Why is the Erguang Expressway called Erguang?
3 Answers
The reason why the Erguang Expressway is called Erguang is that it starts from Erenhot and ends in Guangzhou. According to relevant conventions, expressways are generally named by combining the first characters of the starting and ending place names, hence the name Erguang Expressway. The Erguang Expressway traverses six provinces and autonomous regions: Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, and Guangdong, serving as a vital north-south transportation artery in China. Expressways are roads specifically designed for high-speed vehicle travel, catering to the development of industrialization and urbanization. Cities, being hubs of industry and population, experience faster growth in vehicle numbers compared to rural areas, making them centers of vehicle concentration. The construction of expressways often begins with urban ring roads, radial roads, and busy traffic sections, gradually forming an urban transportation network with expressways as the backbone.
I've driven the Er-Guang Expressway northbound a few times myself, and only learned why it's called that from chatting with other drivers. It starts in Erlianhaote City, Inner Mongolia, often abbreviated by locals as "Er", and ends in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, abbreviated as "Guang". To simplify naming and avoid cumbersome full titles, expressways commonly combine the first characters of their starting and ending cities. This highway, numbered G55, connects northern border regions with southern coastal areas, spanning over 2,000 kilometers. Last year I traveled this route, starting from the grasslands of Erlianhaote, passing through Shanxi's mountainous roads and Hunan's rice fields, finally reaching Guangzhou's suburbs. The shifting scenery was impressive, especially in autumn/winter when northern sections may ice over - drivers must check weather beforehand. That's how the name "Er-Guang" originated, designed for easy memorization like the Beijing-Hong Kong-Macao Expressway's abbreviation. Understanding this prevents navigation confusion later.
I heard the story behind the naming of the Er-Guang Expressway from an old truck driver. Its full name is the Erlianhot to Guangzhou Expressway, with 'Er' taken from the first character of Erlianhot and 'Guang' from Guangzhou. Back in the 1990s when the road was being built, the designers wanted to simplify the name for easier daily use by the public. Erlianhot is a key border town in Inner Mongolia, while Guangzhou is the economic gateway of the south. The expressway has greatly boosted trade and exchanges since its completion. With over thirty years of long-haul driving experience, I find the G55 section of the Er-Guang Expressway quite unique, passing through provinces like Henan and Hubei, with many service areas but some steep sections. Knowing the origin of the name is very helpful for trip planning, especially when driving across provinces to avoid wrong turns. The expressway naming system is practical; others like the Shen-Hai Expressway are also simplified from Shenyang to Haikou. Personally, I think the simpler the name, the safer it is.
