{"id":157082,"date":"2025-07-20T18:35:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T18:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/the-highway-to-heaven-features-a-stunning-array-of-270-viaducts-and-25-tunnels\/"},"modified":"2025-07-20T18:35:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T18:35:21","slug":"the-highway-to-heaven-features-a-stunning-array-of-270-viaducts-and-25-tunnels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/the-highway-to-heaven-features-a-stunning-array-of-270-viaducts-and-25-tunnels\/","title":{"rendered":"The “highway to heaven” features a stunning array of 270 viaducts and 25 tunnels."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the \u00a01980s\u00a0, China’s road network was in its infancy. At that time, the nation lacked \u00a0highways\u00a0 and relied primarily on its extensive rail system for transport. However, the mid-1980s marked the beginning of a significant transition, symbolized by the construction of the \u00a0Shanghai-Jiading Highway\u00a0. By 2005, China’s Minister of Transportation, He\u00a0 pledged to construct 85,000 kilometers of roadways within the next 30 years<\/a>. Among these developments lies a remarkable segment\u2014one of the most imposing highways in the world.<\/p>\n

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The “Staircase to Heaven” from China<\/h2>\n

The \u00a0Yaxi Expressway\u00a0 embodies the concept of “all roads lead to Rome” in China, particularly in relation to \u00a0Beijing\u00a0. The highway connects the capital to other critical commercial hubs, ensuring efficient transport for a significant volume of goods across the nation. A part of the massive \u00a0Beijing-Kunming Highway\u00a0\u2014which stretches 2,700 kilometers\u2014the Yaxi Expressway features a segment frequently dubbed the \u00a0“Staircase to Heaven.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n

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\"Yaxi<\/p>\n

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This \u00a0240-kilometer\u00a0 stretch connects the cities of \u00a0Xichang\u00a0 and \u00a0Ya’an\u00a0, constructed between 2007 and 2012 at a cost of approximately \u00a03.3 billion dollars\u00a0. To give a comparative perspective, the \u00a0average cost\u00a0 of constructing a kilometer of highway in \u00a0Spain\u00a0 is around \u00a08.8 million euros\u00a0. The expense incurred for the Yaxi Expressway is justified considering its unique characteristics and the complex terrain it traverses.<\/p>\n
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 <img alt=\"Tourist Attraction at the Yaxi Expressway\" width=\"375\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/i.blogs.es\/08f033\/captura-de-pantalla-2024-10-19-a-las-14.38.08\/375_142.jpeg\"\/><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The \u00a0Yaxi Expressway\u00a0 is remarkable not only for its length but also for its engineering feats. It is characterized by \u00a0270 viaducts\u00a0 that navigate steep inclines and \u00a025 tunnels\u00a0, totaling \u00a041 kilometers\u00a0 underground. Among these tunnels is the \u00a0Nibashan Tunnel\u00a0, which holds the title of being the deepest in China, descending approximately \u00a01,650 meters\u00a0 over a span of 10 kilometers. This construction significantly reduces travel time from hours to just ten minutes around the mountain, showcasing the expressway’s efficiency.<\/p>\n
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However, the expressway is dubbed the “staircase to heaven” for its ascension to an altitude of over \u00a02,430 meters\u00a0. Specifically, one section rises at a rate of \u00a07.5 meters for every kilometer traveled\u00a0, culminating in \u00a051 kilometers\u00a0 of continuous ascent with an average slope of \u00a03%\u00a0.<\/p>\n
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This rigorous ascent, along with the full route, can be appreciated in an informative video:<\/p>\n
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\n   https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=h1eqqpkm6e8" title="Yaxi Expressway Video<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The surrounding \u00a0mountains\u00a0 add to the expressway’s spectacular views. The video exhibits intriguing \u00a0spiral-shaped tunnels\u00a0 successfully designed to minimize environmental impact, integrating into the complex topography:<\/p>\n
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Two surrounding mountains are avoided entirely by employing this innovative tunnel design, which has proven advantageous in complex environments. The images displaying the relief highlight sections of the \u00a0“snail”\u00a0 tunnel structures emerging from the mountains:<\/p>\n
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The significance of the Yaxi Expressway extends beyond its extraordinary technical features. This highway is pivotal in connecting mountainous regions that were previously isolated, facilitating \u00a0local economic development\u00a0 and easing the integration of ethnic minorities, such as the \u00a0Han, Hui\u00a0, and \u00a0Tibetans\u00a0.<\/p>\n
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\n   https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lccreo_brue" title="Driving on Yaxi Expressway<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Driving on this road can prove challenging due to fluctuating weather conditions linked to altitude changes, sharp curves, and steep slopes, making it both a thrilling and difficult journey.<\/p>\n
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 <img alt=\"Innovative Road Construction Methods\" width=\"375\" height=\"142\" src=\"https:\/\/i.blogs.es\/fc3b9a\/640-copia\/375_142.jpeg\"\/><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Moreover, the “Staircase to Heaven” has evolved into a noteworthy \u00a0tourist attraction\u00a0, illustrating China’s robust civil engineering capabilities. The country’s remarkable advancements in infrastructure within just a few decades are evident, especially when it comes to building complex bridges and highways. <\/p>\n
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Overall, the Yaxi Expressway serves as a testament to China’s commitment to improving connectivity and infrastructure. By bridging remote and mountainous areas, it not only aids in economic growth but also opens doors for cultural exchange among diverse communities. The feats accomplished in civil engineering here promise to inspire future infrastructure developments worldwide.<\/p>\n

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General News – 2<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the \u00a01980s\u00a0, China’s road network was in its infancy. At that time, the nation lacked \u00a0highways\u00a0 and relied primarily on its extensive rail system for transport. However, the mid-1980s marked the beginning of a significant transition, symbolized by the construction of the \u00a0Shanghai-Jiading Highway\u00a0. By 2005, China’s Minister of Transportation, He\u00a0 pledged to construct […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":157085,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36399],"tags":[39233,21081,1785,2863,24788,296,39234],"class_list":["post-157082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-array","tag-features","tag-heaven","tag-highway","tag-stunning","tag-tunnels","tag-viaducts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=157082"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/157082\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/157085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=157082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=157082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/teknomers.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=157082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}