China has opened the world’s longest expressway tunnel, the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel which is in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. This mega infrastructure project significantly reduces travel time across the Tianshan Mountains and strengthens regional connectivity, trade and tourism.
Tianshan Shengli Tunnel
- The 22.13 km long Tianshan Shengli Tunnel was officially opened to traffic on December 27, 2025.
- It is part of the G0711 Urumqi Yuli Expressway, which connects northern and southern Xinjiang.
- The tunnel reduces a difficult mountain journey that earlier took several hours to just about 20 minutes.
Key Features of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel
- World’s longest expressway tunnel (22.13 km)
- Passes through the Tianshan Mountains in central Xinjiang
- Maximum burial depth: 1,112 meters
- Crosses 16 geological fault zones
- Designed to operate in extreme cold and high-altitude conditions
- Built using China’s indigenously developed hard rock tunnel boring machine (TBM)
About the G0711 Urumqi Yuli Expressway
- Total length: 324.7 km
- Construction period: 5 years
- Total investment: 46.7 billion yuan
- Bridge and tunnel ratio: over 90% in difficult terrain
Connects major regions through existing expressways to,
- Beijing Tianjin Hebei
- Yangtze River Delta
- Guangdong Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area
- Chengdu Chongqing region
Significance of the Project
- Reduces travel time between Urumqi (north) and Korla (south) from 7 hours to about 3 hours
- Strengthens economic integration between northern and southern Xinjiang
Improves transport of,
- Energy resources
- Agricultural products
- Industrial raw materials
- Enhances China’s connectivity with Eurasian countries
- Promotes tourism by improving access to glaciers, grasslands, forests, deserts, and wetlands
Supports supply chain security and regional development
Economic and Social Impact
- Transport time for goods reduced from 3 to 4 days to 1 to 2 days
- Lower logistics costs for industries like textiles and agriculture
- Enables faster movement of people, boosting cultural exchange
- Makes day trips between north and south Xinjiang possible
Environmental and Engineering Aspects
- Eco friendly access roads built to reduce environmental damage
- Advanced construction techniques reduced construction time by over 25%
- Focus on balancing large-scale infrastructure with ecological protection
Quick Points
- Tunnel name: Tianshan Shengli Tunnel
- Length: 22.13 km
- Location: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
- Expressway: G0711 Urumqi-Yuli
- Importance: Connectivity, trade, tourism, supply chain security
Question
Q. The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel passes through which mountain range?
A. Kunlun Mountains
B. Altai Mountains
C. Himalayas
D. Tianshan Mountains
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