Tianmen Mountain Road

There are roads in the world that every automobile enthusiast has on his list. That everyone wants to drive at least once in their life. The North Loop at the Nürburgring. The Stelvio Pass. The Panamericana. One road is probably missing from this list. Still. The Tianmen Mountain Road in China. A road at the heart of the Middle Kingdom. It is clear in every inch of this road that it has truly been wrested from the mountain. 99 hairpin bends over 11 kilometres or just under 7 miles. A sweeping, labyrinthine route just waiting to be driven by a genuine Sports Car. After reaching the top, the road looks like a white dragon resting on the green mountain.Tianmen literally means sky gate or heaven's gate. The name refers back to the huge natural arch at the top of the mountain - one of the most famous sights in Tianmen Mountain National Park. One thing is certain: those who travel the road up there always find that the name is a self-fulfilling prophecy.