The main section of Tianhua Avenue (S609 Gaoyuan–Kecun Road), the second major external access route to Jiuhuashan Global Geopark, has now met the basic conditions for traffic operation. During this year’s Spring Festival, Jiuhuashan Global Geopark will officially open Tianhua Avenue to traffic. As a new fast-access corridor connected to S358, the route reduces travel time between Jiuhuashan and Qingyang from nearly 30 minutes to just 15 minutes, significantly improving accessibility for visitors entering and leaving the geopark.
Tianhua Avenue has a total length of 5.826 km, including a 4.986 km main line. The roadbed is 16.5 meters wide, with a 15-meter-wide carriageway, built to the standard of a dual four-lane Class II highway, with of 40 km/h. The total investment exceeds RMB 300 million. Construction began in February 2025. At present, the main roadway has completed base-layer asphalt paving, while auxiliary works—including lighting, road markings, and traffic safety facilities—are largely finished, enabling the road to open to traffic.
According to project officials, over the past year, the construction team strictly controlled safety and quality while adhering to green and environmentally responsible practices. Through optimized construction planning and strengthened process management, the project successfully achieved its goals of safety, quality, sustainability, and efficiency, meeting the requirements for opening.
Currently, Provincial Highway S228 serves as the only main route connecting Jiuhuashan Global Geopark to the outside, and traffic congestion during peak tourist seasons has been a persistent issue. With the completion of S609 Tianhua Avenue, a loop network will be formed together with S228, S358, and the geopark’s Tourist Service Center. This will effectively share the traffic load of S228 and fundamentally transform the existing “single-entry, single-exit” traffic pattern.
To prepare for the Spring Festival travel peak, Jiuhuashan Global Geopark will officially open Tianhua Avenue—now ready for basic operation—on February 14. Visitors traveling from the Qingyang exit of the G3 Beijing–Taipei Expressway or from Jiuhuashan High-Speed Railway Station will benefit from more convenient access via this new route, helping to ease traffic pressure during peak periods.
A representative from the Jiuhuashan Global Geopark Transport Bureau noted that upon completion, the project will significantly improve the current limitations of “single connection, single route, and single mode” in external transportation. Together with S228 and S358, it will establish a more advanced system featuring “multiple access points, flexible entry and exit, and integrated connectivity.” This marks a major step forward in building a modern, multi-dimensional transportation network for the geopark, greatly enhancing its overall transport capacity and service capability.
