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In old Tibet, there was no highway in its truest sense, forcing Tibetans to rely on human and animal power for transportation. There wasn't a single civilian vehicle. In the half century since the peaceful liberation in 1951, the Central Government has invested some 7 billion yuan in construction of highways in Tibet. This has led to the construction and opening in steady progression of the Sichuan-Tibet, Qinghai-Tibet, Yunnan-Tibet, Xinjiang-Tibet and China-Nepal highways; Tibet has also built the Naqu-Qamdo, Lhasa-Xigaze and Lhasa-Yadong highways.
After 1989, the Central Government invested a total of 1.709 billion yuan to renovate the Qinghai-Tibet Highway on two occasions. Efforts were also made to asphalt the Qamdo-Bamda Airport Section of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the Lhasa-Gonggar Airport Highway, and the Quxui-Xigaze Section of the China-Nepal Highway. This has helped to boost the highway transport capability of Tibet.
During the 10th Five-Year Plan, investment to the tune of 14 billion yuan went into the transportation sector representing one-third of Tibet's total investment in capital construction. In 2003, Tibet used 3.13 billion yuan of State investment, and the figure rose to 3.6 billion yuan in 2004 and 5.12 billion yuan in 2005, the funds being used to renovate the Lharze-Tingri Section of the China-Nepal Highway, part of the National Highway No.317 and part of the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. The same period has also seen construction of more roads including the Nanggarze-Gyangze Highway, Mainling-Nang County Highway, Damxung-Nam Co Lake Highway, Zetang-Gyamco Highway, Kangma-Yadong Highway, Nagqu-Jiali Highway, Bar-Zhada Highway, and other trans-county roads. Of these, 20 belong to rural highway construction projects (with a total length of 1,500 km) covering 17 townships and 131 rural villages. In the past three years, some 2.1 million farmers and herders have got involved in road construction in some way and each of them made an additional 100 yuan a year.
Major Trunk Highways
|
Qinghai-Tibet Highway |
From Xining in Qinghai to Lhasa in Tibet |
Known as the "lifeline" of the autonomous region, the highway carries more than 80 percent of goods into or out of Tibet. The 2,122-km highway is paved with asphalt. Rising over 4,000 meters above sea level, it crosses the Kunlun and Tanggula mountains. |
|
Sichuan-Tibet Highway |
From Chengdu in Sichuan to Lhasa in Tibet |
Extending 2,413 km, the highway links Tibet with various provinces in southwest China. |
|
Xinjiang-Tibet Highway |
From Yecheng in Xinjiang to Ngari in Tibet |
Extending 1,179 km, it is the highest highway in the world. |
|
Yunnan-Tibet Highway |
From Xiaguan in Yunnan to Mangkam in Tibet |
The highway extends 315 km. |
|
China-Nepal Highway |
From Lhasa to Friendship Bridge in Zham, Xigaze of Tibet to Kathmandu of Nepal |
The highway extends 736 km. |
Highways, Bridges and Ferries
|
Year |
Mileage of Highways Opening to Traffic (km) |
Opening to Traffic in Fine and Rainy Days |
Highway Maintenance (km) |
Bridges（Piece/Meter） |
Ferries
（Piece） |
|
1959 |
7343 |
4951 |
|
|
|
|
1965 |
14721 |
5713 |
5792 |
631/11286 |
6 |
|
1970 |
15098 |
6995 |
5792 |
643/13741 |
7 |
|
1975 |
15852 |
7247 |
6342 |
658/15420 |
7 |
|
1980 |
21551 |
20663 |
7944 |
712/18358 |
10 |
|
1985 |
21660 |
20733 |
17863 |
730/19845 |
10 |
|
1990 |
21842 |
20978 |
17981 |
777/21697 |
10 |
|
1995 |
22391 |
20988 |
17081 |
882/23988 |
10 |
|
1997 |
22455 |
16719 |
17981 |
948/27775 |
8 |
|
1999 |
22475 |
8895 |
17981 |
948/27775 |
7 |
|
2000 |
22503 |
8895 |
17981 |
1011/29472 |
7 |
|
2001 |
35537 |
17317 |
12419 |
1293/35240 |
5 |
|
2002 |
39760 |
18455 |
12419 |
1293/35240 |
|
|
2003 |
41302 |
17104 |
13129 |
1528/42106 |
5 |
|
