China Unveils World's Longest Expressway Tunnel, Conquering Tianshan Mountains

• China opens the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel, now the world's longest expressway tunnel at 22.13 km, located in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
• The tunnel cuts through the Tianshan mountain range, part of the Urumqi–Yuli Expressway, and opened in late December 2025 after over five years of construction.
• It sets world records for the longest expressway tunnel and the deepest vertical shaft for a highway tunnel, navigating 16 fault zones and extreme temperatures down to -42°C.
• Significantly reduces travel time from 6-7 hours to about 3 hours between northern and southern Xinjiang, boosting economic growth, trade, and tourism.
• Engineered with advanced safety features, environmental considerations, and designed to improve regional connectivity and development in China's western regions.

Why It Matters: China's Tianshan Shengli Tunnel is a record-breaking engineering marvel transforming Xinjiang's connectivity.