Tunnel Vision

A groundbreaking achievement was made in the central Tianshan Mountains of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on December 30, 2024. The 22-km Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, part of the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway, was successfully completed, connecting the region’s northern and southern areas via a direct route running through the mountain range.

The project took six years to complete. Thousands of workers, enduring the harsh conditions of Tianshan at altitudes over 3,000 meters, including fierce winds and heavy snow, worked to carve through the mountains and complete the tunnel.

Once operational later this year, the tunnel