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About
News
Rules
Driving in China - Traffic rules and Road signs
Welcome to Accudriver! Here you can read and learn road rules in China. Also, you may take a look for road signs of China. It would be really useful to check the traffic rules before going to China. Make your trip safer!
China
Quick reference
Driving side
Right
Speed (urban / rural / highway)
30–60 km/h / 80 km/h / 120 km/h
Blood alcohol limit
0.02%
Emergency
122
Min. rental age
21
Pre-trip checklist
Check if you can drive on IDP in your intended regions
Arrange local insurance and translation if driving
Consider hired driver for cities and long trips
Save 122 (traffic), 110 (police), 120 (ambulance)
Do not drink and drive
Tolls & practical
Driving as a foreigner is restricted in practice; consider hired car and driver.
Many expressways tolled. Pay in CNY at booths or ETC. Traffic can be very heavy.
Common fines
Drink driving
Very heavy; criminal penalties
Speeding
CNY 200–2000+
No seatbelt
CNY 50–200
Phone while driving
CNY 200
🔥 Download our mobile app!
Works fully offline
Rules of more than 60 countries in your pocket
Comparing traffic rules and road signs between countries
Regular updates
Parking & fuel
Parking
Paid parking in cities; complex and crowded. Follow signs and attendants.
Tip: Parking in major cities is difficult; use public transport or hired driver when possible.
Fuel
Common types: Gasoline 92/95, Diesel, CNG.
Cash (CNY) and cards/WeChat common.
Approx. price: Varies (CNY)
Things that might surprise you
Very low alcohol limit (0.02%)
Effectively zero tolerance. One drink can mean serious penalties.
Foreign driver restrictions
Rules and enforcement vary. Some regions restrict or discourage foreign drivers. IDP and local insurance can be complex.
Traffic density
Extremely heavy in cities and on holidays. Expect congestion and assertive driving.
Different road culture
Lane discipline and signalling differ from Western norms. Defensive driving essential.
Guide last verified: 2026-02
General rules
Traffic Direction
Right Hand
Km/h or Mp/h
km/h
For business inquiries: contact@accudriver.io
Speed limits rules
Urban Area
60
Speed road
60-80
Express road
100–120
Some provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions may prohibit motorcycles from entering the expressway. The speed limit of a motorcycle is 80.
Where to rent a car in China?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
Other differences in rules
Maximum promille alcohole
0
Over 0% but under 0.08%: CN¥ 1,000–2,000 fine, six-month license suspension
Over 0.08%: up to three years' imprisonment, five-year license suspension
Toll roads
No
Minimum driver age
18
Where to rent a car in China?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
China road signs
Checkpoints signs
Customs
Indication signs
No through road
Parking
Mandatory signs
Bicycles only
Pass on this side
Pedestrians only
Proceed straight or turn right only
Roundabout
Straight ahead only
Turn left ahead only
Turn right ahead only
Priority signs
Give Way Yield
Give way to oncoming traffic
Priority over oncoming vehicles
Priority road
Stop
Prohibitory signs
Driving straight ahead prohibited
Handcarts prohibited
Maximum height
Maximum weight per axle
Maximum weight
Maximum width
No U-turns
No bicycles
No buses
No heavy goods vehicles
No horns or excessive motor noise
No left turn
No motor vehicles except motorcycles
No motorcycles
No overtaking
No parking or waiting
No parking zone
No pedestrians
No right turn
No stopping
No tractors
No vehicles carrying explosives
No vehicles
Special regulations signs
Lane ends
Motorway ends
Motorway
One-way street
Pedestrian crossing
Speed limit signs
End of maximum speed limit
Maximum speed limit
Minimum speed limit
Warning signs
Bend ahead
Children
Cyclists ahead
Dangerous crosswinds
Domestic animals
Double bend ahead
Falling rocks or debris
Junction with a minor road
Level crossing (one track)
Level crossing with barriers ahead
Level crossing without barriers ahead
Merging traffic
Other danger
Pedestrian crossing ahead
Road hump ahead
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on one side
Roadworks ahead
Roundabout ahead
Slippery road surface
Steep ascent
Steep descent
Stop ahead
Traffic queues likely ahead
Traffic signals ahead
Tunnel ahead
Two-way traffic ahead
Uneven road ahead
Uneven road ahead
Unprotected quayside or riverbank
Warning for a dip in the road
Wild animals
App
About
News
Rules
Driving in China - Traffic rules and Road signs
Welcome to Accudriver! Here you can read and learn road rules in China. Also, you may take a look for road signs of China. It would be really useful to check the traffic rules before going to China. Make your trip safer!
China
Quick reference
Driving side
Right
Speed (urban / rural / highway)
30–60 km/h / 80 km/h / 120 km/h
Blood alcohol limit
0.02%
Emergency
122
Min. rental age
21
Pre-trip checklist
Check if you can drive on IDP in your intended regions
Arrange local insurance and translation if driving
Consider hired driver for cities and long trips
Save 122 (traffic), 110 (police), 120 (ambulance)
Do not drink and drive
Tolls & practical
Driving as a foreigner is restricted in practice; consider hired car and driver.
Many expressways tolled. Pay in CNY at booths or ETC. Traffic can be very heavy.
Common fines
Drink driving
Very heavy; criminal penalties
Speeding
CNY 200–2000+
No seatbelt
CNY 50–200
Phone while driving
CNY 200
🔥 Download our mobile app!
Works fully offline
Rules of more than 60 countries in your pocket
Comparing traffic rules and road signs between countries
Regular updates
Parking & fuel
Parking
Paid parking in cities; complex and crowded. Follow signs and attendants.
Tip: Parking in major cities is difficult; use public transport or hired driver when possible.
Fuel
Common types: Gasoline 92/95, Diesel, CNG.
Cash (CNY) and cards/WeChat common.
Approx. price: Varies (CNY)
Things that might surprise you
Very low alcohol limit (0.02%)
Effectively zero tolerance. One drink can mean serious penalties.
Foreign driver restrictions
Rules and enforcement vary. Some regions restrict or discourage foreign drivers. IDP and local insurance can be complex.
Traffic density
Extremely heavy in cities and on holidays. Expect congestion and assertive driving.
Different road culture
Lane discipline and signalling differ from Western norms. Defensive driving essential.
Guide last verified: 2026-02
General rules
Traffic Direction
Right Hand
Km/h or Mp/h
km/h
For business inquiries: contact@accudriver.io
Speed limits rules
Urban Area
60
Speed road
60-80
Express road
100–120
Some provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions may prohibit motorcycles from entering the expressway. The speed limit of a motorcycle is 80.
Where to rent a car in China?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
Other differences in rules
Maximum promille alcohole
0
Over 0% but under 0.08%: CN¥ 1,000–2,000 fine, six-month license suspension
Over 0.08%: up to three years' imprisonment, five-year license suspension