The Araniko Highway (Nepali: अरनिको राजमार्ग, romanized: Araniko Rajmarga) connects Kathmandu with Kodari, 112.83 kilometres (70.11 mi) northeast of the Kathmandu Valley, on the Nepal-China border. It is among the most dangerous of highways in Nepal due to extremely steep slopes on each side of the road from Barabise onwards; massive landslides and bus plunges are not uncommon, especially after rains. At the Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge, it connects with China National Highway 318 to Lhasa, and eventually to Shanghai.
The road was built in the 1960s with help from the Chinese on an older yak track.[1] They also planned to expand the road in 2012, but keeping the route open was made more difficult by landslides from monsoons.[1] The road became a conduit for a large amount of trade between China and Nepal, and also for some trade between India and China when it is open.[1]
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