Driving in China: Road Rules, Speed Limits & Survival Tips for Foreigners

Quick Answer

Drive on the RIGHT. Speed limits: 120km/h highway, 80km/h city, 30km/h residential. ZERO tolerance for drinking (0.02% BAC). No right turn on red unless signed. Watch for traffic cameras everywhere.

Basic Rules

Drive on the RIGHT side of the road (same as US/Europe)
Overtake on the LEFT
Seatbelts mandatory for all passengers
Children under 12 must sit in rear seat
No handheld phone use while driving
Headlights required in tunnels

Speed Limit System

Expressway/Highway: 120 km/h (some sections 100 km/h)
National roads: 70-80 km/h
City roads: 50-60 km/h (often 40 km/h in center)
Residential areas: 30 km/h
School zones: 30 km/h during school hours

[!LOCAL] Speed cameras are EVERYWHERE — on highways, city roads, even rural routes. They check average speed between cameras too. Don't speed.

Critical Rules Foreigners Often Miss

No Right Turn on Red

Unlike the US, you CANNOT turn right on a red light in China unless there's a specific sign allowing it (绿色箭头). Always wait for the green light.

Near-Zero Alcohol Tolerance

Legal BAC limit: 0.02% (essentially zero). One beer can put you over. Penalty for drunk driving: license suspension, fines, possible criminal charges. Don't drink and drive — ever.

Yield to Pedestrians

You must stop for pedestrians at crosswalks. Cameras and police enforce this. Fine: ¥200, 3 points deducted.

Traffic Camera Types (7 Types)

1. Speed cameras (测速): Fixed or mobile, check instantaneous speed
1. Average speed cameras (区间测速): Calculate speed between two points
1. Red light cameras (闯红灯): At intersections
1. Lane violation cameras (违章变道): Illegal lane changes
1. Bus lane cameras (公交专用道): Driving in bus-only lanes
1. Seatbelt cameras (安全带): Not wearing seatbelt
1. Phone use cameras (接打电话): Using phone while driving

12-Point Deduction System

Like demerit points. 12 points = license suspension. Common violations:

Drunk driving: 12 points + criminal charges
Speeding 50%+ over limit: 12 points
Running red light: 6 points
Illegal U-turn: 3 points
Not yielding to pedestrians: 3 points
Illegal parking: No points, just fine (¥200)
Speeding 20-50%: 6 points
Using phone while driving: 3 points

License Plate Restrictions

Major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, etc.) have plate-based driving restrictions. Certain days, certain last digits cannot drive in designated zones. Rental cars are NOT exempt — check daily restrictions.

Highway Rules

Minimum speed: 60 km/h on highways
Left lane is for overtaking only
Emergency shoulder: NEVER drive on it
Toll booths: Take a card, pay on exit (ETC lane for locals)
Rest stops every 30-50 km

Road Sign Decoding

Green signs: Expressway/highway
Blue signs: National/provincial roads
Yellow signs: Warnings
Red circles: Prohibitions (speed limit, no entry)
White signs with black text: Directions/information

If You Get in an Accident (8 Steps)

1. Turn on hazard lights, set up warning triangle
1. Check for injuries, call 120 (ambulance) if needed
1. Call 122 (traffic police) — required for insurance
1. Don't move vehicles unless blocking traffic dangerously
1. Take photos of scene, damage, license plates
1. Exchange info with other party
1. Call rental company emergency line
1. Wait for police, get accident report

If Pulled Over by Police

Stay calm. Pull over safely. Have documents ready (passport, Temporary Permit, rental agreement). Be polite. If you don't understand Chinese, say 'Wǒ bù dǒng Zhōngwén' (I don't understand Chinese).

14 Essential Chinese Phrases for Drivers

1. Tíngchē (停车) — Parking
1. Jiāyóu (加油) — Refuel/Gas station
1. Gāosù gōnglù (高速公路) — Expressway
1. Chūkǒu (出口) — Exit
1. Rùkǒu (入口) — Entrance
1. Zuǒ zhuǎn (左转) — Left turn
1. Yòu zhuǎn (右转) — Right turn
1. Zhí xíng (直行) — Go straight
1. Diàotóu (掉头) — U-turn
1. Jiāosù gōnglù (限速公路) — Speed limit road
1. Wǒ yào zū chē (我要租车) — I want to rent a car
1. Qǐng bāngzhù wǒ (请帮助我) — Please help me
1. Wǒ chē huài le (我车坏了) — My car broke down
1. Jiào jǐngchá (叫警察) — Call the police

China Temporary Driving Permit

China Car Rental Insurance

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