All 35 tunnels completed on 202-km Dali-Lincang railway

The statement “All 35 tunnels completed on 202-km Dali-Lincang railway” refers to the full completion of 35 tunnels along the 202-kilometer Dali-Lincang Railway in China. On September 10, 2020, the Xingzishan Tunnel—a critical control project of the railway—was successfully through，marking the safe conclusion of all 35 tunnels. Below is a detailed overview of the Dali-Lincang Railway:
  • Basic Details:
    Spanning 201.8 kilometers in southwestern Yunnan Province, the railway features a designed speed of 160 km/h and an 87% bridge-and-tunnel ratio. It serves as a pivotal component of the China-Myanmar International Railway and an essential corridor in Yunnan’s “Eight Provinces Outbound, Five Countries Outbound” railway network.
  • Significance:
    Upon completion, the railway ended Lincang City’s (bordering Myanmar) rail connectivity deficit. It enhances the integrated transportation system in central and western Yunnan, strengthens regional connectivity with neighboring countries, and supports the optimization of southwest China’s railway network. As part of the Belt and Road Initiative, it drives development in border regions and ethnic minority areas.
  • Engineering Challenges:
    The railway traverses complex mountainous terrain with multiple long and high-risk tunnels. The 8.9-kilometer Xingzishan Tunnel in Nanjian County crosses five major faults and one anticline in the Hengduan Mountains’ Wuliang Range. Composed of carbonaceous slate, schist, and mudstone within the geologically complex “Western Yunnan Red Bed” formation, it faces challenges including high ground temperatures and water-rich strata. Domestically recognized as a “world-class geological museum,” its construction demanded advanced engineering solutions.
  • Construction Success:
    After 1,570 days of intensive work, all 35 tunnels were safely completed, securing the railway’s on-schedule completion. Construction teams collaborated with national tunnel experts for on-site consultations, conducted thorough feasibility studies, and implemented innovative management strategies to ensure efficient and safe excavation in soft-rock environments.