miles) long. It has very steep parts, hitting a 10% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. Road suggested by: Hugh Wilson How To Have The Ultimate Road Trip From Tinizi to Bianlongduo Driving the grueling road to Dagchu La Embark on a journey like never before! Navigate through our to discover the most spectacular roads of the world Drive Us to Your Road! With over 13,000 roads cataloged, we're always on the lookout for unique routes. Know of a road that deserves to be featured? Click to share your suggestion, and we may add it to dangerousroads.org.
easyThe road to Kyagar Tso Lake is truly an unforgettable experience
🇮🇳 India
Alright, adventure seekers, listen up! Deep in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, nestled high on the Changthang Plateau, lies the shimmering Kyagar Tso, a small saline lake sitting pretty at a whopping 4,705 meters (15,436 feet). Getting here is an experience in itself. We're talking high mountain passes, freezing temperatures (pack accordingly, even in summer!), and seriously stunning scenery. You'll conquer Kiagar La at 4,859 meters (15,941 feet), Namshang La at 4,960 meters (16,273 feet), and Charchagan La at 4,924 meters (16,154 feet). The 103-kilometer (64-mile) stretch from Sumdo to Chumur is fully paved, but remember, you're in a remote, sparsely populated paradise. Fill up that tank beforehand, because petrol pumps are nonexistent here. And while the Rupshu Valley is incredibly picturesque, creature comforts like electricity, medical assistance, and even hot water are rare gems. This road eventually leads you to Karzok (Korzok), one of the highest towns on earth. Get ready for an unforgettable ride!
hardDriving the Road with Vertical Cliffs and No Guardrails to Gangotri
🇮🇳 India
Okay, so you're heading to Gangotri, nestled way up in the Indian Himalayas! This tiny town in Uttarakhand sits pretty high at 3,415m (that's over 11,000 feet!). The drive? Epic, but hold on tight! You'll find yourself in Gangotri National Park, following the Bhagirathi River (one of the Ganges' main sources) with those majestic Himalayan foothills all around. The road's fully paved these days (since the 2020s), and it's known as NH 108. Starting from Sukki, it's about 29 km (or 18 miles) of seriously twisty, high-altitude driving. Now, "narrow" doesn't even begin to describe it. Think "one-vehicle-only" narrow in spots, clinging to the edge of crazy steep drops – hundreds of meters down, with no guardrails to soften the view! Along the way, you'll pass through a few small villages, the ruins of a hydroelectric project, and some intriguing tunnels. Bring a flashlight if you're feeling adventurous – you can explore them, but be warned, some are gated and some are flooded!