Sometimes, It’s the Journey That Stays With You: Discovering the Guoliang Tunnel
On a recent scouting trip in Asia, I was heading to photograph a specific location thousands of feet above sea level when I stumbled upon something unforgettable — the incredible Guoliang Tunnel.
Carved into the rugged Taihang Mountains in China’s Henan Province, this 1.2-kilometer tunnel links the remote Guoliang Village to the outside world. What makes it truly remarkable is the story behind it: in the early 1970s, 13 villagers, led by Shen Mingxin, took it upon themselves to carve this road using only hammers and chisels — no power tools. They sold their livestock to fund the project and worked painstakingly, advancing just one meter every three days. Tragically, one villager lost their life during the construction.
Before the tunnel was built, Guoliang was isolated by steep cliffs and reachable only by a dangerous path carved into the mountainside. Nestled in a deep valley surrounded by towering peaks, the village was effectively cut off from the outside world.
The tunnel itself is about 5 meters (16 feet) tall and 4 meters (13 feet) wide — just wide enough for vehicles to pass through. Driving through it, thousands of feet above sea level, was an unforgettable experience. The narrow, winding road carved into the mountain was both humbling and thrilling, a vivid reminder that sometimes the journey — full of human determination and grit — is far more memorable than the destination.
Today, the Guoliang Tunnel is not only a vital lifeline for the village but also a popular tourist attraction and a striking film location.
Here are some more photo’s of the road:
