A groundbreaking high-altitude tunnel, recognized as the world’s longest at an elevation exceeding 3,000 meters, reduces a seven-hour journey by half by piercing through a mountain range. The monumental Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, spanning 13.5 miles, carves its way through the Tian Shan Mountain range in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of northwest China.
China’s ambitious five-year initiative, forming part of the Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, aims to enhance connectivity between the mountainous areas of northern and southern Xinjiang. Comprising two parallel tubes, each capable of accommodating two traffic lanes, the project tackles the challenging terrain of the Tian Shan Mountains, renowned as one of Asia’s most intricate mountain ranges in terms of elevation.
This massive mountain range stretches over 2,500 kilometers. The tunnel descends to a depth exceeding 1,100 meters beneath the mountain and traverses 16 geological fault zones, presenting significant engineering obstacles. Workers confronted extreme temperatures and heavy snow at altitudes surpassing 3,000 meters, utilizing specialized excavation equipment to navigate the harsh weather conditions, geological pressures, and seismic activities.
Previously, traversing the region involved hours on perilous roads susceptible to avalanches and snowstorms, but now travelers can complete the journey in just 20 minutes. An evident impact of the tunnel is seen in the journey from Ürümqi to Korla, a distance of around 293 miles by road, which previously took over seven hours but now reportedly takes only 3 to 3.5 hours.
The Tianshan Shengli Tunnel commenced operations in December 2025. According to Song Hailiang, chairman of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the project achieved two world records, being the longest expressway tunnel globally and boasting the deepest vertical shaft for a highway tunnel.
Construction of the expressway began in April 2020, with an investment of 46.7 billion yuan (£5.1 billion) injected into the project. The tunnel was constructed at an altitude where temperatures can plummet to as low as -42°C. Nurmanat Abdukader, a retired doctor from Pishan county, shared his experience of using the expressway, claiming that it reduced his journey home to a single day.
In a related development, reports have surfaced about an undersea tunnel costing £20 billion that could slash an eight-hour journey to a mere 40 minutes. Furthermore, plans for the Bohai Strait Tunnel in China, spanning 123 kilometers (76 miles) and expected to navigate multiple fault zones, include the integration of earthquake-resistant technology.
Although an estimated £20 billion has been allocated for the colossal Bohai Strait Tunnel project, a definitive completion date has yet to be established. Nevertheless, a Chinese government representative expressed eagerness in 2018 to expedite the project launch.