China has officially opened the world’s longest expressway tunnel, named the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, marking a major achievement in modern engineering.
The tunnel is 22.13 kilometers long and is located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It runs directly through the Tianshan Mountains, one of the most difficult terrains in the region.
Before the tunnel was built, traveling across the Tianshan Mountains was slow and challenging, often taking several hours due to winding mountain roads and harsh weather conditions.
With the opening of the new tunnel, this journey has been reduced to just 20 minutes, making travel safer, faster, and more convenient.
The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is a key part of the G0711 Urumqi-Yuli Expressway. This expressway has significantly improved travel between northern and southern Xinjiang.
As a result, the travel time between Urumqi in the north and Korla in the south has been cut from around seven hours to only three hours.
Officials say the tunnel will play an important role in boosting regional connectivity and supporting economic growth.
Faster transportation will help improve trade, tourism, and the movement of goods and people across the region. It is also expected to improve access to remote areas and strengthen links between cities.
The project is being described as a major engineering milestone and a new landmark for Xinjiang. By improving transportation efficiency across the vast Tianshan mountain range, the tunnel represents China’s continued focus on large-scale infrastructure development and regional integration.
