Located in the Wuling Mountains on the outskirts of Chongqing, in southwest China, the 9,108-meter Jindong tunnel is a key infrastructure component of the 625-km Yuhuai railway, which extends to Huaihua city, central China's Hunan province.

The tunnel had to pass through many complex geological strata, including gas and coal strata, and water-eroded caves, which made the work more difficult.

The construction teams completed the work some 20 months ahead of schedule due to the application of advanced technologies. The tunnel's completion will pave the way for the timely completion and opening of the entire Yuhuai railway, a major project in the strategic "develop the west campaign" involving investment totaling 19.87 billion yuan (US$2.4 billion).

It could also provide useful experience for future tunnel construction, say railway experts.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2003)