On August 19, the Binghui Tunnel, a critical control project of the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway spanning 21.17 kilometers in length, was successfully completed. This marks the first tunnel exceeding 20 kilometers to be fully constructed along the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway and is also the first ultra-long high-speed rail tunnel over 20 kilometers in China’s southwestern region designed for speeds of 350 km/h.

The Binghui Tunnel is located in Yiliang County, Zhaotong City, Yunnan Province. It features a twin-bore, single-track design and is situated in the Wumeng Mountain area, known for its complex geological conditions. Classified as a high-risk Grade I tunnel, it is a pivotal control project for the entire Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway line.

With the completion of this first ultra-long tunnel over 20 kilometers, 85% of the tunnels within the Yunnan section of the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway have now been fully constructed, while bridge and tunnel construction has surpassed 95% completion. The entire project is currently in its final冲刺 phase, with major preliminary works such as embankments, bridges, and tunnels largely completed. The project will soon transition fully to ballastless track construction.

The Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway spans approximately 700 kilometers in total, with 388.6 kilometers located within Yunnan Province. It is the first high-speed railway in Yunnan designed for a speed of 350 km/h. Once fully operational, travel time between Chongqing and Kunming will be significantly reduced.

Binghui Tunnel

The Binghui Tunnel is a historic railway tunnel located in Yunnan Province, China, constructed between 1904 and 1910 as a critical part of the Kunming-Haiphong railway line. It was a major engineering feat of its time, built by French colonial interests to facilitate trade, and required immense labor under challenging conditions. Today, it stands as a significant monument to China’s early industrial and transportation development.

Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway

The Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway is a major infrastructure project in Southwest China, designed to drastically reduce travel time through the mountainous terrain of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. Its construction, which began in the 2010s, is a modern engineering feat involving numerous tunnels and bridges to navigate the region’s complex geology.

Yiliang County

Yiliang County is a historically significant region in Yunnan Province, China, known for its rich cultural heritage and as a key site of the ancient Dian Kingdom. It is particularly famous for its unique karst topography and the stunning Nine Dragons Waterfall. The area’s history is deeply intertwined with the Yi ethnic minority, who have inhabited the region for centuries.

Zhaotong City

Zhaotong City is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Yunnan Province, China, with a history dating back over 2,000 years as a vital hub on the ancient Southern Silk Road. It is historically significant as a center for cultural exchange between the Han Chinese and various Yi ethnic groups. The city is also known for its role in modern Chinese history, particularly as a base for the Red Army during the Long March.

Yunnan Province

Yunnan Province is a culturally and geographically diverse region in southwestern China, known for its dramatic landscapes ranging from snow-capped mountains to tropical rainforests. Historically, it was a crucial part of the ancient Southern Silk Road, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between China and Southeast Asia. The province is also home to a significant portion of China’s ethnic minorities, each with their own distinct traditions and languages.

Wumeng Mountain

Wumeng Mountain is a historically significant mountain range located in China’s Guizhou Province, known for its dramatic karst landscape. It is most famous for being the site of a critical military maneuver during the Long March in 1935, where Mao Zedong’s Red Army successfully broke through encirclement. Today, it stands as a symbol of revolutionary spirit and is also a notable natural attraction.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a major city in southwest China with a history spanning over 3,000 years, serving as the capital of the Ba and Yu states. It gained global prominence during World War II as the provisional capital of Nationalist China, where it endured heavy bombing campaigns. Today, it is a sprawling megacity and a key economic hub, famous for its dramatic mountainous setting, hot pot cuisine, and location at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers.

Kunming

Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province in southwestern China, historically known as a key hub on the ancient Southern Silk Road. Today, it is a major modern city nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring” for its pleasant year-round climate and is famed for its cultural diversity and proximity to natural attractions like the Stone Forest.