Five expressway sections in Hunan have been awarded the "2026 Beautiful Roads" title, according to the Hunan Expressway Group. They are: the Jicha (Jishou-Chadong) section of the G65 Baotou-Maoming Expressway, the Dayue (Dajie-Yueyang) section of the G56 Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway, the S51 Nanyue Expressway, the Changde section of the G5513 Changsha-Zhangjiajie Expressway, and the Ruchen (Rucheng-Chenzhou) section of the G76 Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway.The list was released by the Tourism and Transportation Committee of the China Highway and Transportation Society, covering 143 projects nationwide in three categories—rural roads, national and provincial trunk highways, and expressways.

Jicha Section of the G65 Baotou-Maoming Expressway. (Photo provided by the correspondent)The Jicha section of the G65 Baotou-Maoming Expressway extends from the northern slope of Laoshiling Hill in Jishou to Chadong, Huayuan County, at the border of Hunan, Guizhou, and Chongqing, with a total length of 16.76 kilometers. The route blends harmoniously with canyon landscapes, with a bridge-to-tunnel ratio of 67.99%. The Aizhai Bridge, with a main span of 1,176 meters, is a world-class engineering landmark. Technologies like drone inspections and smart sensors are applied in this section to ensure round-the-clock dynamic monitoring of the bridge.

The Dayue Section of the G56 Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway. (Photo provided by the correspondent)The Dayue section of the G56 Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway spans 72 kilometers, connecting Yueyang Tower, Junshan Island, and the East Dongting Lake Wetland. The Dongting Bridge as a part of the expressway, with a main span of 1,480 meters, has won the China Construction Engineering Luban Prize, the Li Chun Award (Highway Traffic Quality Engineering Award), and the National Quality Engineering Award. In spring, golden canola flowers are seen along the route. In summer, emerald lake water ripples under blue skies. In autumn, reed catkins fly like snowflakes. In winter, a sea of clouds rolls over the bridge. Migratory birds and finless porpoises inhabit the East Dongting Lake area. The expressway also helps fresh fish, lotus seeds, and handicrafts from the Dongting Lake region reach broader markets.

The S51 Nanyue Expressway. (Photo provided by the correspondent)The S51 Nanyue Expressway is 37.318 kilometers long, from Shigu District in the south to Hengshan Mountain in the north. It serves as a pivot line connecting the G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Expressway and the G72 Quanzhou-Nanning Expressway, and is a provincial demonstration section for "transport-tourism integration" development. This section links Hengshan Mountain with tourism resources like the Former Residence of Luo Ronghuan, Emperor Yan's Mausoleum, Taoyuan Cave, and Jinggangshan. The route is rated as the excellent level, with RQI (scored on a 100-point scale in China's evaluation system) staying above 94, indicating a smooth and comfortable ride.

The Changde Section of the G5513 Changsha-Zhangjiajie Expressway. (Photo provided by the correspondent)The Changde section of the G5513 Changsha-Zhangjiajie Expressway is Hunan's first eco-friendly tourism expressway, with a total length of 76.746 kilometers. The route connects several 5A-level scenic spots including Taohuayuan (the Peach Blossom Spring), shortening the travel time from Changde to Zhangjiajie to 1.5 hours, and facilitating the integration of western Hunan into the "2-Hour Tourism Circle" of the province.

The Ruchen Section of the G76 Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway. (Photo provided by the correspondent)The Ruchen section of the G76 Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway is 112.3 kilometers long, a scenic route in the "Red Triangle" area of Hunan, Guangdong, and Jiangxi. Since its opening in 2012, its PCI (Pavement Condition Index) has maintained 96.5, remaining safe and smooth. Along this section, the world-class Chishi Bridge towers over Qingtou River, and the Yanshisha Tunnel cuts through green mountains. Over 20 high-end hotels and more than 150 homestays in Rucheng County have thrived thanks to this expressway.

责编：冯宇轩

一审：冯宇轩

二审：秦慧英

三审：张权

来源：湖南省政府门户网