24-Bend Road

The road twists its way with 24 switchbacks up a mountain in Qinglong county, Guizhou province. Each bend is anchored by a numbered way marker. During World War II, international supplies were sent through the road every month to Chongqing to fight the Japanese invaders. One can feel the forest spinning around as the car spirals up the road, which today also serves as a shortcut for locals living on the mountain top. A military cemetery can be seen at the top of the graveled road, which offers a stunning view of the surrounding mountains and gorges.

Duku Highway

This not only has beautiful natural landscapes in Xinjiang but also gives a taste of ethnic culture. It runs 561 km, connecting northern and southern Xinjiang. It takes drivers through lofty mountains and deep canyons and offers sights of ethnic minority settlements. The best time to travel is from May to September. Throughout the journey, rocks of different kinds and various periods are worth a closer look, as well as the vast Gobi Desert, alpine tunnels and lakes, modern glaciers, beautiful forests and grasslands.

Contact the writer at yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn