The world’s longest tunnel has opened in China

On Friday, China officially opened a 22.13-kilometre tunnel for vehicular traffic in the Xinjiang region, claiming it to be the longest tunnel in the world. The newly inaugurated Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, constructed through the rugged Tianshan Mountains in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is set to drastically reduce travel risks and time for motorists navigating this treacherous terrain.

According to state media reports, the tunnel transforms a previously hazardous multi-hour mountain journey into a swift 20-minute drive. Xiang Hailiang, Chairman of China Communications Construction Company, stated that the tunnel has set two world records: it is the longest expressway tunnel globally and possesses the deepest vertical shaft among road tunnels.

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel forms a critical segment of the G0711 Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, which was officially inaugurated on the same day. This expressway acts as a vital transport corridor, linking northern and southern urban centres in Xinjiang and significantly improving regional connectivity.

The Tianshan mountain range stretches nearly 2,500 kilometres across central Xinjiang, separating the provincial capital and northern hub, Urumqi, from Korla, the largest city in the south. With the tunnel and expressway now operational, travel time between Urumqi and Korla has been slashed from approximately seven hours to just three hours.

Construction of the 324.7-kilometre expressway, which took five years to complete, cost 46.7 billion yuan (approximately 6.63 billion US dollars). The project represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in the region, combining advanced engineering techniques with a focus on enhancing transport efficiency and safety.

Key Features of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel and Expressway

The opening of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is expected to enhance economic integration within Xinjiang, improve logistics and passenger transport, and provide a safer and faster alternative for motorists travelling across the mountainous terrain. Chinese officials emphasise that this milestone marks a significant step in the country’s ongoing infrastructure expansion and modernisation efforts.