Xinjiang’s Scenic Byways: Panlong, Duku, and the Roads Worth the Detour
Xinjiang’s beauty isn’t only at the destinations — it’s on the roads between them. A handful of byways have become famous in their own right, engineered through terrain that shouldn’t have a road, and now draw drivers for the drive alone. If you’re building a route, these are the detours worth making. Ranked by the sheer ‘why is this here’ factor.
Last updated: July 15, 2026 · Written by Karl Huang, a Xinjiang travel specialist who has spent time across the region. Practical details are cross-checked against official tourism, transport, and border-regulation sources.
The headline byways.
Panlong Ancient Road (盘龙古道)
The legend: 600 curves in 30 km, a black ribbon switchbacking up a bare mountain near Tashkurgan, ending on a plateau. The slogan painted at its base — ‘the road of a lifetime, with no turns left un-taken’ — captures it. It’s a short, spectacular loop best done as a side trip from the Pamir drive. Go slow; the curves are tight and the view is the point.
The Duku Highway (G217)
The big one — ~560 km from Dushanzi to Kuqa over the Tianshan, compressing desert, forest, meadow, and snow into a day. Covered in depth elsewhere; here it’s the byway that defines the region’s self-drive reputation. Seasonal and capped, but unmissable if open during your trip.
The G218 and Cliffside Roads
Less famous but lovely: the G218 along the Ili–Korla corridor and the cliff-hugging sections near the reservoirs offer continuous views without the Duku’s crowds. The Sayram lakeside causeway (G30) is a byway in spirit — a road built on the water. None require permits; all reward a slow pace and a full memory card.
How to String Them
The Panlong pairs with the Pamir; the Duku with a north-south traverse; the G218 with an Ili–Korla day. Build your itinerary around one signature byway and let the rest be highways. And always build in pull-off time — these roads are why you came, not just how you got there. Drive them for the curve, not the clock.
The Two Headliners
The Duku Highway (G217) is the big one – about 560 km from Dushanzi to Kuqa over the Tianshan, compressing desert, forest, meadow and snow into a single day’s drive. It’s seasonal and capped, but unmissable if it’s open during your trip. The Panlong Ancient Road (盘龙古道) is the opposite: a short, spectacular 30 km loop of 600 switchbacks near Tashkurgan, best done as a side trip from a Pamir drive. Go slow – the curves are tight and the view is the point.
The Quieter Alternatives
Less famous but lovely: the G218 along the Ili-Korla corridor and the cliff-hugging sections near the reservoirs offer continuous views without the Duku’s crowds. The Sayram lakeside causeway (G30) is a byway in spirit – a road built out over the water. None of these require permits, and all reward a slow pace and a full memory card.
How to String Them Together
The Panlong pairs naturally with the Pamir; the Duku with a north-south traverse; the G218 with an Ili-Korla day. Build your itinerary around one signature byway and let the rest be highways. Always build in pull-off time – these roads are why you came, not just how you got there. Drive them for the curve, not the clock.
