New local highway project connects scenic spots

By Zhao Entao

The Gufu–Jiepaiya section of the G347 Highway opened shortly before the National Day holiday, improving access to several scenic spots in Xingshan County.

The road, one of five newly opened national and provincial highways in Hubei Province, runs through green mountains and clear waters. It improves connections between Wang Zhaojun's hometown and the Shennongjia area, opens a rapid passenger traffic corridor in the western Hubei ecological culture and tourism circle, and helps unlock tourism resources in remote mountainous areas.
 

The Gufu–Jiepaiya section of G347 Highway

The 17.35 km section is a key project in Hubei's 14th Five-Year Plan to upgrade national highways. It starts at Hanxikou in Gufu Town, Xingshan County, and ends at Jiepaiya in Huangliang Town. It is built to Class II highway standards, with a width of 10 meters and a designed speed of 40 km/h. Total investment was about 450 million yuan (US$66.86 million).

Together with G209 and S252, the new section forms a ring road around Xingshan. It links five cultural tourism sites: Zhaojun Prairie, Chaotianhou, Zhaojun Village, Guzhao Corridor, and Shenlong Cave. It also connects with the Shanghai–Chengdu Expressway and routes toward Yuan'an and Yiling districts. The project supports the development of the Three Gorges Xiangxi tourism area and makes travel between local attractions more convenient.

The project has improved the regional road network, resolved the bottleneck of G347, and addressed problems such as narrow sections, steep slopes, and safety hazards. It greatly improves driving safety and comfort and eases travel difficulties for people along the route.

Hubei Daily’s Zhang Xiangyang contributed to this story.

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