China National Highway 219

Alignment of the 1957 Xinjiang-Tibet road.

Through 1950s China planned and constructed a road through its western frontier in Xinjiang and Tibet (Hotan/Rutog).[5] China announced completion of the road in September 1957.[6][7] A number of reasons for building the road has been conceptualized, including cementing China's control over the region.[5] India supposedly learnt of the construction a couple of years after the road construction started.[5] Despite the historic remoteness of the region, both sides lay claim to the area.[5]

The road entered disputed territory "just east of Sarigh Jilgnang" after which it ran through a number of locations India recognized as its territory such as Haji Langar, and usage was claimed by India to be in contravention to the Sino-Indian Agreement 1954.[8] The following years saw China repave the road which resulted in localized tension.[5] One of the reasons for the 1962 war was the defence of that road.[9][3] In the defence of the road, China pushed its western frontier further west.[10]

Dispute over the territory persists to the present time.[5] There is a Chinese war memorial on the G219 at Kangxiwar.[11] A number of lateral roads have been constructed with scattered military infrastructure.[11]

Repaving of the road began in late 2010.[12] By July 2012 and with an expenditure of CN¥3 Billion ($476 million), the Xinjiang section spanning just over 650 km (404 mi) was completed.[12] This was the first repaving since the 1960s, according to a Chinese road administration official.[12] The 13th five-year plan of China (2016–2020) further upgraded the road.[13] In 2013 the road was upgraded to asphalt.[4] A number of provincial roads have been and are being developed which exit off from the G219, the G564 and the G365,[14] and the S205, S206, S207.[15] China 14th five-year plan for 2021–2025 further improves connectivity with G219.[16]

G219 in 2011

G219 elevation profile; Xinjiang line

As one of the highest motorable roads in the world, the breathtaking scenery of Rutog County also ranks as some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet. Domar township—a town of concrete blocks and nomad tents—is one of the bleakest and most remote outposts of the People's Liberation Army at the edge of the Aksai Chin. Near the town of Mazar many trekkers turn off for both the Karakorum range and K2 base camp. Approaching the Xinjiang border, past the final Tibetan settlement of Tserang Daban is a dangerous 5,050-meter-high pass. Tibetan nomads in the area herd both yaks and two-humped camels. Descending through the western Kunlun Shan, the road crosses additional passes of 4,000 and 3,000 meters, and the final pass offers brilliant views of the Taklamakan Desert far below before descending into the Karakax River basin.

The Chinese government is making efforts to promote tourism along G219.[17][18] There are a number of military check posts along the road.[19]

The western portion of the highway has numerous notable mountain passes. Motorists have invented a rhyme describing those mountain passes:[20][21]