LHASA - An expressway opened Sunday linking Lhasa and Nyingchi, the two major cities and tourist attractions in Tibet autonomous region.

The 409-km toll-free expressway cuts Lhasa- Nyingchi travel time from eight to five hours at a speed limit of 80 km per hour. The construction cost 38 billion yuan ($5.8 billion), according to the local government.

Heavy trucks are temporarily banned from using the expressway.