Trails in China

7 mapped routes in China: 4 scenic drives, 2 hiking trails and 1 cycling route. Together they cover 2,288 km with 11,390 m of climbing, and the highest point reaches 5,362 m. Every route has a GPX download, elevation profile, gradient and surface analysis.

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Plate CN · 7 routes · GPS traced

Mapped routes: 7
Total distance: 2,288km
Total climbing: 11,390m
Highest point: 5,362m
Water crossings: 20

Destination guide

About trails in China

China's routes range widely. The G219 is the extreme: one of the world's highest roads, running along the western edge of the country from Xinjiang into Tibet, with passes above 5,300 m and more than 2,000 km of driving. In the middle of the country, the Qinling Mountains Hike, Xi'an climbs steeply to around 2,600 m in the range that divides northern and southern China.

In the south, the Shenzhen to Guangzhou Pearl River Drive and the Shenzhen to Dongguan Expressway Drive cross the Pearl River Delta on expressways. Across the border in Hong Kong, the Sha Lo Tung Hok Tau Walk explores the country park valleys of the New Territories, and the Tuen Mun Ride uses the territory's cycle tracks. In Zhejiang, the Keqiao and Anchang Old Town Drive passes canal towns near Shaoxing.

Best time to go: Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November) suit most of the country. South China is hot and humid in summer, with typhoons from July to September. The G219's high passes are most reliable from June to September.
Terrain: The terrain goes from sea-level delta and low coastal hills to steep Qinling ridges and the high plateau above 5,000 m. Most routes are easy or moderate, but the altitude on the G219 is serious.
Permits & access: Foreign travelers in Tibet need a Tibet Travel Permit and a guided tour, and parts of Xinjiang have checkpoints and extra restrictions. Hong Kong has separate border controls from the mainland, and mainland expressways charge tolls.

Ways to explore