World’s Longest Expressway Tunnel Opens in China’s Xinjiang
Ashwini Gambo
The world’s longest expressway tunnel, the 22.13-kilometre Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, has officially opened in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Running through the heart of the Tianshan Mountains, the tunnel has cut a previously challenging mountain journey from several hours to just 20 minutes.
Part of the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, the tunnel significantly reduces travel time between northern Xinjiang’s Urumqi and southern Xinjiang’s Korla from around seven hours to three. Constructed over five years at a cost of 46.7 billion yuan (approximately $6.63 billion), the 324.7-kilometre expressway serves as a major transport corridor.
The new route connects Xinjiang to key economic hubs, including Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, the Yangtze River Delta, the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Chengdu–Chongqing region. By strengthening links within Xinjiang and facilitating trade across Eurasia, the expressway is set to boost regional economic growth and expand opportunities for commerce and exchange.
