Routes You Should Not Walk · 8 routes · 2 regions
Crossings that are banned or closed. They are listed because people still attempt them, and because the bans are real.
8 of them here, grouped by region. Each entry carries distance, climb and top height, and the last column says what a foreign passport gets you. 8 of these are banned or closed and are marked at the top of the entry. See all six kinds, or the background on hiking.
3 routes
Southwest China (西南)
| Route | Where | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing banned: do not attemptHeizhugou (Black Bamboo Gorge, “China’s Bermuda”) (黑竹沟)The developed section is open; the undeveloped core between Shimenguan and Luosuoyida is closed after disappearances. Compasses fail there from magnetic anomaly, fog is frequent, and entry requires registration with the management office and a guide.tops out at 4288 m | Leshan (Ebian), Sichuan | Closed D, expedition |
| Crossing banned: do not attemptChangtang (Qiangtang) No-Man’s Land Traverse (羌塘无人区穿越)Closed to entry under a joint notice covering three national reserves. Listed here because attempts continue: several hundred kilometres above 4,500 m with no signal, no resupply, predators, and rescue measured in weeks.tops out at 5000 m | Nagqu (Shuanghu), Tibet | Crossing prohibited D, expedition |
| Crossing banned: do not attemptGama Valley (East Everest), Monsoon Season (珠峰东坡嘎玛沟·雨季死亡窗口)Closed under a notice covering the core and buffer zones of the Everest reserve. Season matters here too: even when the route was open, the summer monsoon brought debris flows, broken bridges and snow at 5,200 m.55 km · tops out at 5200 m | Shigatse (Tingri), Tibet | Crossing prohibited |
5 routes
Northwest China (西北)
| Route | Where | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| Crossing banned: do not attemptKekexili (Hoh Xil) No-Man’s Land Traverse (可可西里无人区穿越)Closed to entry, and now covered by the National Parks Law. Listed here because attempts continue: hundreds of kilometres of frozen ground, salt lake and bog above 4,800 m, with no communications and no resupply.tops out at 4800 m | Yushu (Zhiduo), Qinghai | Crossing prohibited D, expedition |
| Crossing banned: do not attemptNianbaoyuze (Anyêmaqên South / Tibetan Sacred Mountain) (年保玉则)Closed for ecological restoration, with a later notice keeping the area shut. The circuit ran 25 km over two or three days across plateau wetland and passes above 4,000 m, topping out at 5,369.25 km · 1500 m up · tops out at 5369 m | Golog (Jiuzhi), Qinghai | Crossing prohibited |
| Crossing banned: do not attemptAotai Traverse (Mount Ao–Taibai Ridge Traverse) (鳌太线)Closed to crossing by public notice since 2018, when the Qinling main ridge was ruled reserve core zone. Listed here because parties still attempt it: 48 km above 3,000 m across boulder fields where fog removes the route and summer snow kills.48 km · 5000 m up · tops out at 3771 m | Shaanxi | Crossing prohibited D, expedition |
| Crossing banned: do not attemptLangta (Wolf-Tower) Trail – V Section (狼塔V线)Closed since 2024 and reaffirmed twice since. The V line crossed seven passes above 3,500 m with dozens of fords through glacier meltwater at about zero degrees, 110 km in six to eight days.110 km · tops out at 3900 m | Changji (Hutubi), Xinjiang | Crossing prohibited D, expedition |
| Crossing banned: do not attemptLop Nur No-Man’s Land Traverse (罗布泊无人区穿越)Closed to entry under repeated reserve notices. Listed here because attempts continue: hundreds of kilometres of salt crust and yardang where summer ground temperature reaches about 70 degrees and getting lost is fatal.tops out at 900 m | Bayingolin (Ruoqiang), Xinjiang | Crossing prohibited D, expedition |
Walking It Legally
Some of these need a Tibet permit, a border pass or a registered club behind you, and a few are closed outright with fines attached. Tell our local team which route and which week, and they will say what has to be arranged and what is currently shut.