A railway tunnel running across northern Tianshan Mount Range was completed on Sunday after four years' efforts.

This 13.6-km-long tunnel, which links up Jinghe, Yining and Korgas, all in western Xinjiang Ugyur Autonomous Region, constitutes a vital part of a railway that is designed as a second railway to connect China and Central Asia.

China's first railway to Central Asia runs from Urumqi to Alataw Pass on China-Kazakhstan border.

The railway with the tunnel just completed has a length of 285km. Rail-laying work in the tunnel will start next March, according to the No. 2 company of China Railway First Group Co.,Ltd, the builder.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2008)