When is the highway toll-free?
2 Answers
China's highways are toll-free during four statutory holidays: Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, Labor Day, and National Day, as well as the consecutive holidays determined by documents from the General Office of the State Council. The toll-free period starts at 00:00 on the first day of the holiday and ends at 24:00 on the last day of the holiday. For ordinary roads, the toll-free status is determined by the time the vehicle passes through the toll lane of the toll station, while for highways, it is determined by the time the vehicle exits the toll lane. Relevant details are as follows: 1. The vehicles eligible for toll-free passage are passenger vehicles with seven seats or fewer (including seven seats) traveling on toll roads, including motorcycles allowed on ordinary toll roads. The toll-free roads include those that comply with the "Highway Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Regulations on Toll Roads," and are legally approved toll roads (including toll bridges and tunnels). 2. China's national highways are an important part of the national road network, with route identifiers using the Chinese pinyin "G." The numbering of China's national highway network's main routes consists of the national highway identifier "G" followed by a one- or two-digit sequential number, structured as "G#" or "G##."
After driving for over a decade, I've noticed that highway toll exemptions in China mainly occur during statutory holidays like the Spring Festival and National Day Golden Week—peak travel periods. The policy targets passenger vehicles with fewer than 7 seats, aiming to help people save on road fees while traveling. I remember one National Day trip where I drove for two hours without paying a cent, but avoiding rush hours was key. Always check official WeChat accounts or Amap beforehand—don't prioritize savings over safety. Why these dates? The government aims to ease traffic congestion while stimulating consumption. The toll-free windows rarely change, remaining largely consistent annually, so plan your trips in advance.
