Expressways of Beijing

Beijing was first linked to outside areas by the Jingshi Expressway in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, nine expressways link Beijing, and future expressways are planned.

When the Airport Expressway and the Jingjintang Expressway opened, Beijing was already been griped by "expressway fever". Out in the far eastern part of town lay an unpopular Jingha Expressway; only with the construction of the Jingtong Expressway in the mid-1990s did the Jingha Expressway get more recognition. It still is too far out of central Beijing to be recognised as an important express roadway.

By the People's Republic of China's 50th anniversary, however, more expressways were being built in Beijing. The Badaling Expressway, Jingshen Expressway and (in 2000) the Jingkai Expressway were built. Beijing now had eight expressways.

In 2001 the Jingcheng Expressway was built. The northeastern and southeastern parts are ready to accommodate two more expressways (the Jingping/Jingji and Northern Jingji Expressways, respectively).

In 2004, the municipal government made a plan public complete up to 890 km (550 mi) of expressways (277 km (172 mi) in 2006). By 2006, the 6th Ring Road would be completed. Also in that year, a major batch of expressways would be completed.

The expressways around Beijing total 15 (Jingping/Jingji, Northern Jingjin, Southern Jingjin, 2nd Airport Expressway, Northern Airport Expressway and Litian Expressway, plus the nine expressways of today). Of these, 11 would radiate from central Beijing.

In early January 2005, mainland authorities revealed a plan for seven national expressways originating from Beijing. Amongst those included an expressway bound straight for Taiwan.

The expressways include:

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