Majestic Qinghai-Tibet Expressway: Connecting Lhasa Beijing

Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, lacks an expressway, unlike other capital cities in China. The Qinghai-Tibet Expressway connects Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, spanning a distance of 1,900 Km. A 700-kilometre stretch is already completed, with 1,100 kilometres remaining to be built from Golmud to Lhasa. This section is the last part of the Beijing-Lhasa Expressway in the national expressway network. The network, called Network 71118, includes seven routes from Beijing, eleven routes from north to south, and eighteen routes from east to west.

Chinese scientists are researching to build highways in the mountainous Qinghai-Tibet region. The area has extreme conditions, like frozen earth, low oxygen, and harsh weather. Despite the challenges, they aim to expand the national highway network while considering the delicate environment and future obstacles from global warming. Building bridges and tunnels on frozen earth remains a universal challenge.

Lhasa Beijing Expressway

The Qinghai Tibet expressway is easier to construct than other highways in Tibet because of its flat terrain between the Kunlun Mountains and Tangula Mountains. The Qinghai-Tibet Expressway is the shortest and cheapest route to Tibet. It will be built using technology proven in the construction of other roads in freezing weather. This expressway is of strategic importance and its opening date depends on the Chinese government’s determination and technological support. It will improve transport safety, road design, and environmental protection.

The Nagqu-Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Tibet Expressway, known as the Nala Expressway, is a crucial component of the G6 Beijing-Lhasa Expressway in the national highway network plan. This expressway holds the record for being the highest in the world, with an average altitude of 4,500 meters. It originates from Nagqu on the Qiangtang Grassland in northern Tibet and terminates at the West Ring Road in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. With a total length of 294 Km, it has speed limits of 80 km/h and 100 km/h and a roadbed width of 26 meters. The project opened to traffic by August 2021.

Nakchu Lhasa Expressway

The First Public Institute managed the 210 km Nala Expressway project, focusing on protecting the plateau ecology. They used innovative technology, including a new tunnel insulation scheme and 3D-printed decoration for the hole door. They also designed a unique narrow central belt guardrail and implemented anti-frost heave structures. The project aimed to create a “plateau flower sea” and included animal passages, smart lighting, and a green service area, forming a “plateau ecological road”.

Yangbajing No. 2 Tunnel is a control project of Nala Expressway. It’s in Yangbajing Town, Dangxiong County. It’s 6,275 meters long, with an altitude of 4,145 to 4,875 meters. This expressway tunnel is known as “the super tunnel in the restricted area of life” due to its length, depth, and challenging geological conditions.