G6 Beijing–Lhasa Expressway Explained

Country:CHN
Type:Expwy
Route:6
Map:G6 map.svg
Map Notes:The Beijing–Lhasa Expressway, including planned/under construction sections, is highlighted in red.
Alternate Name:Jingzang Expressway
京藏高速
Length Km:3710
Length Notes:Length when complete.
Photo Notes:G6 and the Juyong Pass
Length Ref:[1]
Direction A:East
Terminus A:3rd Ring Road at Madian Bridge, Xicheng, BJ
Direction B:West
Terminus B:Xiongka IC at Doilungdêqên District, Lhasa, XZ
Previous Type:Expwy
Previous Route:0513
Next Type:Expwy
Next Route:0601

The Beijing–Lhasa Expressway, commonly abbreviated to Jingzang Expressway, is part of the Chinese national expressway network and is planned to connect the nation's capital, Beijing, to the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa.

It passes through seven of China's administrative regions, including the Beijing municipality, the province of Hebei, the autonomous regions of Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai, and finally the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Passage

Beginning from Beijing and driving southwest to Lhasa, The expressway runs approximately 3710km (2,310miles) through Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu and Qinghai, for a total of seven provincial-level divisions. Excluding the two terminal points, it passes through the major cities of Zhangjiakou, Jining District, Hohhot, Bayannur, Wuhai, Yinchuan, Wuzhong, Baiyin, Lanzhou, Xining and Golmud.

As of August 2010, just over fifty percent of the expressway is open to traffic, which mainly comprises the stretch between Beijing and Xining. Like China National Highway 109 and the Qingzang railway, it is expected to pass west through Golmud before heading southwest into Tibet and Lhasa. Because of climatic conditions, this stretch of the expressway does not yet have a construction timetable.[2]

As of 2019 the expressway is completed between Beijing and Golmud, and the section between Nagqu and Lhasa has completed in August 2021. The mountainous section between Golmud and Nagqu is not yet shown on maps, and reserved for future plans.

The G6 merges with the G7 in Huhhot and does not split until Linhe (now Baynnur).

Ningxia

The expressway is of particular importance in Ningxia, where 86.7% of the urban population lives in cities along the expressway, and over 90% of the provincial GDP is generated in these cities. In 2020, a 2x4 lane bypass around Ningxia's capital Yinchuan was opened, and another 212km (132miles) in Ningxia will be widened to 2x3 lanes.[3]

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.china-highway.com/html/244/22/22767/1.htm G6 京藏高速
  2. News: Get your kicks on Route G6 . 2024-07-10 . The Economist . 0013-0613.
  3. Web site: 11月1日,京藏高速公路银川过境段全线建成试通车-银川市人民政府门户网站. 2021-01-11. www.yinchuan.gov.cn.