National Highway 318, or G318.svg){kind=small}
, is an east-west national highway in China that runs through central China, from the easternmost coast to the Himalayas in the west.
Understand
[edit]The China National Highway 318 (G318) spans approximately 5,476 km (3,403 mi), making it the longest of the Chinese national highways. It is also known as the most beautiful scenic highway in China.
It starts from the people's square in Shanghai in the east and runs westwards through Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, and finally into the Tibet before reaching the border with Nepal at Dram. The westernmost portion (from Lhasa to Dram) is known as the "Friendship Highway" linking China and Nepal.
The route crosses a vast array of geographical zones: from sea-level urban delta landscapes, through river basins, mountains and plateaus, eventually reaching altitudes over 5,000 m (16,000 ft).
For travellers, the appeal is strong: dramatic scenery, cultural diversity, and challenging driving or cycling terrain.
Prepare
[edit]
National Highway 318 is divided into three sections: the Yangtze Plain, the Sichuan Basin, and the Tibetan Plateau. Each section presents different landscapes and challenges.
The road sections outside the Tibetan Plateau are more economically developed, with many fuel stations and restaurants, and there are also many large cities along the way, so you don't need to worry about supplies.
The rainy season (June to July) in the eastern region creates a beautiful landscape with the dense water network and mountains and forests in the east, but also brings heavy rainfall, making roads slippery and risky. For those who drive, they only need to pay attention to anti-slip, but for those who ride or hike, they also need to pay attention to keeping warm to avoid hypothermia.
In the Tibetan Plateau, roads would be covered with snow or ice in winter, resulting in road closures or extreme dangers, avoid entering this section in winter. Also in this section, the altitude often exceeding 4,000 m (13,000 ft) or even 5,000 m (16,000 ft). Altitude sickness is common at high altitudes, with symptoms including headaches, nausea, and shortness of breath. It's recommended to learn about it in advance, acclimatize slowly, and avoid rapid ascents. Bring essential medications (such as motion sickness medication, altitude sickness medication, painkillers, and wound dressings) as well as warmth, sunscreen, and windproof clothing.
Documents and permits
[edit]For foreign tourists entering the Tibet Autonomous Region or certain restricted areas, travel agencies are generally required to assist them in obtaining a Tibet Travel Permit. If driving or self-driving, please be aware of relevant vehicle procedures (such as vehicle rental, insurance, driver's license, temporary import or driving permit), as well as route information. For cycling or hiking, especially in remote areas or off-trail sections, please notify local police or authorities and prepare an emergency plan.
Get in
[edit]National Highway 318 intersects many major national and provincial routes (National Highways G104, G205, G312, G320, G108, and G214, among others), as well as numerous expressways. It also links several major cities and transportation hubs including Shanghai, Suzhou, Huangshan, Wuhan, Chengdu and Lhasa. Travelers can enter or exit G318 across these regions via highway interchanges, railway stations, and airports such as Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, and Lhasa Gonggar International Airport.
You can also enter National Highway 318 from Nepal. After its western terminus at Dram, the road continues as the Friendship Highway (China–Nepal Highway) southwest toward the Nepalese border, descending through mountain valleys to the Arniko Highway in Nepal, which leads to Kathmandu.
Go
[edit]
Shanghai to Yichang
[edit]The Shanghai–Yichang section of National Highway 318 covers the highway's easternmost stretch, linking the coastal metropolis of Shanghai with Yichang in Hubei Province. This section, approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) long, passes through a diverse urban and rural landscape.
National Highway 318 has its eastern terminus in the heart of 1 Shanghai, at People's Square (人民广场), marking kilometer zero of the highway. Historically, this location was chosen in the 1950s when China's national trunk highway network was first established, symbolizing Shanghai's role as the gateway between coastal China and the nation's vast western interior.
Within Shanghai, G318 originally followed Yan'an Road (延安路) westward from People's Square, crossing through the city's central districts before extending into the suburbs. In the 1990s, as Shanghai rapidly modernized, much of this section was transformed into the Yan'an Elevated Road (延安高架路) — one of the city's earliest and most important expressways. This elevated corridor effectively replaced the old ground-level G318 route within the city center, easing congestion and linking downtown Shanghai to the Hongqiao International Airport. The following section is called Huqingping Highway, it connects the downtown area of Shanghai with the suburban districts of Minhang and Qingpu, continuing westward toward Jinze Town and the border intersection of Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, "Square Hall Water Courtyard (方厅水院)" was built as a memorial to the Yangtze Delta.
The highway later enters 2 Wujiang section, runs through the southernmost part of Jiangsu Province, forming a short link between Shanghai and Zhejiang. Here we will pass by Lili Ancient Town and Zhenze Ancient Town, both of which are famous tourist attractions. Near Pingwang Town, you can turn onto National Highway 524 to Wujiang downtown.
