History of Sichuan-Tibet Highway

Sichuan-Tibet Highway which was originally called Kangding-Tibet Highway (a section of No. 318 National Trunk Highway) starts from Chengdu of Sichuan on the east and ends at Lhasa of Tibet on the west. It is 2,415 kilometers long including 1,304 kilometers in Tibet. On December 25, 1954, it was open to Lhasa (Sichuan-Tibet Highway north line).

Since the opening of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway north line, Dongerluo-Zhubalong-Bamda south section has been under construction, and it was completed section by section between 1954 and 1969. Key reconstruction has resulted in the current Sichuan-Tibet Highway south line, which has 1,285 kilometers in Tibet.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway traverses high mountains, lakes and valleys, crosses primeval forest and numerous dangerous sections. It has fine views along the line, with unique customs and practices.

The opening of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway has played an important role in Tibet economic development, social stability and consolidation of southwest defense, and energetic promotion of East Tibet social and economic development. It is a link connection Tibet and southwestern provinces and regions and also the economic pulse of East Tibet. However, due to the social and historical conditions and complicated natural factor restriction, Sichuan-Tibet Highway is weak in disaster resistance, involving various disasters.

To further improve throughput ability of Sichuan-Tibet Highway and improve East Tibet communications conditions, during the period of "the Seventh Five-year Plan", the state started to invest massive capital in opening maintenance, rectification and reconstruction. So far, 612 kilometers highway section of the Nyingchi-Lhasa section and county transit sections has been laid with bitumen pavement, traffic congestion time has been shortened year by year, and car ride conditions have remarkably improved.