Can You Dig a Hole to China? No—Earth's Curvature Prevents It

The Antipodes Myth

It is physically impossible to dig a hole from any country to China.

Why?

1. Earth's Curvature: A straight tunnel through Earth's center would emerge at the antipodal point—directly opposite on the sphere.
2. China's Antipodes: Most of China's antipodes lie in the South Atlantic Ocean (off Argentina/Uruguay) and South America (parts of Argentina, Chile).
3. Starting Points: To emerge in China, you'd need to start in the South Atlantic or southern South America—not from another country's surface.

Engineering Reality

• Deepest hole: Kola Superdeep Borehole (Russia) – 12.3 km (0.2% of Earth's radius).
• Temperature/pressure increase ~25°C/km; mantle is plastic; core is molten iron.
• No technology exists for trans-mantle drilling.

Fun Fact

If you could magically tunnel, from Argentina/Chile you'd pop up in China. From the US, you'd hit the Indian Ocean.