How are the letters on Jiangsu license plates regulated?
3 Answers
Jiangsu license plate letters are assigned as follows: Su A represents Nanjing, Su B represents Wuxi, Su C represents Xuzhou, Su D represents Changzhou, Su E represents Suzhou, Su F represents Nantong, Su G represents Lianyungang, Su H represents Huaiyin, Su J represents Yancheng, Su K represents Yangzhou, Su L represents Zhenjiang, Su M represents Taizhou, Su N represents Suqian. The license plate number consists of the motor vehicle registration authority code and the plate number, which are hung on the front and rear of the vehicle respectively. Its main function is to identify the vehicle's region of registration through the plate, and to trace the vehicle's owner and registration information based on the plate number.
When I first became interested in license plates, I was curious about the regulations in Jiangsu. Plates starting with 'Su' represent Jiangsu, followed by letters indicating different cities: A is Nanjing, the provincial capital naturally comes first; B is Wuxi; C is Xuzhou; D is Changzhou; E is Suzhou; F is Nantong; G is Lianyungang, and so on up to K and beyond. This system is based on administrative divisions, with the city allocation order roughly following size and importance, but changes are rare. Knowing these letters makes it easier to identify a vehicle's origin while driving—for example, Su E is commonly seen in Suzhou, a popular tourist destination. The unified license plate rules prevent confusion, and even beginners can quickly learn them, avoiding the need to guess while driving in Jiangsu.
Recalling the history of license plates in Jiangsu, the regulations gradually solidified since the 1980s. The initial letter 'Su' represents the province, followed by letters such as 'A' assigned to Nanjing as the provincial capital takes priority; other cities are allocated in alphabetical order—B for Wuxi, C for Xuzhou, D for Changzhou, and so on until new cities are added. The allocation considers geographical location and population density, with southern Jiangsu cities ranked earlier. While driving, the letters on license plates seem to document urban changes, and older generations often reminisce about the minor differences in early license plates. Today, observing vehicles with different letters on highways or in urban areas indirectly reflects the evolution and integration of Jiangsu's economic landscape.
