China Plans 27,000-km 'Golden Outer Ring Road' Linking Borders and Coast

China has announced a plan to construct a “Golden Outer Ring Road” spanning approximately 27,000 kilometers, tracing the country’s borders from the rugged frontiers of Xinjiang and Tibet through the North Korea-bordering city of Dandong to the southeastern coast, El.kz cites Chosun.

The road, two-thirds the length of Earth’s circumference (about 40,000 kilometers), will transport tourists and cargo during peacetime but could be repurposed as a military route for troop and heavy equipment movement during wars or border conflicts. This mega-project aims to link the entire nation into a single colossal loop, simultaneously enhancing logistics, border governance, and national defense capabilities.

The Ministry of Transport recently revealed at a State Council Information Office briefing that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), it will fully connect the G219 and G331 border roads with the G228 coastal road. Xu Chengguang, vice minister of transport, stated, “Connecting these three roads will create a golden outer circumferential route penetrating China’s borders and coasts, to be utilized for tourism, resource development, and border stability.” To achieve this, approximately 7,400 kilometers of new roads will be built or upgraded over five years, focusing on bridging disconnected sections and expanding narrow or disaster-prone stretches.