New Delhi, January 3, 2025 : Office-goers know all too well the frustration of being stuck in traffic. Whether you’re in Noida, Delhi, or Bengaluru, traffic jams are almost inevitable. Commuters in these regions often leave home hours in advance to ensure they don’t miss appointments, flights, or work. However, even Delhi-NCR’s worst traffic snarls pale in comparison to the record-breaking 2010 traffic jam on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway.
A Jam That Lasted 12 Days
In China’s capital, Beijing, the world witnessed an extraordinary traffic jam that stretched for 12 days. The gridlock occurred on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway (China National Highway 110), and it showed no signs of easing for nearly two weeks. Imagine sitting in your car, not just for hours, but for 12 entire days without any progress. This historic traffic jam trapped thousands of travelers, spanned over 100 kilometers, and brought life to a complete standstill.
How and When Did It Start?
The infamous traffic jam began on August 14, 2010. The root cause was ongoing construction on the expressway, compounded by the constant flow of heavy vehicles. Trucks transporting coal and construction materials from Mongolia to Beijing overwhelmed the partially closed highway, causing massive congestion.
During this period, mechanical breakdowns added to the chaos. Together, these factors created an unprecedented bottleneck, halting vehicular movement for days. Trapped commuters faced immense hardships—eating, sleeping, and enduring in their vehicles as daily life turned into a struggle.
Summary: In August 2010, a traffic jam on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway lasted 12 days, trapping thousands. Caused by construction and heavy vehicles, it spanned 100 kilometers.