Climbing up ladder to heaven

With the recent snowfall blurring the line between the Earth and sky, Yaxi Expressway, which meanders through rolling mountains, has been giving drivers the chance to "ride in the clouds".

The expressway, also known as the ladder to heaven, stretches 240 kilometers through Sichuan province in southwestern China, forming part of the Beijing-Kunming highway.

What makes the road unique is that, with each kilometer, the road ascends 7.5 meters. It is a masterpiece of engineering. Yaxi expressway climbs along the Hengduan Mountain range, starting at 600 meters and rising to a peak of 3,200 meters, and crosses 12 seismic zones and several rivers. It has 270 bridges and 25 tunnels.

The variety in terrain covered is also an attraction for tourists: Terraces planted with rice, natural thermal springs, and magnificent rivers and lakes provide some breathtaking scenery.

Drivers and passengers can also get a glimpse of the primeval landscape in Menghuo, a scenic spot famous for its red rock beach and ancient forests.

Winter is arguably the best time to use the Yaxi expressway, when the snow whitens the mountains, trees and cars. However, visiting at this time requires extra caution. Every year, the slippery road conditions result in many accidents.

(China Daily European Weekly 01/29/2016 page4)