Photo shows the construction site of the Temtog Bridge and the entrance of the Temtog Tunnel in the construction project of the section from Temtog Village to Genyao Village on National Highway 318, which is also the starting point of the entire project.

The Nujiang"Seventy-Two Turns" is the most famous scenic spot and dangerous road on National Highway 318.

Starting from the Yela Mountain pass at an altitude of 4,600 meters, the road descends all the way, passing through hundreds of switchbacks, finally reaching the banks of the Nujiang at 3,000 meters above sea level. This road is a perfect fusion of nature's masterful craftsmanship and the unyielding will of the Chinese people, epitomizing the steepness and grandeur of the Sichuan-Xizang Highway.

However, with the smooth progress of the construction project of the section from Temtog Village to Genyao Village on National Highway 318, it is expected that by April 2028, there will be no need to traverse the Nujiang "Seventy-Two Turns" when entering Xizang.

The dust raised along with those sharp turns will eventually settle into the memories of the times.

Cost exceeding that of expressways

"The project of the section from Temtog Village to Genyao Village is 42.5 kilometers long, built to the standard of a secondary highway with a total investment of 4.5 billion yuan. It is divided into two sub-divisions for simultaneous construction, with an average cost per kilometer exceeding 100 million yuan. In 2025, the average cost of expressways across the country was only 90 million yuan. This road is truly expensive," Zhang Pengfei, Deputy Manager of the First Sub-division of the Construction Project Management Department of China Communications Second Highway Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd., told reporters.

The high cost is due to the extremely difficult construction of the project. It includes 29 bridges with a total length of 3,589 meters and 12 tunnels with a total length of 21,729 meters. The length of the tunnels accounts for half of the total mileage. Moreover, from Temtog Village in Zogang County at an altitude of 4,100 meters to Genyao Village in Baxoi County at an altitude of 2,900 meters, the altitude drop exceeds 1,000 meters.

Zhang Pengfei stated that upon completion of the project, the original 89-kilometer journey from Temtog Village to Genyao Village will be shortened by more than half. Crucially, by avoiding the "Seventy-Two Turns," travel time is expected to be reduced by over 2 hours, making it both safer and more convenient.

"We are fortunate to live in a good era. The country is investing so much effort to build such a road. In the future, the 'Seventy-Two Turns' will truly be a check-in spot rather than a must-pass route," Zhang Pengfei said with a smile.

Hope to step out of the mountains

Every day before leaving home, Tashi Nyima, a resident of Shayi Village, habitually gazes at the Shayi No. 1 Tunnel down the mountain.

"Shayi Village desperately needs this new road. The old road you took to get here is frightening just to look at," Tashi Nyima told reporters.

In the past, access to and from Shayi Village relied solely on a narrow township road with countless switchbacks, requiring crossing two passes of Yela Mountain. Reaching Temtog Village took at least two hours, making it quite inconvenient for locals to go out for work, handle affairs, or seek medical treatment.

Once the new road opens, the journey from Temtog Village to the Shayi No. 1 Tunnel will take just over 20 minutes, and then a 5-minute drive up the connecting road from the tunnel entrance will reach the village.

While people in the mountains long to go out via this road, people from outside have already felt the joy of increased income thanks to the project.

At the Temtog Bridge by the entrance of the Temtog Tunnel, the starting point of the project, reporters met Jampa Gelog and Jampa Tseten, villagers from Temtog Village. They used their large trucks to transport sand and gravel for the project. From 2024 to the present, both of them have increased their incomes by nearly 100,000 yuan.

"In the future, I'll transport sand and gravel to Shayi Village and take the villagers there to make money together," Jampa Gelog said with a chuckle.

Zhang Pengfei added that currently, the project has facilitated the transfer of employment for local farmers and herders 541 times, generating 3.45 million yuan in income. It has leased farmers' and herders' machinery and vehicles over 30,000 times, generating 37.36 million yuan. Purchases of cement, sand, and gravel materials from townships like Temtog have contributed over 100 million yuan to the local economy.

"In terms of project progress, the first sub-division has currently completed 71.99% of the contract amount. All construction personnel are full of confidence and are determined to hand over the project on schedule in April 2028," Zhang Pengfei said confidently.

Beside him, the Temtog Tunnel and bridge, whose main structures have been completed, stand quietly, waiting for the day when there will surely be a bustling flow of traffic.

Reporter: Wen Kai, Phuntsok Nymgyal

Translator: Luo Rongting, Liu Fang

Review: Phurbu Tsering, Drakpa Wangchen