G8511 Kunming–Mohan Expressway

The Kunming–Mohan Expressway (Chinese: 昆明—磨憨高速公路), commonly referred to as the Kunmo Expressway (Chinese: 昆磨高速公路) is an expressway that connects Kunming, Yunnan, China, and Mohan, a town on the border with Laos, in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan. The expressway is a spur of G85 Chongqing–Kunming Expressway and is entirely in Yunnan Province.

The Kunming–Mohan Expressway forms the Chinese portion of the Kunming–Bangkok Expressway, to Bangkok, Thailand. Mohan, the southern terminus, is on the China–Laos border and there is a border checkpoint which connects to Route 13 in Laos. It was completed in 2017. China National Highway 213 parallels much of this route but is not an expressway.

Let’s explore some key details about this expressway:

  • Route Information:
    • Designation: G8511
    • Start Point: Kunming, Yunnan (specifically at the Shuankun Expressway Xiaoxi Village Interchange in Guandu District)
    • End Point: Mohan, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan (currently at the Shangyong Toll Station on the Xiaomo Highway in Mengla County)
    • Total Length: Approximately 692 kilometers1.
    • Highway System: It is an auxiliary route of the G85 Chongqing–Kunming Expressway and is entirely within Yunnan Province.
    • Significance: The Kunming–Mohan Expressway forms the Chinese portion of the Kunming–Bangkok Expressway, connecting Kunming to Bangkok, Thailand. At its southern terminus in Mohan, there is a border checkpoint that links to Route 13 and later to the Vientiane–Boten Expressway in Laos.

This expressway not only facilitates regional connectivity but also serves as a gateway to international travel.