One of Asia's most breathtaking mountain routes, the Duku Highway in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, will reopen to travelers by late May 2026 after completing spring snow clearance operations. Crews are currently battling snow walls up to five meters thick in the Nalati section using specialized machinery, working from both ends of the 561-kilometer artery through the Tianshan Mountains.
Known as an engineering marvel, the highway features cliffside routes along one-third of its length and permafrost foundations supporting 20% of the roadbed. The reopening promises renewed access to Xinjiang's alpine meadows and glacier-carved valleys just as tourism peaks this season.
Local authorities emphasize improved safety measures for 2026, including real-time weather monitoring along the high-altitude corridor that connects the Ili Valley to the Tarim Basin. The route's seasonal closure typically runs from October to May due to heavy snowfall.
