On Friday, China inaugurated a 22.13-kilometre tunnel in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which Beijing claims to be the longest tunnel in the world. The tunnel, cutting through the central Tianshan Mountains, promises to transform travel in north-west China by drastically reducing journey times across hazardous mountainous terrain.
According to state media, the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is part of the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway and has reduced a previously perilous, multi-hour journey to just 20 minutes.
Speaking at the opening, Sun Hailiang, Chairman of China Communications Construction Company, highlighted that the tunnel has set two world records. He stated: “It is the world’s longest expressway tunnel and also holds the distinction of having the deepest vertical shaft among all highway tunnels globally.”
The tunnel forms a key section of the expressway, which spans 324.7 kilometres and connects the northern and southern regions of Xinjiang. This corridor links Urumqi, the region’s provincial capital and northernmost major city, with Korla, its largest southern city. With the expressway now operational, travel time between Urumqi and Korla has been cut from approximately seven hours to just three hours.
Construction of the expressway took five years to complete, with an estimated cost of 46.7 billion yuan (around 6.63 billion US dollars). The route, which traverses the 2,500-kilometre-long Tianshan mountain range, is expected to significantly boost regional connectivity, trade, and economic development.
The tunnel’s inauguration also underscores China’s ongoing investment in infrastructure, particularly in remote and mountainous regions, to enhance mobility and safety. Analysts predict that this project will serve as a model for future large-scale transport initiatives across the country.
Key Specifications of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel and Expressway
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tunnel Name | Tianshan Shengli Tunnel |
| Length | 22.13 km |
| Record Status | Longest expressway tunnel; deepest vertical shaft |
| Expressway | G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway |
| Expressway Length | 324.7 km |
| Construction Duration | 5 years |
| Construction Cost | 46.7 billion yuan (~6.63 billion USD) |
| Travel Time Reduction | From ~7 hours to ~3 hours |
| Region Covered | Northern Urumqi to Southern Korla |
| Mountain Range | Tianshan (2,500 km stretch) |
The tunnel is expected to be a critical lifeline for Xinjiang, facilitating safer, faster, and more efficient movement of people and goods across the region’s challenging terrain.