Jan.3, 2020 -- The section between Shangri-La and Xiao Zhongdian township of the first freeway in the Tibetan-inhabited areas of southwest China’s Yunnan province was completed Tuesday, ending the history of Yunnan’s Tibetan-inhabited areas having no access to freeways. 

 

The Shangri-La - Lijiang freeway, which is the first highway in the Tibetan-inhabited areas in Yunnan province and also the highest highway in the province, starts from Nanyisong village, to the south of Shangri-La city, and arrives at Baihanchang with a total distance of 140.305 kilometers.  The whole freeway will open to traffic in 2020.

 

The completed Shangri-La – Xiao Zhongdian section covers 24 kilometers including 2 tunnels and 21 bridges with 24.5 meters-wide roadbed and a designed speed of 80 miles per hour. It will open to traffic soon.

Jan.3, 2020 -- The freeway from Shangri-La to Xiao Zhongdian. [Photo provided by Publicity Department of Party Committee of Diqing Prefecture]

The Shangri-La – Lijiang freeway will improve transportation, boost tourism and benefit social and economic development in the nearby region.

By: Zhou Tianyu