China National Highway 219

China National Highway 219 (G219) is a highway which runs along the entire western and southern border of the People's Republic of China, from Kom-Kanas Mongolian ethnic township in Xinjiang to Dongxing in Guangxi.[1] At over 10,000 kilometres (6,214 mi) long, it will be the longest National Highway once completed.

National Highway 219
219国道
Route information
Length10,000 km (10,000 mi)
Existed1955–present
Major junctions
north-west endKom-Kanas Mongolian Ethnic Township
south-east endDongxing
Highway system
China National Highways
G218 G220

Former G219

Before 2013, G219 ran from Yecheng (Karghilik) in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Lhatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It was 2,342 kilometers long.

Construction of this road was started in 1951.[2] It was completed in 1957.[3] The road passes through disputed area of Aksai Chin, an area administered by the People's Republic of China but also claimed by India, and its construction was one of the triggers for the Sino-Indian War of 1962. Originally made of gravel, it was fully paved with asphalt in 2013.

As one of the highest motorable roads in the world, the breathtaking scenery of Rutog County also ranks as some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet. Domar township—a town of concrete blocks and nomad tents—is one of the bleakest and most remote outposts of the People's Liberation Army at the edge of the Aksai Chin. Near the town of Mazar many trekkers turn off for both the Karakorum range and K2 base camp. Approaching the Xinjiang border, past the final Tibetan settlement of Tserang Daban is a dangerous 5,050-meter-high pass. Tibetan nomads in the area herd both yaks and two-humped camels. Descending through the western Kunlun Shan, the road crosses additional passes of 4,000 and 3,000 meters, and the final pass offers brilliant views of the Taklamakan Desert far below before descending into the Karakax River basin.

Mountain Passes Rhyme

The western portion of the highway has numerous notable mountain passes. Motorists have invented a rhyme describing those mountain passes:[4][5]

(optional preamble)
行车新藏线,不亚蜀道难。

库地达坂险,犹似鬼门关;
麻扎达坂尖,陡升五千三;
黑卡达坂旋,九十九道弯;
界山达坂弯,喘气真是难。

(alternate to last line)
界山达坂弯,伸手可摸天。

(optional preamble)
Driving the Xinjiang-Tibet road, no easier than the ancient roads to Sichuan.

Kudi Daban is very dangerous, just like the gates of hell;
Mazar Daban is very pointy, soaring five thousand and three;
Heiqia Daban is very loopy, with ninety-nine bends in the road;
Jieshan Daban is very curvy, but breathing now is really hard.

(alternate to last line)
Jieshan Daban is very curvy, an extended hand will touch the sky.

Route and distance

Route and distance
CityDistance (km)
Boxirekxiāng near Yecheng (Karghilik), Xinjiang0
Kokyar Township, Kargilik County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang
Kudi Pass, Kargilik County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang
Mazar Pass, Kargilik County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang240
Kirgizjangal Pass, Kargilik County, Kashgar Prefecture, Xinjiang
Xaidulla, Pishan/Guma County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang
Dahongliutan, Hotan County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang
Tianshuihai in the disputed Aksai Chin region, Hotan County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang
Border between Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region705
Rutog, Tibet936
Gar, Tibet1063
Drongpa (Zhongba), Tibet1640
Saga, Tibet1794
Ngamring, Tibet2041
Chawuxiāng near Lhatse, Tibet2086

New route

The route was expanded in the China National Highway Network Planning (2013–2030) both northward and eastward to span the entire Chinese western and southern border. The new route will measure over 10,000 kilometres (6,214 mi), making it by far the longest National Highway.

The section along the China-Vietnam border is also known as the Yanbian Highway (沿边公路, literally: along the border highway).[6][7]

Route table

Province Place Distance
Xinjiang Kom-Kanas
Habahe/Kaba
Jeminay County
Hoboksar
Yumin
Bole
Wenquan/Arixang
Zhaosu
Onsu
Uqturpan
Akqi
Peyziwat
Yopurgha
Yengisar
Yarkant
Poskam
Kargilik
Tibet Rutog
Gar
Zhongba
Saga
Gyirong
Tingri
Dinggyê
Gamba
Lhozhag
Comai
Lhünzê
Mainling
Mêdog
Zayü
Yunnan Gongshan
Fugong
Lushui
Tengchong
Longling
Yongde
Zhenkang
Cangyuan
Ximeng
Menglian
Lancang
Menghai
Jinghong
Jiangcheng
Lüchun
Jinping
Pingbian
Maguan
Xichou
Guangxi Pingxiang
Dongxing

See also

References

  1. https://kknews.cc/zh-sg/travel/r5orq2r.html
  2. MemCons of Final sessions with the Chinese Archived 2011-12-16 at the Wayback Machine, White House, 1971-08-12
  3. 50th anniversary of Xinjiang-Tibet Highway marked Archived 2010-05-28 at the Wayback Machine, China Tibet Information Center, 2007-11-01
  4. 杨芳秀 (May 2019). "一次震撼心灵的雪山之行". The Press (in Chinese). People's Daily. ISSN 0257-5930. Archived from the original on 1 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2020. 常年往来于这条路上的官兵,编了一句顺口溜来形容路上的艰辛:“库地达坂险,犹似鬼门关;麻扎达坂尖,陡升五千三;黑卡达坂旋,九十九道弯;界山达坂弯,喘气真是难。”
  5. 流年. 鬼藏人 (in Chinese). 知識屋. p. 1051.
  6. https://www.ixigua.com/i6805841109357429248/
  7. https://m.yunnan.cn/system/2020/04/21/030652283.shtml
  • Dorje, Gyurme. (2009). Footprint Tibet Handbook. (4th Ed.) Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England. ISBN 978-1-906098-32-2.

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