Historic Opening of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel in China

China has unveiled the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, recognized as the world’s longest expressway tunnel, a significant achievement in the development of infrastructure in northwest China. Spanning 22.13 kilometres, the tunnel navigates through the Tianshan Mountains, revolutionizing travel in one of the region's most difficult landscapes.

Situated in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this new tunnel reduces a previously arduous several-hour journey through the mountains to approximately 20 minutes, according to reports from state media. It opened to traffic alongside the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, a crucial transport route running north to south.

The expressway itself stretches 324.7 kilometres, constructed over five years at a total expenditure of 46.7 billion yuan (about $6.63 billion). It serves as an essential transport link connecting city clusters located in the northern and southern parts of Xinjiang, historically divided by the rugged Tianshan range.

The Tianshan Mountains extend nearly 2,500 kilometres across central Xinjiang and act as a natural barrier between Urumqi, the largest city to the north, and Korla, the largest to the south. The operational expressway has reduced travel time between the two cities from roughly seven hours to three hours.

In addition to facilitating travel for locals, the route enhances Xinjiang’s position as a strategic transportation hub. It integrates with existing expressway networks, linking to significant economic areas including Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu–Chongqing region. This corridor is pivotal as it connects China’s eastern economic hotspots to countries across Eurasia.

Officials anticipate that this project will encourage greater economic integration of northern and southern Xinjiang, boost logistics and tourism, and create new avenues for trade and international exchange, thereby further incorporating the region into both national and global transport networks.