Three Gorges Special Highway marks 30th anniversary
2026-10-05 19:10:36
By Gao Qing
October 1, 2026, marked the 30th anniversary of the Three Gorges Special Highway. Originally built to support construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the once restricted route has gradually become a key local transportation corridor. In 2025, a record high of 4 million vehicles passed through it.
October 1, 2026, marked the 30th anniversary of the Three Gorges Special Highway. Originally built to support construction of the Three Gorges Dam, the once restricted route has gradually become a key local transportation corridor. In 2025, a record high of 4 million vehicles passed through it.
The Three Gorges Special Highway winds along mountain slopes. Photo courtesy of China Three Gorges Corporation.When construction of the Three Gorges Project began in the early 1990s, local roads were unable to handle the large amount of engineering equipment and construction materials. To support the major national project, construction of the Three Gorges Special Highway began in 1994 and was completed in 1996.
Stretching 28.64 kilometers through the mountainous terrain of Xiling Gorge, the highway features 36 bridges and five tunnels, which together account for 40 percent of its total length. At the time, the Muyucao Tunnel was among the longest highway tunnels in China. During its early years, the road was open only to vehicles serving the Three Gorges Dam project.
In 2015, the highway opened to the public, bringing significant changes to towns along the gorge, said Guo Long, deputy Party secretary and head of Sandouping Town in Yiling District. Local specialty products such as citrus and tea can now be transported more efficiently out of mountainous areas. The growth of rural tourism has also spurred the development of homestays and farm restaurants, creating employment and income opportunities for villagers.
Located in steep mountainous terrain, the highway faces long-term safety challenges including rockfalls and icy road conditions in winter. Maintenance once relied entirely on manual patrols and on-site inspections. In recent years, intelligent monitoring systems and slope early-warning devices have been deployed along the route.
After three decades of operation, the 30-year-old highway is taking on a new role. It now provides transportation support for the construction of the new Three Gorges water transport channel. From supporting construction of the Three Gorges Dam to improving access for communities along the road, the Three Gorges Special Highway continues to serve the ongoing development of the Yichang section of the Yangtze River.
Xiao Yuqin also contributed to this story
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