A ceremony marking the opening of a new first-class section of National Highway 338 was held at Otog Banner in Ordos, a city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Dec 22, according to local officials.

The new first-class road starts from the east of Uxin Banner's Galutu town and ends at the south of Otog Banner's Ulan town, with a total length of 105.3 kilometers.

The new road opened to traffic is not only an important section of the National Highway 338 -- which links seven provinces and regions, including Hebe province, Shanxi province, Shaanxi province, Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Ningxia Hui autonomous region -- but also another connecting hub of the highway network for Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi.

At the same time, the new road is also an important traffic artery connecting Otog Banner and Uxin Banner, which is set for further development southwards.

Officials said the road builders had built a more extensive traffic network, which will have far-reaching significance in stimulating the economic development of Otog Banner, improving the transportation efficiency and improving the development environment.

According to local media reports, the road was constructed as a standard of four-lane double way first-class highway, with a design speed of 100km/ h.

There are two main toll stations, one service area and one maintenance area along the entire length of the new road.