A new expressway segment began operations in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, significantly improving transport links between the northern and southern parts of the region.
The 324.7-kilometer route includes the world's longest expressway tunnel—the 22.13-km Tianshan Shengli Tunnel—which pierces through the Tianshan Mountains.
Previously, crossing the Tianshan Mountains required traveling along winding high-altitude roads surpassing 4,000 meters, with routes often closed in winter or forcing long detours. With the new tunnel, the mountain crossing can now be completed in just 20 minutes.
