Road in China with jaw-dropping hairpins now a tourist attraction

The engineers behind this road clearly believe in the saying ‘one good turn deserves another’. A version of it, anyway.

The recently built Panlong Ancient Road in West China contains so many bends – over 200 – that it has rapidly become a tourist attraction.

The most photogenic section contains a jaw-dropping series of steep hairpin bends, rising sharply from a plateau into snowcapped mountains. Heaven for driving enthusiasts, hell for anyone who suffers from car sickness.

The 75km-long (46-mile) road – dubbed the Plateau Sky Road by locals – is in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang Province

Seen from the air, the road takes on a dragon-like form, giving rise to its name. Panlong is an aquatic dragon in Chinese mythology.

The 75km-long (46-mile) road – dubbed the Plateau Sky Road by locals – is in Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County, Xinjiang Province.

Its original purpose was to provide passage through the Kunlun Mountains for local farmers and herdsmen.

Seen from the air, the road takes on a dragon-like form, giving rise to its name. Panlong is an aquatic dragon in Chinese mythology

Police use drones to patrol the snow-covered Panlong Ancient Road, which reaches a height of 4,200 metres (13,780ft)

Since it opened in July 2019, they’ve been sharing it with YouTubers, Instagrammers and drone operators, eager to document its almost unreal aesthetics.

The road reaches a height of 4,200 metres (13,780ft), with a maximum elevation gain of 1,000 metres (3,280ft).

Hundreds have posted reviews of their journey along the road, with the trip described as ‘a challenge full of excitement’, ‘unmatched’ and ‘very beautiful’.

The original purpose of Panlong Ancient Road was to provide passage through the Kunlun Mountains for local farmers and herdsmen. Since it opened in July 2019, they’ve been sharing it with YouTubers, Instagrammers and drone operators, eager to document its almost unreal aesthetics

However, www.dangerousroads.org, while calling the road a ‘driving enthusiast’s dream’, warned drivers to be careful during rain and snow – and to be aware that mudslides are possible.

Another notable bendy road in China connects the villages of Jinxing and Jinganshao in Yunnan province, in the south-west.

The winding road has 68 hairpins spanning a distance of 6.3 kilometres (3.9 miles) along a mountain ridge.

Site www.dangerousroads.org calls the road a ‘driving enthusiast’s dream’, but warned drivers to be careful during rain and snow – and to be aware that mudslides are possible

 Hundreds have posted reviews of their journey along the road, with the trip described as ‘a challenge full of excitement’, ‘unmatched’ and ‘very beautiful’

The road is heaven for driving enthusiasts, hell for anyone who suffers from car sickness