The Yuli-Qiemo section of the Urumqi-Yuli Highway in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region opened to traffic on June 30. It is the country's third highway traversing the Taklimakan Desert, which is known as "the Sea of Death".
A view of the Yuli-Qiemo section of the Urumqi-Yuli Highway in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region that opened to traffic on June 30 [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Located in South Xinjiang's Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, the 334-kilometer highway was one of the world's most difficult-to-build desert highways due to its traversing of areas with a great number of wandering dunes.
About 307 kilometers of the highway, namely 92 percent of its total length, stretch through the sand area. Sand-prevention barriers and grass grids have been made to reduce the impact of the sand and dust.
A view of the only bridge of the Yuli-Qiemo highway section. It was built to protect the local environment and reduce encroachment on farm land. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
In order to protect the local environment and reduce encroachment on farm land, a 1,300-meter bridge was designed and built as the only bridge of the Yuli-Qiemo highway section.
A view of the construction site of the Yuli-Qiemo highway section [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Once the highway is fully operational, travel time between Qiemo and Korla is expected to be shorten to six hours, half the previous time, which will effectively improve local residents' travel experience, lower travel costs and help export of local agricultural products.
It's worth noting that the highway will also play a role in promoting tourism in Xinjiang, making it easier for people to travel into the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert and experience local culture.
Last but not least, the highway runs through areas rich with oil reserves, which will support exploitation, development and transport of oil and natural gas and promote economic and social development in South Xinjiang.
A bird's-eye view of the Yuli-Qiemo section of the Urumqi-Yuli Highway [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)
