Recently, the Road Tourism Work Committee of the China Highway and Transportation Society announced the list of "Beautiful Highways of 2026," selecting 49 rural highway projects, 48 ordinary national and provincial trunk highway projects, and 46 expressway projects.

Six highways in Hunan were included: S51 Nanyue Expressway, Chenyang Highway in Beihu District, Chenzhou City, Jicha Section of G65 Baomao Expressway, Dayue Section of G56 Hangrui Expressway, Changde Section of G5513 Changzhang Expressway, and Ruchen Section of G76 Xiarong Expressway.

S51 Nanyue Expressway

S51 Nanyue Expressway spans 37.318 kilometers, featuring a dual-carriageway with four lanes and a designed speed of 120 km/h. Starting from Shigu in the south and ending at Mount Hengshan (Nanyue) in the north, it serves not only as a vital connecting line between the G4 Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway and the G72 Quannan Expressway, but also as a demonstration section for the province's integrated transportation and tourism development. Since opening over a decade ago, the route has linked high-quality tourism resources—such as Mount Hengshan, the Former Residence of Luo Ronghuan, the Mausoleum of Emperor Yan, Taoyuan Cave, and Jinggangshan—into a cohesive travel itinerary, transforming tourist behavior from "worshipping on the mountain and leaving immediately" to "staying overnight, touring around, and taking a longer journey."

Furthermore, the overall MQI (Maintenance Quality Index) of the entire route has remained above 96.4, with 100% of the road sections rated as excellent. The RQI (Riding Quality Index) has consistently stayed above 94, balancing aesthetics with driving comfort. The greening design is tailored to local soil and water conditions, adopting a tiered combination of trees, shrubs, and herbs. A layered green belt has been formed within 30 meters on both sides of the road, creating a driving environment where the scenery shifts with every step. In 2025, the Xuanzhou Toll Station opened, forming an efficient entrance and exit matrix with the Shigu Toll Station and the Nanyue Toll Station.