In a landmark engineering achievement, the Urumqi-Yuli Expressway has transformed cross-mountain travel in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region since its December 2025 opening. The 300-km route features the Tianshan Shengli Tunnel – now the world's longest expressway tunnel at 22km – enabling safe year-round passage through a mountain range that previously forced drivers to navigate treacherous 4,000-meter-high passes.
The $3.2 billion project reduces what was once a multi-hour journey across the Tianshan Mountains to a 20-minute drive, creating vital connections between northern and southern Xinjiang. Regional transport officials confirm the expressway has already increased freight capacity by 40% during its first month of operation.
Strategically linking three key hubs of the Xinjiang Pilot Free Trade Zone – Urumqi, Kashi, and Khorgos – the route strengthens overland trade corridors between Central Asia and the Chinese mainland. Logistics experts predict a 25% reduction in shipping times for agricultural goods from southern Xinjiang to Eurasian markets.
"This isn't just a road – it's an economic lifeline," said regional development analyst Aikerem Kadir. "By connecting the free trade zone's northern manufacturing bases with southern agricultural regions, we're seeing new supply chains form in real time."
