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Highways

In old Tibet, there was no highway in its truest sense, forcing Tibetans to rely on human and animal power for transportation. There wasn't a single civilian vehicle. In the half century since the peaceful liberation in 1951, the Central Government has invested some 7 billion yuan in construction of highways in Tibet. This has led to the construction and opening in steady progression of the Sichuan-Tibet, Qinghai-Tibet, Yunnan-Tibet, Xinjiang-Tibet and China-Nepal highways; Tibet has also built the Naqu-Qamdo, Lhasa-Xigaze and Lhasa-Yadong highways.

 

After 1989, the Central Government invested a total of 1.709 billion yuan to renovate the Qinghai-Tibet Highway on two occasions. Efforts were also made to asphalt the Qamdo-Bamda Airport Section of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the Lhasa-Gonggar Airport Highway, and the Quxui-Xigaze Section of the China-Nepal Highway. This has helped to boost the highway transport capability of Tibet.

 

During the 10th Five-Year Plan, investment to the tune of 14 billion yuan went into the transportation sector representing one-third of Tibet's total investment in capital construction. In 2003, Tibet used 3.13 billion yuan of State investment, and the figure rose to 3.6 billion yuan in 2004 and 5.12 billion yuan in 2005, the funds being used to renovate the Lharze-Tingri Section of the China-Nepal Highway, part of the National Highway No.317 and part of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. The same period has also seen construction of more roads including the Nanggarze-Gyangze Highway, Mainling-Nang County Highway, Damxung-Nam Co Lake Highway, Zetang-Gyamco Highway, Kangma-Yadong Highway, Nagqu-Jiali Highway, Bar-Zhada Highway, and other trans-county roads. Of these, 20 belong to rural highway construction projects (with a total length of 1,500 km) covering 17 townships and 131 rural villages. In the past three years, some 2.1 million farmers and herders have got involved in road construction in some way and each of them made an additional 100 yuan a year.

 

Major Trunk Highways

 

Qinghai-Tibet Highway

From Xining in Qinghai to Lhasa in Tibet

Known as the "lifeline" of the autonomous region, the highway carries more than 80 percent of goods into or out of Tibet. The 2,122-km highway is paved with asphalt. Rising over 4,000 meters above sea level, it crosses the Kunlun and Tanggula mountains.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway

From Chengdu in Sichuan to Lhasa in Tibet

Extending 2,413 km, the highway links Tibet with various provinces in southwest China.

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway

From Yecheng in Xinjiang to Ngari in Tibet

Extending 1,179 km, it is the highest highway in the world.

Yunnan-Tibet Highway

From Xiaguan in Yunnan to Mangkam in Tibet

The highway extends 315 km.

China-Nepal Highway

From Lhasa to Friendship Bridge in Zham, Xigaze of Tibet to Kathmandu of Nepal

The highway extends 736 km.

Highways, Bridges and Ferries

Year

Mileage of Highways Opening to Traffic (km)

Opening to Traffic in Fine and Rainy Days

Highway Maintenance (km)

BridgesPiece/Meter

Ferries

Piece

1959

7343

4951

 

 

 

1965

14721

5713

5792

631/11286

6

1970

15098

6995

5792

643/13741

7

1975

15852

7247

6342

658/15420

7

1980

21551

20663

7944

712/18358

10

1985

21660

20733

17863

730/19845

10

1990

21842

20978

17981

777/21697

10

1995

22391

20988

17081

882/23988

10

1997

22455

16719

17981

948/27775

8

1999

22475

8895

17981

948/27775

7

2000

22503

8895

17981

1011/29472

7

2001

35537

17317

12419

1293/35240

5

2002

39760

18455

12419

1293/35240

 

2003

41302

17104

13129

1528/42106

5

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