Highways extend in all directions in Yunnan. A highway communication network has been established, with Kunming as the centre, inter-provincial highways and provincial roads as the framework, radiating throughout the province and connecting Yunnan with other provinces: Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Tibet and neighboring countries including Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. By the end of 2003, the total length of highways had reached 166,133 km, the highest in China. Total length of expressways of Class II and above reached 3,278km.

International Highways

The Kunming to Bangkok (Kunming-Mohan-Bangkok) International Highway is a total of 1,805 km long. The 694-km-long section in Yunnan from Kunming to Mohan Port has been upgraded to expressway.

The Kunming to Myanmar (Kunming-Ruili-Yangon) International Highway is 1,917km long. The total length within Yunnan from Kunming to Ruili is 760km.

The construction of international highways has strengthened contacts between China and ASEAN countries, highlighted the advantages of Yunnan’s location, and accelerated the social and economic development of Yunnan Province. It will play a significant role in the development of the pillar industries in Yunnan and promote the process of building Yunnan into an international gateway connecting China with Southeast and South Asian countries.

Future Prospects in Highway Construction

In the next 5 years, priority will be given to the construction of 8 highways and upgrading of 6 existing major highways, to increase the ratio of high grade highways to around 2.6% of the total road length in the province, and to increase the overall standard of the highway network.