Roads in Kham

Route	Description	Closures	Typical drive time
Chengdu-Kangding	All paved, some is expressway. Erlangshan Tunnel means that you avoid very high elevations.	Rare, but can have long delays during rainy season if rocks have fallen on the road.	7-8 hours
Kangding-Xinduqiao	Good from Kangding to Tseto La (pass), terrible the rest of the way to Xinduqiao. This must be the worst national highway in China. Broken pavement, pot-holes, rough rough rough.	Rare, but heavy snow can close the pass. It is usually cleared within one day.	3 hours
NORTH KHAM
Xinduqiao-Tagong	Currently a new road is under construction but the old road is fairly useable and delays are not great..	Closures due to weather or landslides are rare, but accidents occasionally cause traffic backups.	1.5 hours
Tagong-Daofu/Dawu	Mostly paved except for one section west of the pass. Pavement near Daofu is brand new but closer to Tagong it is old and rough in some sections.	Rare, but some portions can be icy after a snowfall.	2.5 hours
Daofu-Luhuo/Trango	All paved, no passes. Pavement is old and needs repair.	Rare, but don't be surprised by construction delays.	2 hours
Luhuo-Ganzi	All paved, one pass. Pavement is old and needs repair.	Rare, but don't be surprised by construction delays.	2.5 hours
Ganzi-Maniganggo	All paved, one pass.	Rare, but don't be surprised by construction delays.	2.5 hours
Maniganggo-Shiqu/Sershul	All paved, one pass	Rare	3.5 hours
Shiqu-Yushu	All paved, one pass. Road is excellent on the Qinghai side of the border.	Rare.	5 hours
Maniganggo-Dege/Derge	All paved except on Qiaoershan pass.	Landslides are rare but heavy snow can close the pass. There may be construction delays at times.	4 hours
Dege-Baiyu/Pelyul	Dirt road beside the Jinsha River	Vulnerable to landslides in summer. Can take 2-3 days to clear.	2-3 hours
Dege-Chamdo	Mostly paved, some unpaved parts, 2 passes	Vulnerable to landslides in summer and snow blockage in winter.	1 day
Baiyu-Ganzi	Mostly paved, some very steep sections, some narrow bits by the river that may be unstable.	Occasional, especially in summer.	4-5 hours
Baiyu-Batang	Dirt road through very remote area. 4WD recommended.	Frequent	7-9 hours
Ganzi-Xinlong/Nyarong	All paved, no passes, very steep terrain vulnerable to landslides.	Occasional, especially in summer	2-3 hours
Luhuo-Seda/Serthar	All paved, one pass	Rare	4 hours
Chengdu-Danba	All paved, one high pass, can be rough going if you're starting in Chengdu and prone to altitude sickness.	Subject to massive traffic jams between Chengdu and Wolong.	7-8 hours
Danba-Bamei	Mostly paved, some dirt sections, one pass, steep in parts	Vulnerable to landslides in summer.	4 hours
SOUTH KHAM
Xinlong-Litang	All newly paved, one pass, some steep sections	Occasional, especially during summer	4 hours
Litang-Batang	One pass. New road, excellent condition.	Occasional, especially during summer. In springtime beware of possible heavy snow on the pass.	4 hours
Xinduqiao-Yajiang	All paved, one pass, some steep sections	Infrequent closures, but beware of speeding trucks!	2-3 hours
Yajiang-Litang	All paved, long high stretch, very few houses.	Rare, but don't set out if fresh snow is falling.	5 hours
Litang-Xiangcheng/Chaktreng	All paved, two passes, long high stretch.	Infrequent, but don't set out if fresh snow is falling	4 hours
Litang-Daocheng	All paved, one pass	Same as above	3.5 hours
Xiangcheng-Zhongdian/Shangrila	All newly paved, some steep sections	Occasional, especially during summer	4 hours
Xiangcheng-Derong	All paved, one pass	Infrequent	3 hours
Derong-Zhongdian	Half paved, half very bumpy dirt, no passes.	Infrequent	3.5 hours
Derong-Batang	All dirt road, muddy in parts, one pass, 4WD recommended.	Occasional, especially during summer	4-5 hours
Xinduqiao-Jiulong	All paved, no passes, new road.	Rare	4 hours