Published : 2024-12-25

On December 25, 1954, the Kangding-Xizang Highway (康藏公路), now known as the Sichuan-Xizang Highway (川藏公路), and the Qinghai-Xizang Highway (青藏公路) were fully opened to traffic on the same day.

These two highways were the highest-altitude highways in the world at that time, connecting Lhasa (拉薩) from Ya'an (雅安) in Sichuan Province and Golmud (格爾木) in Xizang (previously known as Tibet) respectively.

The Kangding-Xizang Highway is approximately 2,255 kilometres long, with an average altitude of over 3,000 metres.

The Qinghai-Xizang Highway starts from Xining (西寧) in Qinghai, and is approximately 2,100 kilometres long, with an average altitude of over 4,000 metres.

The inauguration ceremony was held simultaneously in Lhasa, Ya'an and Xining, with over 10,000 people from various ethnic groups and sectors attending the ceremony in Xining.

30 trucks loaded with rice, flour, gasoline, and other supplies set off for Lhasa on the spot.

After the completion of the Kangding-Xizang and Qinghai-Xizang Highways, they took on the key role of connecting the eastern and western regions of China.

They played an irreplaceable role and had an irreplaceable status in military, political, economic, and cultural aspects, ultimately ending Xizang's millennia-long history of having no highways and no cars.