A remote mountain road in southwest China has become known as a “driver’s nightmare” due to its terrifying bends and steep incline, and it’s so extreme that buses and lorries can’t use it. Stretching just 453 metres, the route features 18 sharp hairpin turns and a slope that reaches as much as a 43% gradient in some places.
The road is so narrow and twisted that larger vehicles are unable to navigate it, and even smaller ones need to stop and carefully manoeuvre around the tightest corners. Despite its terrifying appearance, the stretch of road has transformed life for the 137 residents of Minzhu, a village hidden in the mountains of Chongqing, southwest China.
Until 2012, the people living in Minzhu had no proper road access.
To reach even the most basic services such as schools or hospitals, they were forced to climb steep, slippery mountain trails that posed a serious risk to their safety.
The opening of the short but vital Lingpaishi Zigzag Road more than a decade ago connected the isolated village to the outside world for the first time.
“453 meters. 18 hairpin turns. Lingpaishi Zigzag Road in SW China’s Chongqing went viral as ‘drivers’ nightmare’,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“But for the 137 residents of Minzhu village, it’s been the road to school, hospital, and hope since 2012.
“Before it was built, villagers had no choice but to climb steep, dangerous mountain trails.”
The road has since become a minor tourist attraction, with visitors coming to photograph its unusual twists and turns. But for locals, it remains a lifeline.
Children in the village can now go to school safely. The elderly can access healthcare. And residents are able to transport food, supplies and other goods that were once nearly impossible to carry over the mountain on foot.
To improve safety, the road was reinforced and paved with concrete in 2019.
While still difficult to drive, the upgrade reduced the risk of accidents and helped make the route more reliable during bad weather.
The exposure brought by viral photos and social media has also brought small economic opportunities to the village.
Some residents now sell local products to passing visitors, helping Minzhu become a small part of the region’s wider rural economy.