China National Highway 219
China National Highway 219 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. At over long, it will be the longest National Highway once completed.
Former G219
Before 2013, G219 ran from Yecheng in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Lhatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region. It was 2342 kilometers long.Construction of this road was started in 1951. It was completed in 1957. 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 Originally made of gravel, it was fully paved with asphalt in 2013.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: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。 界山达坂弯，伸手可摸天。 | 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. Jieshan Daban is very curvy, an extended hand will touch the sky. |
Route and distance
Gallery
New route
The route was expanded in the China National Highway Network Planning both northward and eastward to span the entire Chinese western and southern border. The new route will measure over, making it by far the longest National Highway.The section along the China-Vietnam border is also known as the Yanbian Highway.