世界最长高速隧道通车，改写跨山出行史！
On December 26, 2025, China opened the world’s longest expressway tunnel to the public — the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel. With a length of 22.13 kilometers, this amazing project has changed travel between north and south Xinjiang. Before, the trip took several hours on dangerous, winding mountain roads. Now, it only takes 20 minutes.
The Tianshan Mountains run through central Xinjiang, dividing it into two parts. In the past, crossing these mountains was very hard. Drivers had to take high, narrow roads, and in winter, the roads often closed due to snow and ice, making trips even longer.
Building such a long tunnel was not easy. Workers worked at 3,000 meters above sea level, where winter temperatures drop to -42°C. The area also has frequent earthquakes. Despite these challenges, Chinese engineers finished the project in just five years.
To make the tunnel a success, builders used the newest technologies and smart ideas. Engineer Miao Baodong said they developed new ways to design and build extra-long tunnels. The project cost about 5 billion dollars, which supported the use of advanced technology.