Fengjie to Badong – Three Gorges Rim Road via Qiyao Mountain and the Yangtze Watershed Divide
Above China's drowned gorges, a forgotten ridge road waits.
Most travelers who’ve heard of the Three Gorges know the dam and the cruise ships. Almost none of them know the ridgeline road that runs the watershed divide above the reservoir’s northern shore, connecting the old cliff-city county of Fengjie (Chongqing Municipality) eastward through the Qiyao Mountain plateau to Badong county in Hubei Province. This is a route that existed in fragments before the dam filled in 2003, stitched together by local road-builders to reconnect villages that lost their riverbank connections. The surface alternates between crumbling concrete, compressed dirt, and raw rock — often single-lane with drop-offs into the gorge country thousands of feet below. At Qiyao Mountain you’re above 2,000 metres on a plateau that sees heavy fog and abrupt weather changes most of the year.
A capable 4WD with good ground clearance is the minimum — the concrete sections are deceptively eroded and the dirt tracks through the gorge spur roads get muddy and slick with any rain. Best window is May through October, outside the monsoon peak of July and August. Fuel is available in Fengjie and Badong but scarce and unreliable in between — carry a full spare can. No overland permits required for foreign drivers with a valid Chinese driving licence; however, navigation is difficult because the route is poorly mapped on international GPS apps and Chinese Baidu Maps is essential. This is a proper wilderness road in a country that doesn’t advertise it as one — and that’s exactly the point.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 112 mi / 180 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6890 ft |
| Best season | May-June, September-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Fengjie, Chongqing |
| Land manager | Chongqing and Hubei Provincial Highway Bureaus |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jimny or Pajero handle this, or do I need a built rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Jimny or short-wheelbase Pajero can manage most of it, but the rocky switchbacks on Qiyao Mountain and degraded sections near the watershed divide will punish low-slung vehicles hard. Lift and all-terrain tires are a real advantage here, not a vanity call.
What months should I avoid, and what happens if I hit this trail in bad weather?
Avoid July-August monsoon season and December-February winter — the dirt and gravel sections turn to deep mud or ice, and some high passes become impassable. May-June and September-October give you the best shot at dry road surfaces and visibility across the gorges.
Do I need any permits or special approvals to drive this route?
No formal overland permit is required, but foreign drivers in China must have a Chinese driver's license — an international permit alone is not accepted. Some sections pass through areas with intermittent checkpoint presence, so carry your vehicle registration, ID, and be prepared for brief stops.
What's the hardest section of the route and what should I actually expect?
The climb over Qiyao Mountain is the crux — loose rock, tight switchbacks, and steep grades with minimal recovery room on the edges. If you meet oncoming traffic on the narrowest sections, one vehicle is backing up a long way, so plan to move early in the day when traffic is lightest.
How far apart are fuel stops, and can I resupply water and food along the route?
Fill up completely in Fengjie before you leave — there are no reliable fuel stations for the bulk of the 180km run until you approach Badong. Small villages along the ridge may have basic provisions and well or spring water, but treat everything and don't count on resupply; carry what you need for 3 days.
Trail track
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