World's Longest Expressway Tunnel Inaugurated in China
Date: 27th December
On December 27, China unveiled the world’s longest expressway tunnel in the northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, setting a new world record. The Tian Shan Shengli Tunnel, at a length of 22.13 kilometers, was opened for traffic on Friday, traversing the central Tian Shan mountain range.
According to official reports, the tunnel will reduce travel time across dangerous mountain routes, completing a journey that once took several hours in just 20 minutes. Song Heliang, Chairman of China Communications Construction Company, mentioned that this project has set two world records: the world’s longest expressway tunnel and the deepest vertical shaft for a highway tunnel.
The tunnel is a major part of the G0711 Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which connects Urumqi, the largest city in northern Xinjiang, with Korla, a major city in the southern part of the region. The Tian Shan mountains, stretching over 2,500 kilometers, once separated these two areas. With the opening of the expressway, the travel time between Urumqi and Korla will reduce from seven hours to just three hours.
According to the official news agency Xinhua, the project will serve as a vital transport artery linking the urban centers of northern and southern Xinjiang, boosting regional economic growth, tourism, and logistics. Despite challenges during construction, such as extreme cold, high altitudes, and geological obstacles, the tunnel was completed in five years.
This achievement is a testament to China’s infrastructure development capabilities and will strengthen the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt.