Ring Roads of Beijing
Encyclopedia
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
is one of the very few cities to possess multiple ring roads (or beltways).
1st Ring Road
The 1st Ring Road no longer exists under that name. In the 1920s, around half a dozen routes were established in BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
for the first tram lines
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
of the city. In addition to different numbers, different tram lines were also further distinguished from each other by the unique color of the signs at the stops for each line. Number 4 line with white signs at stops traveled on a route that had a ring shape: It ran clockwise through Tiananmen
Tiananmen
The Tiananmen, Tian'anmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace is a famous monument in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is widely used as a national symbol. First built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420, Tian'anmen is often referred to as the front entrance to the Forbidden City...
- Xidan
Xidan
Xidan is a major traditional commercial area in Beijing, China. It is located in the Xicheng District.The Xidan commercial district incorporates the Xidan Culture Square, North Xidan Street, as well as many supermarkets and department stores...
- Xisi - Pinganli - Dianmen
Dianmen
Di'anmen is a gate in Beijing, China. The gate was first built in the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty....
- Gulou
Gulou
Gulou may refer to any of the Drum Towers, traditionally located in the center of Chinese cities. Central districts of several Chinese cities are named after the drum towers:*Gulou District, Fuzhou, Fujian*Gulou District, Kaifeng, Henan...
- Jiaodaokou - Beixinqiao - Dongsi - Dongdan
Dongdan
Dongdan is a crossing on Beijing's Chang'an Avenue and also a part of eastern central Beijing.In the Dongdan region one finds the Oriental Plaza, and Dongdan North Street, termed "silver street" for being next to Wangfujing Street. Like Wangfujing, Dongdan is also home to many shops.The Beijing...
- Tiananmen
Tiananmen
The Tiananmen, Tian'anmen or Gate of Heavenly Peace is a famous monument in Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is widely used as a national symbol. First built during the Ming Dynasty in 1420, Tian'anmen is often referred to as the front entrance to the Forbidden City...
, with a total length of 17 kilometers. This route was known as the “Ring Road” (环形路). After the tramlines were removed in the 1950s, this name lost its meaning as it was simply a collection of surface streets (in contrast, each of the other ring roads today is a single expressway). Most maps in Beijing do not actually show the 1st Ring Road as such; only very few maps give a faint yellow highlight of a possible variant of it. However, the original name remained to be used later for other ring roads constructed decades later.
The notion of "1st Ring Road" briefly reappeared after the end of the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, during which the original names of the roads described above were changed to names with strong political propaganda meaning that eulogized and advocated the ideologies of the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, and when the political turmoil had ended, the names obviously had to be changed again. One suggestion was to completely rename those roads as "1st Ring Road" to symbolize the new start in the era of reform, as well as to reflect the willingness of China to embrace modernness and globalization, but this suggestion was quickly turned down because most people favored the original names of the roads and believed in their historical meaning and cultural heritage, and more importantly, they felt that returning the original names also had more symbolic meaning of denouncing Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
. Therefore, the original names of the roads were adopted once again, and the phrase "1st Ring Road" was seldom heard again.
2nd Ring Road
Actually Beijing's first (innermost) ring road, the 2nd Ring Road was built in the 1980s and expanded in the 1990s. It now forms a rectangular loop around central Beijing, an area that is roughly equivalent to the old city, which includes the four precincts: Dongcheng Qu (Eastern Urban Precinct), Xicheng Qu (Western Urban Precinct), Xuanwu Precinct and Chongwen Precinct. Its four sections begin at XizhimenXizhimen
Xizhimen was formerly a gate in the Beijing city wall and is now the name of a transportation node in Beijing. The gate formerly was the entrance of drinking water for the Emperor, coming from the Jade Spring Hills to the west of Beijing...
, Dongzhimen
Dongzhimen
Dongzhimen is the name of one of the gates in the old city walls of Beijing, it is now a transportation node in Beijing.The 2nd Ring Road currently links, albeit somewhat indirectly, with two roads which eventually become the Airport Expressway and China National Highway 101...
, Caihuying
Caihuying
Caihuying is an overpass complex in southwestern urban Beijing.The main feature is Caihuying Bridge . It links the 2nd Ring Road, which does a turn from south to east, with a connection road to the Jingkai Expressway and another route to the western 3rd Ring Road.It is one of the few...
and Zuo'anmen.
The 2nd Ring Road passes through very central parts of Beijing, and runs almost directly past the original Beijing Railway Station
Beijing railway station
Beijing Railway Station is one of Beijing's railway stations, opened in the 1950s, as can be seen from its architecture . It is located in the city's central location, just next to Jianguomen, and is within the confines of the city's 2nd Ring Road...
. Prices of real estate inside the ring road are considerably higher than other parts of town.
The 2nd Ring Road of today is part of an extended ring road which takes the southern route through Zuo'anmen and Caihuying
Caihuying
Caihuying is an overpass complex in southwestern urban Beijing.The main feature is Caihuying Bridge . It links the 2nd Ring Road, which does a turn from south to east, with a connection road to the Jingkai Expressway and another route to the western 3rd Ring Road.It is one of the few...
instead of Qianmen
Qianmen
Qianmen is the colloquial name for Zhengyangmen , a gate in Beijing's historic city wall. The gate is situated to the south of Tiananmen Square and once guarded the southern entry into the Inner City. Although much of Beijing's city walls were demolished, Qianmen remains an important...
Road, just south of Tian'anmen. Its southernmost part between Jianguomen and Fuxingmen appears "squashed" outwards. The 2nd ring is directly connected to the Airport Expressway
Airport Expressway (Beijing)
The Airport Expressway is an expressway in Beijing, China, which links central Beijing to the Beijing Capital International Airport...
and Badaling Expressway
Badaling Expressway
The Badaling Expressway is an expressway in the People's Republic of China which links urban Beijing to the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall of China...
.
3rd Ring Road
The 3rd Ring Road was built in the 1980s and completed in the 1990s. It is by no means peripheral, as it passes through Beijing's CBDCentral business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
(Guandongdian) and diplomatic communities (Dongzhimenwai / Liangmaqiao, Jianguomenwai). It is directly interlinked with numerous expressways—the Jingcheng Expressway
Jingcheng Expressway
The Jingcheng Motorway is a motorway in China which links Beijing to Chengde in Hebei province. The total length is 210 kilometres.It is a new motorway linking the northeastern portion of the 3rd Ring Road with the north and northeastern outlying regions of Beijing municipality...
, the Jingshi Expressway
Jingshi Expressway
The Jingshi Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to the Shijiazhuang. It is c. 270 km in length. Its road numbering is G030...
, the Jingkai Expressway
Jingkai Expressway
The Jingkai Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to Kaifeng. At present, it is approximately 40 km in length in the Beijing section....
, and the Jingjintang Expressway
Jingjintang Expressway
Opened in September 1993, the Jingjintang Expressway , also known as the Jingtang Expressway, links Beijing via central Tianjin to the Tanggu District in eastern Tianjin...
.
4th Ring Road
The 4th Ring Road was completed in 2001, around 8 km from the center of BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. It connects the less central parts of Beijing and navigates through Zhongguancun
Zhongguancun
Zhongguancun , or Zhong Guan Cun, is a technology hub in Haidian District, Beijing, China.It is geographically situated in the northwestern part of Beijing city, in a band between the northwestern Third Ring Road and the northwestern Fourth Ring Road...
technology hub, western Beijing, Fengtai District
Fengtai District
Fengtai District is a suburban district of the municipality of Beijing. It lies to the southwest of the urban core of the city.-History:In Qing Dynasty times, Fengtai was where the Imperial Manchu Army had its camps, trained, and held parades on festive occasions.It is 304.2 square kilometers in...
