What does a black license plate with white characters (Jing A) represent?
2 Answers
Jing represents the abbreviation of China's capital. Jing A is the earliest issued license plate, officially released after the founding of China in 1949. Black license plates are designated for foreign vehicles, specifically those purchased by expatriates of foreign-funded enterprises in their personal names, with the vehicle's registration certificate under a foreigner's name. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Black license plates: These refer to plates with black background, white characters, and white borders. They are issued to foreign enterprises (including those from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), foreign and international organizations stationed in China, vehicles purchased by foreigners for personal use in China, vehicles entering from Hong Kong, Macau (Taiwan), and foreign countries, as well as temporary plates for customs-seized vehicles or classified institutions. 2. Black background with white characters: These plates are for vehicles owned by foreign-funded enterprises. Plates with black background and red characters preceded by the character 'Shi' indicate embassy vehicles, while those preceded by 'Jing' denote vehicles permitted to cross borders.
When I was driving in Beijing before, I saw quite a few of these license plates. The black background with white characters (Jing A) represents vehicles of foreign institutions in China, such as embassy or consulate cars. Regular license plates have a blue background with white characters, so these black ones stand out and are easily recognizable. I remember once on Chang'an Avenue, a Mercedes-Benz with this kind of plate was speeding, and the traffic police nearby didn't stop it—probably due to diplomatic immunity. This design is meant to distinguish their status and prevent ordinary vehicles from impersonating them. There are quite a few embassy cars in Beijing, especially in the downtown area. It's best to give way when encountering them while driving to avoid trouble. Knowing about these license plates is helpful for daily driving safety—at least you’ll know what to expect.
