Expressways of China Totally Explained

Everything about Expressways Of China totally explained

ť This article is about the expressways of mainland China. See also: List of roads and streets in Hong Kong, List of roads in Macau, Highway System in Taiwan for expressways in these respective regions.

The Expressway Network of the People's Republic of China is one of the longest in the world. The network is also known as National Trunk Highway System (NTHS). The total length of China's expressways is 53,600 km at the end of 2007, the world's second longest only after the United States and roughly equals that in Canada, Germany, and France combined. In 2007, 8,300 km expressways were added to the network.
Expressways in China are a fairly recent addition to a complicated network of roads. China didn't have an inch of expressways before 1988. Until 1993, very few expressways existed. One of the earliest expressways nationwide was the Jingshi Expressway between Beijing and Shijiazhuang in Hebei province. This expressway now forms part of the Jingzhu Expressway, currently the longest expressway nationwide at over 2,000 km.

History

Originally, China had been carrying out an ambitious plan to build up a 35,000 kilometer national trunk highway system before 2020. The main objective of the NTHS was to construct 12 high standard trunk roads: five longitudinal roads and seven latitudinal roads. 70% of the trunk roads are expressways. This project has been completed by the end of 2007, 13 years ahead of the original plan. By the end of 2007, there were already 3.57 million km of highways, which includes 53,600 km (33,310 miles) of expressways.
   On January 13, 2005, it was announced by Zhang Chunxian, minister of communications, that China will build a network of 85,000 km expressways over the next three decades, connecting all provincial capitals and cities with a population of over 200,000. Of this total length, 68,000 km are trunk roads and 17,000 km are 5 regional ring roads. There are also 2 parallel routes and more than 30 connecting links. 32,000 km of expressway are to be built in central and western regions.
   Construction of expressways began in 1988 and the network is scheduled to be complete in 2020. The scale of the project can be seen by the fact that on January 1 1989, the PRC had 147 km of freeways, but by January 1, 2007, it had 45,600 km of freeway, 4,400 km of which were built in 2006.
   The express highway system is set to expand to 65,000 km by 2010, 85,000 km by 2020, 120,000 km by 2030, and 175,000 km by 2050.

Costs

The total costs of the national expressway network will be 2 trillion yuan (some 240 billion US dollars). From 2005 to 2010, the annual investment will run from 140 billion yuan (17 billion US dollars) to 150 billion yuan (18 billion US dollars), while from 2010 to 2020, the annual investment will be around 100 billion yuan (12 billion US dollars).
The construction fund will come from vehicle purchase tax, fees and taxes collected by local governments, state bonds, domestic investment and foreign investment. Unlike other freeway systems, almost all of the roads on the NTHS/"7918 Network" are toll roads that are largely financed by private companies under contract from provincial governments. The private companies raise money through bond and stock offerings and recover money through tolls.
Efforts to impose a national gasoline tax to finance construction of the tollways met with opposition and it has been very difficult for both the Communist Party of China and the State Council to pass such a tax through the National People's Congress of China.

Expressway nomenclature

Neither officially named "motorway" nor "highway," the PRC used to call these roads "freeways". In this sense, the word "free" means that the traffic is free-flowing; that is, cross traffic is grade separated and the traffic on the freeway isn't impeded by traffic control devices like traffic lights and stop signs. However, many misinterpret "free" as meaning "no cost", and this may be misleading because most of the expressways charge tolls. Sometime in the 1990s, "expressways" became the standardised term.
Note that "highways" refers to China National Highways, which are not expressways at all.
"Express routes" exist too; they're akin to expressways but are mainly inside cities. The "express route" name is a derivation of the Chinese name kuaisu gonglu (compare with expressway, gaosu gonglu). Officially, "expressway" is used for both expressways and express routes, which is also the standard used here.

Expressway speed limits

The Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China has raised the speed limit nationwide from 110 km/h to 120 km/h, effective May 1, 2004. It may still take some time for local expressways to raise the speed limit accordingly.
A minimum speed limit is in force: the minimum is 70 km/h. On overtaking lanes, however, this could be as high as 100 km/h to 110 km/h. Penalties for driving both below and in excess of the prescribed speed limits are in force.

