The Ministry of Transport recently outlined plans for the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, emphasizing the creation of a "Golden Outer Ring" that spans China's border and coastal regions. This raises questions about what exactly this ring is, why it is needed, and how it will be built.
Deputy Minister Xu Chengguang explained that the focus during this period will be on four key types of corridors, with the first being a major border, coastal, and riverine route. The plan involves fully connecting the strategic land corridors of G219 and G331 along the border, as well as the coastal G219 corridor, to form a unified "Golden Outer Ring." The G219 national highway, running from Kanas in Xinjiang to Dongxing in Guangxi, is planned to stretch nearly 10,000 kilometers, making it the longest national highway in China. The G331 highway, from Altay in Xinjiang to Dandong in Liaoning, spans about 9,200 kilometers and is known as the "Most Beautiful Border Road." The G228 highway, from Dandong in Liaoning to Dongxing in Guangxi, is planned to be approximately 7,400 kilometers long. Together, these three routes form a comprehensive national transportation strategy corridor exceeding 26,000 kilometers in planned length.
The goal is to enhance circulation. Xu Chengguang noted that by 2030, the completion rate of the main skeleton of the national comprehensive three-dimensional transport network should rise to 95%. However, transportation construction during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period cannot simply involve "laying out more projects" as in the past. Instead, it must optimize spatial layout, unblock the main arteries of the economic cycle, and promote balanced regional development. The "Golden Outer Ring," positioned close to the national border, will address past weaknesses in remote border road networks and insufficient emergency accessibility. This will enable more efficient flow of resources and more active personnel exchanges between border, inland, and coastal areas. Furthermore, the "Golden Outer Ring" will connect westward to the New Western Land-Sea Corridor and China-Europe Railway Express, and eastward to overseas foreign trade routes, linking coastal ports and border ports to facilitate both domestic and international circulation.
Sustained efforts will be required. The Ministry of Transport has defined three roles for this border and coastal corridor: a key tourism route, a resource development route, and a route for stabilizing borders. To leverage the "Golden Outer Ring" effectively, efforts must focus on three aspects of corridor construction. First, road network connectivity must be improved. The geological conditions in border and coastal areas are complex, so challenges like frozen soil, sandstorms, and subsidence must be addressed locally to ensure smooth material flow and enhance resilience against emergencies. Second, the integration of transportation and tourism should be promoted. This involves incorporating ancient cities, villages, and natural landscapes along the route into a unified tourism system, systematically planning scenic spots, dining, and accommodation, and strengthening supporting facilities to enrich the tourism market supply.
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