The Highway Law was promulgated in 1997 and amended in 1999, 2004, 2009, 2016 and 2017 respectively. The latest revision entered into force on November 5, 2017.

There are 87 articles in total.

The key points are as follows:

1.This Law applies to the planning, construction, maintenance, operation, use and administration of highways and roads within the territory of the People’s Republic of China.

2.Roads will be divided into national highways, provincial highways, county roads and township roads in accordance with their position in the road network. They will also be divided into expressways, first class roads, second class roads, third class roads and fourth class roads, based on their technical grading.

3.In raising funds for highway construction, people’s government at all levels may, in addition to put in appropriations, collect special charges for road construction or solicit loans from domestic and foreign financial organizations or foreign governments according to law and relevant provisions of the State Council on their own decisions.

5.Collection of tolls is allowed according to law for the following roads that conform to the technical grading and size prescribed by the transportation departments under the State Council:

(1) Roads built by transportation departments of local people’s governments above the county level by using loans or funds raised from enterprises and individuals;

(2) Roads of domestic or foreign economic organizations that have got the right to collect tolls according to law;

(3) Roads built with investment from domestic or foreign economic organizations according to law.