Expressway legislation

Only motor vehicles are allowed to enter expressways. As of May 1, 2004, "new drivers" (for example, those with a PRC driver's licence for less than a year) are allowed on the expressways, something that was prohibited from the mid-1990s.
Overtaking on the right, speeding, and illegal use of the emergency belt (or hard shoulder) cost violators stiff penalties. Surprisingly, the overtaking on the right regulation is flaunted with alarming frequency.

Expressway signage

Simplified Chinese and English (except for parts of the Jingshi Expressway, which relies fully on Chinese characters, and some provinces, in Inner Mongolia for example signs are in Mongolian and Chinese). This sharply reduces the language barrier; however, very few toll officials at toll gates speak English.
   The signs on Chinese expressways use white lettering on a green background, like Japanese highways, Swiss Autobahns and U.S. freeways, but unlike freeways in Germany, France, Austria and the United Kingdom.
   Exits are well signposted, with signs far ahead of exits. There are frequent signs that announce the next three exits. At each exit, there's a sign with the distance to the next exit. Exit signs are also posted 3000 m, 2000 m, 1000 m, and 500 m ahead of the exit, immediately before the exit, and at the exit itself.
   Service areas and refreshment areas are standard on some of the older, more established expressways, and are expanding in number. Gas stations are frequent.
   Signs indicate exits, toll gates, service/refreshment areas, intersections, and also warn about keeping a fair distance apart. "Distance checks" are commonplace; the idea here's to keep the two second rule (or, as PRC law requires, at least a 100 m distance between cars). Speed checks and speed traps are often signposted (in fact, on the Jingshen Expressway in the Beijing section, even the cameras have a warning sign above them), but some may just be scarecrow signs. Signs urging drivers to slow down, warning about hilly terrain, banning driving in emergency lanes, or about different road surfaces are also present. Also appearing from time to time are signs signaling the overtaking lane (which legally should only be used to pass other cars). Although most English signs are comprehensible, occasionally the English is garbled.
   Some, if not most, expressways have digital displays. These displays may advise against speeding, indicate upcoming road construction, warn of traffic jams, or alert drivers to rain. Recommended detours are also signaled. The great majority of messages are in Chinese rather than English, however.

Expressway exit numbering

Most, if not all Chinese expressways are fitted with exit numbering systems. This system is used nationwide, and often begins at No. 1 (at one of the expressway's starting points). It isn't perfect, however: the Jingshi Expressway's numbering system is ridden with chaos.
   A rare exit number zero (nought) is seen only after the Jingshi Expressway enters Hebei.
   Some exits have sub-exits (for example No. 14A, 14B, etc...).
   Exit numbering has been standard from virtually day one, while some other nations are just catching on (for example Switzerland only in 2002).

Expressway tolls and financing

Nearly all expressways charge tolls. Tolls are roughly around CNY 0.5 per kilometre, and minimum rates (for example CNY 5) usually apply regardless of distance. However, some are more expensive (the Jinji Expressway costs around CNY 0.66 per kilometre) and some are less expensive (the Jingshi Expressway in Beijing costs around CNY 0.33 per kilometre). It is noteworthy that cheaper expressways don't necessarily mean poorer roads or a greater risk of traffic congestion. Expressway planning is performed by the Ministry of Transportation of the People's Republic of China. Unlike the road networks in most nations, most Chinese expressways are not directly owned by the state, but rather are owned by for-profit corporations (which have varying amounts of public and private ownership) which borrow money from banks or securities markets based on revenue from projected tollways. One reason for this is that Chinese provinces, which are responsible for road building, have extremely limited powers to tax and even fewer powers to borrow.
Expressway construction has also been one of the rare instances in which the Communist Party of China and the State Council has had to back down on a major policy initiative. During the late-1990's, there were proposals to fund public highways by means of a fuel tax, but this was voted down by the National People's Congress.

