CHENGDU, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- On December 25, 1954, the Sichuan-Xizang highway opened to traffic. It connects southwest China's Sichuan Province and Xizang Autonomous Region and serves as the artery linking the plateau region and the country's inland areas. It shares part of the route with two National Highways, G318 and G317, and is known for steep mountains and rugged terrain through which it winds.