China Unveils World’s Longest Expressway Tunnel in Xinjiang, Slashing Travel Time Between Urumqi and Korla

Published on December 27, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

On Friday, December 26, 2025, China officially inaugurated the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s infrastructure development. The 22.13-kilometer (13.75-mile) tunnel, now recognized as the world’s longest expressway tunnel, promises to revolutionize transportation across the Tianshan Mountains. This monumental project is poised to drastically reduce travel time, streamline logistics, and bolster regional connectivity, further enhancing China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative.

What Is the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel?

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, part of the G0711 Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, is the longest expressway tunnel globally, with a multi-lane, dual-tube configuration designed to accommodate high-speed expressway traffic. At 22.13 kilometers, the tunnel is crucial for bypassing the Tianshan Mountain range, which once posed a formidable geographical barrier between northern and southern Xinjiang. With a design speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), the tunnel allows for a smoother, faster journey across the mountain range, which previously involved navigating the treacherous Shengli Pass, situated at an elevation of 4,280 meters (14,040 feet).

Before the tunnel’s construction, travelers faced perilous, multi-hour trips through mountainous terrain. A journey from Urumqi, the regional capital, to Korla, a major southern hub, would take approximately seven hours. Now, thanks to the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, the same trip can be completed in just three hours, effectively slashing travel time by more than half. This transformative infrastructure project enhances the region’s accessibility and economic integration, benefiting both local and international trade routes.

Key Features of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel

World’s Longest Expressway Tunnel

At 22.13 kilometers, the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel surpasses previous expressway tunnel records, although it is still shorter than Norway’s Lærdal Tunnel (24.51 km), which holds the title of the longest road tunnel in the world. However, there is a technical distinction: Lærdal Tunnel is a single-tube, two-lane highway, while the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is a dual-tube, high-capacity expressway with multiple lanes, making it suitable for high-speed traffic.

Construction and Engineering Marvel

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel sets several engineering benchmarks, including its maximum burial depth of 1,112 meters beneath the mountain ridge. The tunnel also boasts the world’s deepest vertical shaft for a highway tunnel, extending over 700 meters to ensure proper ventilation and emergency access. The tunnel’s construction involved advanced Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), notably China’s self-developed “Tianshan号” and “Victory号” TBMs, which allowed for accelerated construction time, completing the project in just five years—approximately 25% faster than traditional methods.

Construction was also highly challenging due to the 16 geological fault zones the tunnel crosses, and its location at an average altitude of nearly 3,000 meters, where temperatures often drop to -42°C (-44°F). The project team employed a “three drifts and four shafts” method to successfully navigate these obstacles and complete the tunnel in time.

Economic and Strategic Impact

Improving Regional Connectivity

The tunnel’s strategic location not only shortens travel time but also improves logistics across Xinjiang, enhancing the flow of goods and services. A key benefit of the G0711 Expressway, which includes the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, is that it opens a new, all-weather corridor for transporting goods and agricultural products between northern and southern Xinjiang. The tunnel offers significant time savings, allowing fresh products from southern Xinjiang to reach northern markets in under half a day. Previously, this route was plagued by closures due to heavy snow for six to eight months each year.

Belt and Road Initiative

The tunnel is integral to China’s Silk Road Economic Belt, which seeks to connect China’s eastern economic hubs, like Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, to Eurasian trade routes. The new expressway corridor enhances Xinjiang’s strategic position as a key transit hub along the Belt and Road, enabling faster, more efficient trade with neighboring countries and facilitating greater cross-border economic activity.

Safety Features and Restrictions for the Trial Phase

As part of the trial operation of the G0711 Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which begins on January 1, 2026, officials have implemented several safety measures and regulations for the tunnel:

1. Speed Limits: While the expressway allows speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mph), the maximum speed inside the tunnel is strictly capped at 80 km/h (49.7 mph). High-precision radar and cameras will monitor compliance throughout the tunnel’s 22.13 km span.
2. Vehicle Restrictions: To ensure safety during the trial period, vehicles carrying hazardous materials or heavy trucks are restricted. Dangerous goods vehicles are prohibited at all times, and medium and large trucks will be restricted to the right-hand lane after the trial phase ends.
3. Service Areas and Refueling: Travelers should be aware of the 98 km (61-mile) gap between service areas along the expressway. The Alagou Service Area offers refueling, electric vehicle (EV) charging, and catering services, while the Yongfeng Service Area near Urumqi provides EV charging and catering but lacks a functioning gas station, making it essential for drivers of combustion vehicles to refuel before entering the tunnel.
4. Driver Assistance: To combat “tunnel hypnosis,” the tunnel’s design includes psychological lighting, such as blue sky and cloud patterns on the ceiling, to reduce driver fatigue. Full 5G coverage and emergency satellite phone links are also available every 200 meters for added safety.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel

With the trial operation set to begin in January 2026, the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel stands as a monumental achievement in China’s infrastructure development, transforming transportation across Xinjiang. This feat of engineering not only brings significant logistical and economic benefits but also showcases China’s growing capacity to undertake ambitious infrastructure projects on the global stage.

As the tunnel becomes fully operational, its impact will be felt not only in terms of improved regional connectivity but also in the broader context of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, facilitating trade and economic cooperation between China and its neighboring countries.