Comprehensive Transportation Hub in Western Sichuan
Yaan's Planning for Comprehensive Transportation Hub in Western Sichuan has been prepared. By 2030, Yaan will focus on building the main hub in Western Sichuan with the total estimated investment of RMB 94.5 billion and will gradually complete the "4+1" railway network and "6+2" expressway network, and Yaan will change from a "marginal city" to a "city portal". According to the information provided by the International Communication Office of the CPC Yaan Municipal Committee, Chengdu-Kangding Railway which has attracted much media attention is also included in the planning and has been adjusted into Sichuan's Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction Planning. Yaan is of convenient traffic. Chengdu-Yaan Expressway connects with Chengdu, a national center city, 128km away with 1h's drive. National Highway 318 and 108 pass through Yaan. Yaan-Xichang Expressway and Leshan-Yaan Expressway have been opened to traffic. Yaan-Kangding Expressway is also about to commence. Chengdu-Yaan Railway under construction will further promote the leapfrog development of Yaan. Yaan is located on the connecting line of three top tourist attractions, namely Shangri-La, Panzhihua-Xichang Sunshine and Hailuogou Glacier, and the crossed and overlapped node of many golden tourist routes. It is rated by China National Geography as the starting point of Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the Most Beautiful Landscape Avenue in China, is the east gate to Shangri-La, and is a large service station of West Tour Circle of Sichuan Province. Within the radius of 15-30km from Yaan Downtown, there are such scenic areas as Mengding Mountain, Bifeng Gorge, Giant Panda Base, Zhougong Mountain Hotspring and Shangli Ancient Town. The city and scenic areas are closely linked and rely on each other.