How to drive through the 861 Tunnel in Hunan?
The 861 Tunnel, also known as Baliuyi Tunnel, is a unique natural cave road located in Xiaopingzhen, within Chenxi County of China's Hunan province. It is one of the few places where you can drive through a cave on a fully paved surface.
| Road facts: 861 Tunnel (Baliuyi) | |
|---|---|
| Location | Chenxi County, Hunan (China) |
| Length | 795 meters |
| Max Width/Height | 20 to 30 meters |
| Surface | Paved |
How long is the 861 Tunnel in Hunan?
The tunnel is 795 meters long and runs through a massive natural karst cave. Unlike modern bored tunnels, this passage follows the natural hollow of the mountain, reaching heights and widths between 20 and 30 meters. It serves as the only road access in and out of the Xiaoping area. The road inside is fully paved and runs parallel to a natural stream that flows through the cave floor, separated only by a low guardrail in the narrowest sections.
What is the history of the Baliuyi Tunnel?
The tunnel gained strategic importance during the War of Resistance against Japan, as the cave housed the 861 Arsenal, one of the four largest military factories in China at the time. The massive internal space of the karst formation allowed for full-scale military operations and storage under hundreds of meters of natural rock protection. Today, the arsenal is no longer active.
What are the driving conditions inside the cave?
The road surface is paved with asphalt and is generally in good condition, but the environment inside the mountain presents specific hazards. Moisture from the parallel stream and water dripping from the karst ceiling make the road surface permanently damp and slick. Despite the 30-meter high ceiling, the tunnel is poorly lit in some stretches. The humidity inside the cave can also cause rapid fogging of the windshield.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Pic: https://www.sohu.com/a/991774784_120438069