After that, we will leave Jiangsu and enter 3 Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. Huzhou is close to Lake Tai, so its aquatic products are very famous and you can enjoy the delicious food. At Lijiaxiang Town, you can turn onto National Highway 104 to Hangzhou.
As you leave Huzhou, follow National Highway 318 westward through the gentle hills of northern Zhejiang and enter Anhui. The road soon crosses into Guangde, a quiet city at the eastern edge of Anhui known for its bamboo forests and tea fields. Continue west to 4 Xuancheng 
, an old cultural town where the ancient Hui-style architecture and the riverside parks along the Qingyi River make for a peaceful stop. Xuancheng is also the birthplace of Xuan paper, which occupies an important position in Chinese traditional culture.
From Xuancheng, National Highway 318 turns southwest toward Nanling, a small but lively county surrounded by farmlands and low mountains. Stay on the highway through the green valleys to reach Qingyang, gateway to 5 Mount Jiuhua, one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. Pilgrims often leave the highway here to ascend the misty slopes of Jiuhua's temple peaks. You may go further to explore the scenic area of 6 Huangshan.
Beyond Qingyang, the highway descends into Chizhou, where the Yangtze River flows broad and steady. West of Chizhou, the road enters 7 Anqing , a historic port city with the grand Zhenfeng Tower and views of the Yangtze.
Continue along the highway past Qianshan, noted for Tianzhu Mountain National Park, whose striking granite peaks and cloud seas rival Huangshan in beauty. The highway wound through forested hills and tunnels as we entered eastern Hubei, arriving at the metropolis of 8 Wuhan at the confluence of the Yangtze and Han rivers. Here, you can cross the famous Yangtze River Bridge, explore the Yellow Crane Tower, or stroll along the modern riverfront boulevards.
Leaving Wuhan, stay on G318 westward toward 9 Jingzhou, which has an ancient walled city whose moats and towers recall the Three Kingdoms era. The route then follows the Yangtze basin through the countryside to 10 Yichang, where the mighty Three Gorges begin.
Yichang to Ya'an
[edit]Leaving Yichang, we head west along National Highway 318 into the Wushan Mountains in western Hubei, which is the border between the Yangtze River Plain and the Sichuan Basin. The road climbs steadily through gorges and river valleys carved by the upper reaches of the Yangtze, threads through tunnels and across bridges, tracing the edges of the famed Xiling Gorge, one of the Three Gorges themselves. You'll soon pass Zigui, hometown of the ancient poet Qu Yuan, where memorial temples and quiet riverside villages line the route. Beyond Zigui, you may visit the Three Gorges Dam Scenic Area, offering panoramic views of the world's largest hydroelectric project.
Continue on G318 through the misty mountains toward Badong, a town perched high above the river, surrounded by terraced fields and limestone cliffs. Here the highway begins to feel truly alpine, winding westward toward 11 Enshi, the cultural heart of the Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. In Enshi, travelers can explore the dramatic Enshi Grand Canyon, with its vast karst pillars, deep ravines, and glass skywalks overlooking the green river far below.
Beyond Enshi, G318 climbs higher into the borderlands between Hubei and Chongqing. The scenery grows more remote as you pass Lichuan and enter Wushan County, where the road brushes the northern edge of the Wushan Mountains, overlooking the last of the Yangtze's great gorges. From here, the route crosses into Chongqing Municipality, running west through small towns and mist-wrapped valleys to 12 Wanzhou, a bustling port city on the Yangtze.
You can leave National Highway 318 here and head towards 13 Chongqing, the "Mountain City". Here, steep streets and double-deck bridges rise between the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. You may wish to linger—Chongqing's hotpot, night skyline, and cableways over the river are local legends—but when you're ready, continue westward.
From Chongqing, G318 presses on into East Sichuan, soon you reach 14 Nanchong, where the scenery softens—wide fields, gentle rivers, and a taste of Sichuan's heartland hospitality. From Nanchong, stay on G318 southwest to Suining, a modern city known for its tranquil Lingquan Temple.
Press on toward 15 Chengdu, capital of Sichuan and one of China's most relaxed, cultured cities. The highway becomes broader and busier as it approaches the metropolis—tea houses, bamboo parks, and spicy aromas welcome travelers. Take time to stroll Chengdu's historic Wide and Narrow Alleys, visit the Wuhou Shrine, or meet the giant pandas at the famous breeding base.