/Precinct, and eastern Beijing. The Jingshen Expressway
Jingshen Expressway
The Jingshen Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to Shenyang. It is 658 km in length.It leaves Beijing heading east and is numbered G025...
and the Jingtong Expressway
Jingtong Expressway
The Jingtong Expressway is an expressway with express road characteristics in Beijing, China which links central Beijing to Tongzhou District...
(as of Dawangqiao) begin from the 4th Ring Road.
The 4th Ring Road, along with other ring roads, now have a few locations where "fake" police lights (red and blue in colour) light up at night. Drivers are easily fooled into thinking that the police is out in force. This indirectly forces drivers to slow down.
5th Ring Road
Fragrant Hills
Fragrant Hills Park is a public park at the foot of the Western Mountains in the Haidian District, in the northwestern part of Beijing, China. It covers 1.6 km² and consists of a natural pine-cypress forest, hills with maple trees, smoke trees and persimmon trees, as well as landscaped areas with...
.
Due to its proximity to Olympic venues, it has been nicknamed the "Olympic Avenue".
6th Ring Road
At present the most remote ring road from central Beijing (around 15 – 20 km), the 6th Ring Road was built in the 2000s and has just recently been completed. 130 km of expressway between the interchanges with Badaling ExpresswayBadaling Expressway
The Badaling Expressway is an expressway in the People's Republic of China which links urban Beijing to the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall of China...
and Jingshi Expressway
Jingshi Expressway
The Jingshi Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to the Shijiazhuang. It is c. 270 km in length. Its road numbering is G030...
, running clockwise, are open to general motor traffic. It is the only ring road to be interlinked with the equally remote Jingha Expressway
Jingha Expressway
The Beijing–Harbin Expressway , designated as G1 and commonly abbreviated as Jingha Expressway is an expressway in North and Northeast China linking Beijing to Harbin....
.
This toll expressway ring road links Beijing with Shunyi District
Shunyi District
Shunyi District is an administrative district of Beijing, located outside of the city proper.-Overview:...
, Tongzhou District, Changping District
Changping District
Changping District , formerly Changping County , is situated in the suburbs of northwest Beijing.Changping District, covering an area of 1,430 square kilometers, has 2 subdistricts of the city of Changping and 15 towns with total population of 614,821...
and Daxing District
Daxing District
Daxing District is a suburb of Beijing, situated to the south of the city.-Overview:...
.
7th Ring Road
The 7th Ring Road plan existed only in the minds of urban planners, aimed as the city's first expressway ring road which transcends the boundaries of Beijing municipality.The size of such a 7th Ring Road, exceeding the city limits of Beijing, would actually link very distant districts and townships and expand into the neighboring provinces and cities. In essence, this wouldn't be Beijing's 7th Ring Road, but the region's "7th Ring Road".
Sources say that with the creation of a 7th Ring Road, a third airport for Beijing won't be too far away.
In 2004, the central government approved a new plan for Beijing which disposed of the idea of a 7th Ring Road.
Inter-ring road connection routes
There also exist many connection routes between the ring roads. The ones listed below are all expressways or express routes. Travel on these routes is often surprisingly smooth, as there are no traffic lights on them.11 routes are under construction as of 2004 .
- Xueyuan Road (N. 4th Ring Road4th Ring Road (Beijing)The 4th Ring Road is an expressway-like ring road in Beijing, China which runs around the city approximately 8 kilometres from the centre of the city.Although it is the city's third ring road, it is named the 4th Ring Road.- Route :...
- N. 5th Ring Road5th Ring Road (Beijing)Beijing's 5th Ring Road is a ring road encircling the city about 10 kilometres away from the city centre. It takes the form of an expressway and is 98 kilometres in length...
, under projection) - Badaling ExpresswayBadaling ExpresswayThe Badaling Expressway is an expressway in the People's Republic of China which links urban Beijing to the Badaling stretch of the Great Wall of China...
(as of N. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
, expressway as of N. 3rd Ring Road, constructed) - Jingcheng ExpresswayJingcheng ExpresswayThe Jingcheng Motorway is a motorway in China which links Beijing to Chengde in Hebei province. The total length is 210 kilometres.It is a new motorway linking the northeastern portion of the 3rd Ring Road with the north and northeastern outlying regions of Beijing municipality...
