Lanaing Cliff Road, in Chongqing in south-west China, is regarded as one of the world's most dangerous and remarkable mountain roads because of its unique construction, treacherous route and striking scenery.
Hand-carved mountain road rises 3,000 feet above sea level
The road lies about 3,000 feet above sea level and was carved by hand into a sheer mountainside. It is widely regarded as a lasting example of the determination, hard work and courage of the local community.
In 2001, the small village of Lanaing, home to only 23 households and largely isolated from the outside world, decided to build a road along the edge of the mountain to allow vehicles to reach the settlement through a self-help initiative.
The different sections of the 1.2-kilometre road were assigned to individual households. Construction machinery could not reach the remote site because of the difficult terrain, while the village's nearly 80 residents lacked the resources to purchase modern equipment. As a result, most of the road was carved by hand using iron chisels and hammers.