Leaving Chengdu, G318 turns southwest again toward Ya'an, following the clear waters of the Qingyi River and the tea-growing hills of Mingshan. As the terrain begins to rise, the air cools and the mist gathers around bamboo forests and steep valleys. 16 Ya'an, known as the "Rain City", marks the end of the Sichuan plains and the gateway to the Tibetan Plateau. Nearby, the Bifengxia Scenic Area offers gorges, waterfalls, and panda reserves nestled in the lush mountains.
Ya'an to Nepal
[edit]Leaving Ya'an, National Highway 318 turns west and begins its long climb into the mountains. The mild air of the Sichuan Basin gives way to cool mists and pine forests as the road twists through the famous Erlang Mountain Tunnel, gateway to the Tibetan frontier lands. On the far side, you descend briefly into 17 Luding, where the roaring Dadu River rushes beneath the historic Luding Bridge, a suspension span of iron chains that once carried the PLA on its Long March.
Beyond Luding, the mountains rise higher and the air grows thinner. The road winds through narrow gorges toward 18 Kangding, an old trading town where Han and Tibetan cultures meet. Prayer flags ripple in the wind, and the scent of yak butter and roasted barley mingles with mountain air. From here, G318 climbs steeply over Zheduo Mountain Pass at 4,298 m (14,101 ft), marking the entrance to the Kham Tibetan region. The landscape suddenly opens—broad grasslands, herds of yaks, and snow peaks glinting on the horizon.
Follow the road west through 19 Xinduqiao, a photographer's paradise of shining rivers and alpine meadows, then on to 20 Litang, known as the "High City of the World", resting at over 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Here, monasteries crown the hills, and the stars seem close enough to touch. Continuing across the wild plateau, you pass 21 Batang , where the Jinsha River marks the border of Sichuan and Tibet Autonomous Region.
Entering Tibet, the road becomes both rougher and grander. G318 crosses the Nujiang (Salween) and Lancang (Mekong) rivers in deep gorges before climbing toward 22 Markam . The air is thin, the sky endless. Continue through Zuogong and Bangda, where vast grasslands stretch beneath snowy peaks. The route then threads through a series of dizzying passes—Yela, Baxoi, and Ranwu—each offering stunning views of turquoise lakes and glaciers.
West of Bomi, the road dips into the lush Parlung Tsangpo Valley, surrounded by ancient forests. Soon you reach 23 Nyingchi, the "Swiss Garden of Tibet", where peach blossoms bloom beneath the snow-capped Namcha Barwa. Here, the air is softer again, and travelers rest before tackling the final ascent to Lhasa, the "City of the Sun".
In 24 Lhasa, G318 runs past the golden-roofed Potala Palace, once home to the Dalai Lamas, and through streets alive with pilgrims spinning prayer wheels. Take time to breathe, to wander the Barkhor Circuit, and to watch the prayer flags flutter against the high plateau sky.
From Lhasa, the road turns southwest toward 25 Shigatse, seat of the Tashilhunpo Monastery, and climbs higher through thin air to Tingri, with the Himalayas now in view. On clear days, you can glimpse the distant pyramid of Mount Qomolangma rising beyond the plain. Continue to 26 Dram, the last Chinese town before the border, perched precariously above the roaring Matsang Tsangpo river.
Here, G318 ends where China meets Nepal, the long road from Shanghai to the Himalayas—a journey of more than 5,000 km (3,100 mi) through plains, rivers, mountains, and sky.
Stay safe
[edit]Traveling along National Highway 318 offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, but it also requires serious attention to safety. Conditions vary dramatically along the route — from multi-lane highways near Shanghai to narrow, winding mountain roads in western Sichuan and Tibet. Drivers and cyclists should always remain alert to changing weather, altitude, and road surfaces. Sudden rain, fog, rockfalls, and landslides are common in the mountainous sections, and some high-altitude areas may experience snow or ice even in early summer.
It is important to pace your journey carefully and avoid long hours of continuous driving, especially in the thin air of the plateau regions where fatigue sets in more easily. Always check your vehicle's brakes, tires, and fuel before leaving major towns, as repair and refueling services become sparse in remote stretches. You can try to bring a gasoline barrel to the gas station to buy fuel to avoid losing power in an uninhabited area with no mobile phone signal. Altitude sickness can be a serious issue west of Kangding, so travelers should ascend gradually and carry necessary medication or oxygen if possible. Communication signals may disappear for long distances, so it's wise to inform others of your route and estimated arrival times.
Respect local traffic laws, reduce speed in villages or on blind curves, and be cautious when overtaking trucks or cyclists on narrow roads. Wildlife, livestock, and pedestrians may appear suddenly, particularly in Tibetan areas. The local Tibetans may seek high compensation for you if you stray into their pasture or accidentally kill their yaks with your car. Since Tibetan areas are rarely visited, it is difficult to be discovered if you are treated maliciously.