Toll methods

Most expressways use a card system. Upon entrance to an expressway (or to a toll portion of the expressway), an entry card is handed over to the driver. The tolls to be paid are determined from the distance traveled when the driver hands the entry card back to the exit toll gate upon leaving the expressway. A small number of expressways don't use a card system. Passage through these expressways is relatively faster but it's economically less advantageous. An example of such an expressway would be the Jingtong Expressway.
A few expressways use sensor systems, where one sensor is at the toll gate (at a special passageway) and the other is on the passing vehicle.
At present, only cash is accepted as payment for tolls. Credit cards may be accepted in the future.

Numeric System and List by number

000 Series

In 1992, A planned main expressways network named "Five Vertical Expressways and Seven Horizontal Expressways" had brought out.
Detail:China National Highways

New Numeric System

Since the rapidly developpment of People's Republic of China, the old main expressways netwrok can not fit the situation, Ministry of Transportation of People's Republic of China brought out a new expressway network planned named "7918 Network", or "NTHS" in 2004, this network contains 7 radital expressways out of Beijing, 9 vertical Expressways, 18 horizontal expressway and several connection expressways.

Numberic Rules

All expressways in this network are start with letter "G"(First letter of pinyin, Guodao,means "National Highway").
For the raditional expressways from Beijing, use only 1 numbers from 1 to 9, such as G1,G2
For the vertical expressways, use 2 digit odd numbers from 11 to 89, such as G13, G35.
For the horizontal expressways, use 2 digit even numbers from 10 to 90, such as G30,G46.
For the area ring expressways which contained in the 7918 network, use 2 digit numbers from 91 to 99, such as G91,G93
- Note:G99 is observed for planned Taiwan Ring Expressways, but it's in the Taiwan Province, which isn't actually controlled but claimed by People's Republic of China, but actually controlled and claimed by Republic of China, for detail information,please see Political status of Taiwan,One-China Policy.
For the paraell expressways with the main expressways, add the direction signal "W","E","N","S" after the main line number to indicate, such as G4W.
For the connection expressways, use "1" plus a order number after the main line number to indicate, such as G1511.
For the ring expressways of city, use "0" plus a order number after the main line number, the main line number is use the minimum number of the main line number that the ring expressways connect, if it has used, use the second minium number.

List

Raditional Expressways Out of Beijing

G1, Jingha Expressway, Beijing-Harbin, 1280km

G2, Jinghu Expressway, Beijing-Shanghai, 1245km

G3, Jingtai Expressway, Jingfu Expressway, Beijing-Fuzhou-~~Taipei~~

Note:Since the Political Status of Taiwan, this expressways can't reach Taipei in a long time.

G4, Jinggang'ao Expressway, Jinzhu Expressway, Beijing-Hong Kong, 2285km

G4W, Guang'ao Expressway, Guangzhou-Macau

G5, Jingkun Expressway, Beijing-Kunming, 2865km.

G6, Jingzang Expressway, Beijing-Lhasa, 3710km.

G7, Jinxin Expressway, Beijing-Ürümqi, 2540km.
Vertical Expressways

G11, Heda Expressway, Hegang-Dalian, 1390km
G1111, Heha Expressway, Hegang-Harbin
G1112, Jishuang Expressway, Ji'an-Shuangliao
G1113, Danfu Expressway, Dandong-Fuxin

G15, Shenhai Expressway, Shenyang-Haikou, 3710km.
G15W, Changtai Expressway, Changzhou-Taizhou
G1511, Rilan Expressway, Rizhao-Lankao
G1512, Yongjin Expressway, Ningbo-Jinhua
G1513, Wenli Expressway, Wenzhou-Lishui
G1514, Ningshang Expressway, Ningde-Shangrao

G25, Changshen Expressway, Changchun-Shenzhen, 3580km
G2511, Xinlu Expressway, Xinmin-Lubei
G2512, Fujin Expressway, Fuxin-Jinzhou
G2513, Huaixu Expressway, Huaian-Xuzhou

G35, Jiguang Expressway, Jinan-Guangzhou, 2110km

G45, Daguang Expressway, Daqing-Guangzhou,3550km
G4511', Longhe Expressway, Longnan-Heyuan

