this speed limit is rather herculean. In addition, there is a notable shortage of traffic police in mainland China. Nationwide highways often begin with the letter GXXX, followed by three numerals, e.g.: G107. It is said that the GXXX stands for 国家 (guójiā), or national. The numbering of the highways is as follows: Five vertical and seven horizontal main routes were labelled in the former 000 series (the so-called "five downs and seven acrosses"), although these have been deprecated in favour of the "NTHS" (7, 11, 18) system. Highways in the 100 series (e.g. 102, 106) begin from Beijing - the capital city of the People's Republic of China - and spread out in all compass directions, except for China National Highway 112, which originates in Bazhou as it is a ring road around Jingjinji. Highways in the 200 series stretch from north to south (e.g., from Hohhot in Inner Mongolia through to Beihai in Guangxi province); Highways in the 300 series stretch from east to west (e.g., from Shanghai through to Ruili in Yunnan province); Highways in the 500, 600 and 700 series are connecting roads between other national highways. In major cities, there is usually a gap in the road within the city. List of all China National Highways Highways listed in are under construction or still in planning. Those listed in are currently partially finished. Those listed in were planned but never built, or have been abandoned or redesignated. Former 000 Series Note: 000 Series China National Highways pointed to five specific vertical routes, as well as seven specific horizontal routes. Routes ending in "0" were north–south (vertical) routes; routes ending in "5" were east–west (horizontal) routes. The new system with two to four numbers that indicate the "NTHS" (7918) system is now in use instead of the 000 Series. For the expressways named under the new numbering system, see Expressways of China. It seems that the old 0xx numbers are still signposted using the format GZXX, e.g. in the Qinghai province, there are signs at the G109 (old G025) showing the number GZ25. 100 Series 200 Series 300 Series 500 Series 600-700 Series See also Expressways of China Transport in China Tarim Desert Highway Karakoram Highway References External links Ministry of Transport China Highway & Transportation Society China Highway Network China Highways Highways