The Duku Highway,deemed one of China's most beautiful roads, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is set to resume operation as road maintenance workers race to finish projects to ensure safe travel, including snow removal, identifying hazards, and repairing road damage.
Road maintenance workers have taken advantage of the recent sunny days, working around the clock to remove snow from a section of the Duku Highway, located at the boundary between the region's Xinyuan County and Jingxian County.
As road maintenance workers raced to remove thick snowbanks from the section starting Saturday. As of 13:00 Sunday, a huge amount of snow on the road section remained, with the highest snowbank being about 4.5 meters high, but workers on the operation site estimated it would only take around an hour to complete the removal.
Follow-up work including hazard identification, road damage repair, and debris removal should be completed before the highway resumes operation.
Meanwhile, road maintenance workers also strengthened guardrails on the highway and installed rockfall protection meshes on nearby cliffs.
Tunnels on the highway also required maintenance. Workers applied thermal insulation to tunnel walls and unclogged drains to ensure safe travel.
Xinjiang transport authorities said they would announce the highway's reopening date once road maintenance is completed on all sections.
The 560-kilometer Duku Highway closes each winter due to weather conditions. Typically, closure begins in October and lasts until June.
Xinjiang's scenic Duku Highway to resume operation after annual winter closure
Xinjiang's scenic Duku Highway to resume operation after annual winter closure
Thailand will release detained Cambodian soldiers once peace is restored, a Thai official said on Saturday, after the two countries agreed to a ceasefire following days of heavy clashes.
The ceasefire was agreed following intense discussions at General Border Committee (GBC) meetings between Cambodia and Thailand in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province.
Under the agreement, the truce took effect at noon local time and will be monitored by both sides for 72 hours. The Thai government said it reached the agreement after considering the impact of the crisis on the country's economy and international standing.
"Once peace has been restored, civilians can return to their homes safely. Thailand will then release 18 detained Cambodian soldiers," said Thai Defense Minister Gen. Nattaphon Narkphanit at a press conference after the meeting.
Thailand, in turn, expressed hope that Cambodian authorities will allow Thai citizens remaining in Cambodia to return safely.
The coming hours will be a key test of mutual trust. The two countries have agreed to keep communication channels open and work together to combat disinformation, which has complicated negotiations. Thailand also expects Cambodia to assist in clearing landmines in disputed areas.
Thailand said it is watching closely to see whether the ceasefire will be fully implemented, while remaining prepared to defend itself if hostilities resume.
"The ceasefire must be sincerely conducted and maintained. We are going to wait. That is why we have the 72-hour monitoring period in place. If things are not settled within the 72 hours, we will fall back to our protocol of using our right to defend our country," said Thai Air Chief Marshal Prapas Sonjaidee.
Prior to the ceasefire, the situation along the border was tense. During the General Border Committee talks, airstrikes and clashes occurred almost daily, with frontline control shifting frequently, taking a heavy toll on civilians.
Thailand to release detained Cambodian soldiers once peace is restored: official