G55, Erguang Expressway, Erenhot-Guangzhou, 2685km
G5511, Ji'a Expressway, Jining-Arunqi(Arongqi)
G5512, Jinxin Expressway, Jincheng-Xinxiang
G5513, Changzhang Expressway, Changsha-Zhangjiajie

G65, Baomao Expressway, Baotou-Maoming, 3130km

G75, Lanhai Expressway, Lanzhou-Haikou，2570km
G7511, Qindong Expressway, Qinzhou-Dongxing(connect the vitenam expressway to Hanoi,Vietname)

G85, Yukun Expressway, Chongqing-Kunming, 838km重庆—昆明
G8511, Kunmo Expressway, Kunming-Mohan, part of the Kunman Expressway(Kunming-Bangkok Expressway), connect the Laos expressway and Thailand Expressway to Bangkok,Thailand

Horizontal Expressways

G10, Suiman Expressway, Suifenhe-Manzhouli, two terminal are both boundary citys. Connects the expressway in Russia and Mongolia, 1520km
G1011, Hatong Expressway, Harbin-Tongjiang

G12, Huiwu Expressway, Huichun-Ulanhot, connects the expressways in North Korea, 885km
G1211, Jihei Expressway, Jilin City-Heihe, connects the expressways in Russia
G1212, Shenji Expressway, Shenyang-Jilin City

G16, Danxi Expressway, Dandong-Xilinho， 960km

G18, Rongwu Expressway, Rongcheng-Wuhai，1820km
G1811, Huangshi Expressway, Huanghua-Shijiangzhuang

G20, Qingyin Expressway, Qingdao-Yinchuan, 1600km
G2011, Qingxin Expressway, Qingdao-Xinhe
G2012, Dingwu Expressway, Dingbian-Wuwei

G22, Qinglan Expressway, Qingdao-Lanzhou, 1795km

G30, Lianhuo Expressway, Lianyungang-Horgos, 4280km
G3011, Liuge Expressway, Liuyuan-Golmud
G3012/G3013, Tuhe Expressway, Turpan-Hotan/Ihrkstan,connect Khasakztan
G3014, Kuia Expressway, Kuitun-Altay
G3015, Kuita Expressway, Kuitun-Baketu, connect Khazakstan
G3016, Qingyi Expressway, Qingshuihe-Yining

G36, Ningluo Expressway, Nanjing-Luoyang, 712km

G40, Hushan Expressway, Shanghai-Xi'an, 1490km.
G4011, Yangli Expressway, Yangzhou-Liyang

G42, Hurong Expressway, Shanghai-Chengdu, 1960km
G4211, Ningwu Expressway, Nanjing-Wuhu
G4212, Hean Expressway, Hefei-Anqing

G50, Huyu Expressway, Shanghai-Chongqing, 1900km
G5011, Wuhe Expressway, Wuhu-Hefei

G56, Hangrui Expressway, Hangzhou-Ruili, 3405km, connects Laos.
G5611, Dali Expressway, Dali-Lijiang

G60, Hukun Expressway, Shanghai-Kunming, 2370km

G70, Fuyin Expressway, Fuzhou-Yinchuan, 2485km
G7011, Shitian Expressway, Shiyan-Tianshui

G72, Quannan Expressway, Quanzhou-Nanning, 1635km
G7211, Nanyou Expressway, Nanning-Youyiguan,connects the Vietnam expressway.

G76, Xiarong Expressway, Xiamen-Chengdu， 2295km

G78, Shankun Expressway, Shantou-Kunming, 1710km

G80, Guangkun Expressway, Guangzhou-Kunming, 1610km
G8011, Kaihe Expressway, Kaiyuan-Hekou, connects the Thailand

Zone Ring Expressways

G91, Central Liaoning Ring Expressway(Liaozhong Ring Expressway, Tieling-Fushun-Benxi-Liaoyang-Liaozhong-Xinmin-Tieling

G92, Hangzhou Bay Ring Expressway, Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo
G9211, Yongzhou Expressway, Ningbo-Zhoushan

G93, Chengyu Ring Expressway, Chengdu-Mianyang-Suining-Chongqing-Hejiang-Luzhou-Yibing-Leshan-Yaan-Chengdu

