Panlong Ancient Road
盘龙古道
A trendy road with more than 600 consecutive switchbacks winding through the Kunlun Mountains, peaking at about 4,100 meters. Its sign reads 'Today we have walked every bend in the road; from now on, life is smooth sailing.'
The Panlong Ancient Road lies southeast of Tashkurgan County town, connecting to the Wacha area, and winds up high mountains with more than 600 consecutive S-shaped switchbacks. The core section is over 30 km long, peaking at about 4,100 meters with an elevation gain of more than 1,000 meters. From the pass at the top, you can look down on the winding road. A roadside sign reading 'Today we have walked every bend in the road; from now on, life is smooth sailing' has become a popular photo spot. In recent years, one-way traffic and traffic limits have been introduced (reportedly only vehicles with seven seats or fewer, released about 10:00 to 19:00). Follow local announcements for the current rules. It is about 40 km from the county seat and can be combined with Bandier Blue Lake as a loop. The whole route is high-altitude, with sharp bends and narrow roads, so drive slowly and watch for altitude sickness. Entering Tashkurgan requires a border pass arranged in advance.
Opening hours
Access from about 10:00–19:00 (check local announcements)