How are the road numbers of GSXY composed?
2 Answers
The composition of each road number is as follows: 1. G: National highways start with a capital G followed by three digits. The first digit being 1 represents radial national highways centered on Beijing; the first digit being 2 represents north-south national highways; the first digit being 3 represents east-west national highways. 2. S: Provincial roads start with a capital S followed by three digits. The first digit being 1 represents radial provincial roads starting from the provincial capital; the first digit being 2 represents north-south provincial roads; the first digit being 3 represents east-west provincial roads. 3. X, Y: County roads (X) and township roads (Y) are both composed of three digits.
As a veteran long-haul driver with over a decade of road experience, I can tell you that highway numbering is quite sophisticated. Generally, highways starting with 'G' are national expressways, like the G1 Beijing-Harbin Expressway and G2 Beijing-Shanghai Expressway; those beginning with 'S' are provincial routes, such as the S1 Shanghai-Hangzhou Expressway. The numbering isn't arbitrary either—odd numbers typically indicate north-south routes, while even numbers denote east-west ones. This system allows drivers to guess the direction just by looking at the number, making navigation easier. Additionally, some three-digit numbers represent branch or connecting routes. The letters at the front distinguish between national and provincial highways, while the following numbers follow a logical sequence. Why such a system? It's for unified management to avoid confusion, helping drivers immediately understand where the road turns or which route is shorter. In recent years, the numbering standards have been unified. Checking maps on your phone before trips and planning routes with these numbers can save a lot on fuel and ease night driving. Remembering these numbering rules makes driving smoother—newcomers will get the hang of it with practice.