G94, Zhujiang Delta Ring Expressway(Zhusanjiao Ring Expressway), Shenzhen-Hongkong-Macau,Zhuhai-Zhongshan-Jiangmen-Foshan-Huadu-Zengcheng-Dongguan-Shenzhen
G9411, Dongfo Expressway, Dongguan-Humen-Foshan

G98, Hainan Ring Expressway, Haikou-Qionghai-Sanya-Dongfang-Haikou

G99, observed for Taiwan Ring Expressway, Taipei-Taichung-Kaoshiung-Taitung-Hualien-Taipei
Note:This line is observed and made by People's Republic of China, but is in the Taiwan Province, which controlled and claimed by Republic of China, not controlled but claimed by People's Republic of China. For more information, please see Political Status of Taiwan, One-China Policy.

List of expressways in China
Municipalities: All expressways are ordered by direction (starting from the north, in west-to-east direction).
Other Regions: All expressways are ordered alphabetically.
Radiating out from Beijing

Existing expressways

Badaling Expressway (Madian - Kangzhuang) ť (Jingda Expressway (Madian - Datong (Shanxi))

Jingcheng Expressway (Taiyonggong/Wanghe Bridge - Gaoliying)

Airport Expressway (Sanyuanqiao - Beijing Capital International Airport)

Jingtong Expressway (Dawangqiao - Balizhuang/Ximazhuang)

Jingha Expressway (Tongzhou District Beiguan Roundabout - Yanjiao (Hebei))

Jingshen Expressway (Sifang Bridge - Shenyang (Liaoning)

Jingjintang Expressway (Fenzhongsi - TEDA (Tianjin) ť (Jinghu Expressway (Beijing - Shanghai)

Jingkai Expressway (Yuquanying - Yufa)

Jingshi Expressway (Liuliqiao - Shijiazhuang) ť (Jingzhu Expressway (Liuliqiao - Zhuhai (Guangdong))

Expressways under construction

Jingcheng Expressway (Gaoliying - Chengde, under construction as of 2004)

Airport Expressway (Northern Approach Route and 2nd Expressway, under construction as of 2004)

Northern Jingjin Expressway (Tongzhou - Tianjin, under construction as of 2004)

Projected expressways

Litian Expressway

Jingji Expressway (Jingping Expressway)

Southern Jingjin Expressway

Jingbao Expressway

Radiating out from Tianjin

Existing expressways

Jingjintang Expressway

Jinbin Expressway

Radiating out from Shanghai

Existing expressways

Huhang Expressway(A8) (Xinzhuang Interchange - Hangzhou)

Huning Expressway(A11) (Zhenbei Road Interchange - Nanjing) ť / Jinghu Expressway (Beijing - Shanghai)

A9 Expressway (Waihuan Huqingping Interchange - Qingpu - Zhujiajiao)

A12 Expressway (Wenshui Road - Jiading - Taicang)

A4 Expressway (Xinzhuang Interchange - Fengxian - Jinshan)

A5 Expressway

A30 Expressway (Suburb circular expressway, partly G010 National Highway)

Radiating out from Chongqing

Existing expressways

Changwan Expressway

Yufu Expressway

Yuqian Expressway

Chengyu Expressway

Hebei Province

Shanxi Province

Liaoning Province

Shenda Expressway

Shendan Expressway

Jingshen Expressway

Jilin Province

Heilongjiang Province

Jiangsu Province

Zhejiang Province

Huhangyong Expressway (Shanghai - Hangzhou - Ningbo)

Anhui Province

Fujian Province

Jiangxi Province

Ganyue Expressway

Hurui Expressway

Changjiu Expressway

Jingfu Expressway

Shandong Province

Henan Province

Hubei Province

Hunan Province

Guangdong Province

Shenshan Expressway

Hainan Province

Sichuan Province

Guizhou Province

Yunnan Province

Kunming-Bangkok Expressway

Kunshi Expressway

Shaanxi Province

Gansu Province

Qinghai Province

Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Guiliu Expressway

Liunan Expressway

Tibet Autonomous Region

Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Further Information

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