(as of N. 3rd Ring Road, partially constructed) - Airport ExpresswayAirport Expressway (Beijing)The Airport Expressway is an expressway in Beijing, China, which links central Beijing to the Beijing Capital International Airport...
(as of N. 3rd Ring Road, portion connecting to N. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
under construction as an express route) - Yaojiayuan Road (E. 3rd Ring Road - N. 5th Ring Road5th Ring Road (Beijing)Beijing's 5th Ring Road is a ring road encircling the city about 10 kilometres away from the city centre. It takes the form of an expressway and is 98 kilometres in length...
, connecting to projected Jingping ExpresswayJingping ExpresswayThe Jingping Expressway is an expressway in Beijing, China, with construction commencing in early 2005.-Construction stages:Construction is expected to follow in early 2005, with a stretch opened by 2006. By 2007, the entire expressway will have been completed in full...
, under projection) - Tonghui River North Road (E. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
- E. 4th Ring Road4th Ring Road (Beijing)The 4th Ring Road is an expressway-like ring road in Beijing, China which runs around the city approximately 8 kilometres from the centre of the city.Although it is the city's third ring road, it is named the 4th Ring Road.- Route :...
, under construction as an express route) - Jingshen ExpresswayJingshen ExpresswayThe Jingshen Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to Shenyang. It is 658 km in length.It leaves Beijing heading east and is numbered G025...
(as of E. 4th Ring Road4th Ring Road (Beijing)The 4th Ring Road is an expressway-like ring road in Beijing, China which runs around the city approximately 8 kilometres from the centre of the city.Although it is the city's third ring road, it is named the 4th Ring Road.- Route :...
, portion connecting to E. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
under construction) - Jingjintang ExpresswayJingjintang ExpresswayOpened in September 1993, the Jingjintang Expressway , also known as the Jingtang Expressway, links Beijing via central Tianjin to the Tanggu District in eastern Tianjin...
(as of E. 3rd Ring Road, constructed) - Puhuangyu Road (as of S. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
to S. 5th Ring Road5th Ring Road (Beijing)Beijing's 5th Ring Road is a ring road encircling the city about 10 kilometres away from the city centre. It takes the form of an expressway and is 98 kilometres in length...
, under construction/projection) - Jingkai ExpresswayJingkai ExpresswayThe Jingkai Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to Kaifeng. At present, it is approximately 40 km in length in the Beijing section....
(as of S. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
, expressway as of S. 3rd Ring Road, constructed) - Fengbei Road (W. 2nd Ring Road2nd Ring Road (Beijing)Encircling the centre of Beijing, the 2nd Ring Road is just a few kilometres away from the city centre and is a convenient alternative road to avoid congestion there. One can divide the road into two parts: the original ring road , and the newly extended ring road...
- Jingshi ExpresswayJingshi ExpresswayThe Jingshi Expressway is an expressway in China which links Beijing to the Shijiazhuang. It is c. 270 km in length. Its road numbering is G030...
(after Yuquan Road exit), under construction) - Lianhuachi West Road (W. 3rd Ring Road - W. 6th Ring Road6th Ring Road (Beijing)The 6th Ring Road is an expressway ring road in Beijing, China which runs around the city approximately 15-20 kilometres from the centre of the city....
, opened October 15, 2005) - Fushi Road (W. 3rd Ring Road - W. 5th Ring Road5th Ring Road (Beijing)Beijing's 5th Ring Road is a ring road encircling the city about 10 kilometres away from the city centre. It takes the form of an expressway and is 98 kilometres in length...
, under projection) - Xizhimen Outer Street extension (W. 3rd Ring Road (Beijing) - W. 5th Ring Road5th Ring Road (Beijing)Beijing's 5th Ring Road is a ring road encircling the city about 10 kilometres away from the city centre. It takes the form of an expressway and is 98 kilometres in length...
, under construction/projection)