28 years ago today, September 10, 1997 (August 9, 1997), the Shaanxi natural gas transmission pipeline project was completed. September 10, 1997 Shaanxi natural gas transmission pipeline project was completed. The project began in May 1996, with a total investment of $39.5 billion, the total length of the pipeline 853.23 km, is China's longest natural gas transmission distance, and is China's first large caliber, long distance, fully automated gas transmission line.