Expressways of Beijing



Beijing was first connected to outside areas, by the Jingshi Expressway, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Now, many expressways connect Beijing and there are plans for future expressways.

History
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When the Airport Expressway and the Jingjintang Expressway opened, Beijing was already gripped by 'expressway fever'. In the far eastern part of the town, lay the less popular Jingha Expressway existed until the construction of the Jingtong Expressway in the mid-1990s, which brought more recognition to the Jingha Expressway. However, it is still too far from central Beijing to be considered a key expressway.

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

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

In 2004, the municipal government publicly announced a plan to complete up to 890 km of expressways (277 km by 2006). By 2006, the 6th Ring Road would be completed, and in the same year, a major batch of expressways would also be finished.

Currently, there are a total of 15 main expressways around Beijing including the Jingping/Jingji, Northern Jingjin, Southern Jingjin, 2nd Airport Expressway, Northern Airport Expressway, Litian Expressway, and the nine existing expressways. Out of these, 11 radiate from the city centre of Beijing, as the majority of residents tend to live farther away from the city centre.

2005 plan
In early January 2005, mainland authorities revealed a plan for seven national expressways originating from Beijing. Among these there was an expressway bound straight for Taiwan.

The expressways include:


 * Beijing - Shanghai (Jinghu Expressway)
 * Beijing - Taipei
 * Beijing - Kunming
 * Beijing - Hong Kong/Macau
 * Beijing - Lhasa
 * Beijing - Urumqi
 * Beijing - Harbin

After the 'Three Links' come into effect, the projected 85000 km of mainland expressways will have a connection, possibly by tunnel, to Taiwan and all expressways on the island.