In 2023, Chinese rider Wang Shanshan took on the challenging G219 Highway aboard a modified Royal Alloy TG 300. From remote mountain roads to altitudes exceeding 5,000 metres, this is an extraordinary scooter adventure. Stan reports…
The G219 Highway in China has some of the most beautiful and challenging roads in the world. In 2023, Chinese rider Wang Shanshan tackled it on a modified Royal Alloy.
For a company that hasn’t yet celebrated its 10th anniversary, Royal Alloy has a surprising grasp on preserving its history. At the recent press launch of its Electric Range, curious visitors could also view a heavily modified TG 300, the mount of Wang Shanshan, one of China’s most adventurous riders. Whilst others struggled with the terrain on a variety of purpose-built and heavily modified off-road vehicles, Shanshan tackled it on a retro-styled scooter fitted with an automatic gearbox. If riding one of the most demanding roads in the world wasn’t tricky enough, he also completed many of the stages wearing a fishtail parka…
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What is the G219?
The G219 rally is little known outside of China and the specialist off-road community, but it’s one of the greatest motorsport challenges in the world.
The G219, or more correctly, China National Highway 219 (G219), runs for over 10,000 kilometres along China’s southern and western border. It is the longest national highway in the world, stretching from the cold Altai Mountains in Xinjiang to the subtropical coast of Guangxi. Also known as the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, or more descriptively, ‘Road of the Brave’, this sprawling route cuts through some of the most remote and challenging topography on earth. Although there are numerous competitive events held along its length, it’s also a popular destination for rugged rallies, 4×4 expeditions and motorcycle tours. As few expeditions have the time or resources to tackle the G219’s full length, it tends to be broken down into three sections:
The Northern Segment:
Starts at the Zero Kilometer Monument in Yecheng, Xinjiang, ascending rapidly toward the ‘Roof of the World’ over the Tibetan Plateau. It’s this section that features in the accompanying images.
Extreme Altitudes:
This route features dramatic gains in elevation, notably rising to over 5,000 metres at the Hongtu Daban pass.
The Southern Segment:
After descending from Tibet, the highway runs for over 700 kilometres through Guangxi, from Napo to Dongxing. This is an area bordering Vietnam where tropical landscapes and sinkhole clusters contrast starkly with the G219’s barren, northern sections.
Words: Stan
Images: Royal Alloy Global
