World’s Longest Expressway Tunnel to Open to Traffic in Xinjiang by Year-End

The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, recognized as the world's longest expressway tunnel at 22.13 kilometers, is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of 2025. This infrastructure project will provide a direct route connecting the northern and southern regions of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

During a press conference organized by the Information Office of the Xinjiang regional government on December 18, 2025, Guo Sheng, deputy director of the transport department, stated that the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, which passes through the Tianshan Mountains using this tunnel, is anticipated to ease longstanding traffic constraints affecting balanced regional progress between the north and south of Xinjiang.

The tunnel will significantly decrease travel duration across the central portion of the Tianshan Mountains, reducing it from several hours to approximately 20 minutes.

When fully operational, the journey from Urumqi, the regional capital located north of the Tianshan Mountains, to Korla in the south will be cut from around seven hours to about three hours.

This development forms part of broader efforts to enhance transportation links in the area, facilitating smoother connectivity and supporting ongoing infrastructure advancements in the region.