1st desert expressway in Ningxia opens to traffic

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Laborers work on the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on July 10, 2020.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

A car runs on the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Dec. 29, 2021.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Vehicles run on the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Dec. 29, 2021.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Workers make grids to contain the moving sand dunes along the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Sept. 7, 2020.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the opening ceremony of the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows viewing platforms on the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Cars pass through a toll station at the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on Dec. 29, 2021.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Aerial photo taken on July 10, 2020 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway under construction in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

(211229) -- ZHONGWEI, Dec. 29, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

(211229) -- ZHONGWEI, Dec. 29, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

(211229) -- ZHONGWEI, Dec. 29, 2021 (Xinhua) -- Aerial photo taken on Dec. 29, 2021 shows the Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The Qingtongxia-Zhongwei section in Ningxia of the Wuhai-Maqin expressway, linking Wuhai in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Maqin County in Qinghai Province, fully opened to traffic Wednesday. The 122.99-kilometer-long section, of which an 18 kilometers section goes through the hinterland of Tengger Desert, is the first desert expressway built in Ningxia. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)