The road to Churi Meri La, a chillout in high mountains
China, asia
94.5 km
4,507 m
moderate
Year-round
Alright, fellow adventurers, let's talk about Churi Meri La, a seriously epic mountain pass perched way up high at 4,507 meters (that's 14,786 feet for my American friends!). You'll find this gem nestled in Nangqên County, part of the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China, specifically the southern reaches of Qinghai Province right on the border with Tibet.
The road? Mostly unpaved goodness, folks! This is China National Highway 214 (G214), and you *can* tackle it with a 2WD in decent weather. But fair warning: this is mountain country, and when winter hits, expect snow and icy conditions that'll test your driving skills.
The journey spans a cool 94.5 km (or 58.71 miles) from Baizhaxiang in Qinghai to Asangkaxiang in Tibet. Get ready for incredible scenery, remote landscapes, and bragging rights for days!
Where is it?
The road to Churi Meri La, a chillout in high mountains is located in China (asia). Coordinates: 37.0815, 109.5886
Road Details
- Country
- China
- Continent
- asia
- Length
- 94.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,507 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 37.0815, 109.5886
Related Roads in asia
extremeDare to drive the dangerous 711 County Road
🇨🇳 China
Get ready for an epic adventure on County Road 711 (X711) in Tibet! This isn't your average Sunday drive. We're talking about one of China's highest roads, clinging to the edge of the world in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Imagine straddling the border between Drongpa County and Coqên County, deep in the western Tibetan Plateau, where tourism is practically nonexistent due to the sheer remoteness and unforgiving climate. This beast of a road stretches for 342 km, connecting the X716 near Yarexiang with Provincial Road 206 near Coqên, and *none* of it is paved! Expect a rough ride with deep ruts, loose gravel, and shockingly steep sections hitting a 12% gradient. A high-clearance 4x4 isn't a luxury; it's your lifeline. Oh, and don't count on finding any repair shops or gas stations out here – you're on your own. Perched high in the Gangdise Mountains, this road tops out at a breathtaking (literally!) 5,154m (16,909ft). Spend too long at this altitude, and you're flirting with Altitude Mountain Sickness. Trust me, Pulmonary or Cerebral Edema are not the souvenirs you want. The short window of opportunity to tackle this road is typically between June and September. But here's the kicker: the scenery is mind-blowing. You'll cruise alongside Renqingxiubu Lake, an enormous salt lake, and the otherworldly Lake Zabuye. Zabuye, with its white, crystalline shores, is a lithium hotspot of global importance, and it's a dazzling contrast against the stark Tibetan landscape. This road isn't just a drive; it's an experience that will etch itself into your memory forever!
moderateWhere is Chele La?
🇧🇹 Bhutan
Cruising through western Bhutan? You HAVE to check out Chele La, a mountain pass that'll steal your breath (literally – it's at 3,796m/12,454ft!). Straddling the Paro and Haa districts, this is one of the highest roads in Bhutan. The 56.4 km (35-mile) drive from Haa to Paro is an adventure in itself. Picture this: you're winding through lush valleys, dense pine forests, and rhododendron groves on the Bondey-Haa Highway. Built in the 90s, the road is paved but narrow, and those hairpin turns? They just keep coming! The climb is pretty consistent, with a gentle gradient, but keep your eyes peeled on those tight curves. Is it worth the drive? Absolutely! Just an hour outside Paro, the route itself is a scenic masterpiece, snaking through forests of spruce and larch. And the views? Unreal. On a clear day, you might catch a glimpse of the majestic Mt. Jumolhari, Jichu Drake, and other peaks, plus stunning panoramas of the Haa and Paro valleys. Heads up: Chele La can be a bit of a wild card weather-wise. Expect chilly rain, strong winds, and prayer flags flapping like crazy. Seriously, the wind is a constant companion up there. Pack warm clothes, a hat, and gloves! Maybe skip it altogether if the weather turns nasty.
hard14 hairpin turns on the difficult road from Tagaytay to Talisay
🇵🇭 Philippines
Okay, adventure junkies, listen up! If you're anywhere near Manila and craving a serious driving thrill, you HAVE to check out the road from Tagaytay down to Talisay. We're talking Batangas and Cavite provinces, right on the edge of Taal Lake – stunning! This 11.7km (7.27-mile) stretch, also known as Sampaloc, is fully paved, but don't let that fool you. It's not for the faint of heart! Think hairpin turns (14 of them!), blind corners that'll keep you on your toes, and some seriously steep sections – we're talking gradients up to 16%! Keep an eye out for rock slides, too. And the views? Unbelievable! As you wind your way down (or up!), get ready for breathtaking panoramas of Taal Lake, nestled right in the heart of an active volcano's caldera. Just remember those dramatic drops at the edge of the road – keep your eyes on the prize, but also on the road! This one can be closed due to volcanic activity at any time, so always check ahead!
extremeWhen was Cho La Mountain Tunnel built?
🇨🇳 China
Cruising through western Sichuan Province, China? Buckle up for the Cho La Mountain Tunnel, a mind-blowing shortcut through the Cho La Mountains! This beast of a tunnel sits at a staggering 4,378m (14,363ft) above sea level. Opened in 2017 after a 15-year build, this 7km tunnel (plus 5km of access roads) is part of the G317 highway, linking Chengdu to Nagqu in Tibet. Imagine the challenge of building something like this at such an altitude, where the air is thin and the temperatures plummet! The tunnel, also known as Que'ershan Tunnel, cuts through the mountains between 4,232m and 4,378m above sea level. The tunnel is paved, speed is limited to 40 kph, and it takes around 10 minutes to cross. Before this tunnel existed, drivers faced a harrowing journey over a treacherous mountain road, dodging landslides, avalanches, and all sorts of nasty weather on the Que'ershan Mountain Pass at 4,920m (16,141ft)! This tunnel slices two hours off the trip and bypasses the scariest parts of the old road. Trust me, you'll be grateful for this engineering marvel when you see the views!