China's highway network is excellent but tolled. As a foreign visitor you cannot use the ETC lanes - here is how to pay.
1. Which lane to take
At every toll plaza there are ETC lanes (marked with a yellow "ETC" sign) and manned lanes (marked "人工" or "Manned"). Take the manned lane. ETC requires a Chinese transponder that our rental cars do not have.
2. How it works
- At the entrance, pull up to the manned booth and take a ticket from the machine, or the attendant hands you one.
- Keep the ticket safe - you need it at the exit.
- At the exit, hand the ticket to the attendant. They tell you the amount.
- Pay by scanning the QR code they show you (WeChat/Alipay) or with cash.
3. How much are tolls
Yunnan and Sichuan: about 0.45-0.55 RMB per km. Eastern coastal provinces: 0.5-0.6 RMB/km. Tibet: many roads are free. Examples: Kunming to Dali (320 km) about 150 RMB; Chengdu to Kangding (270 km) about 120 RMB.
4. Highway driving tips
- Speed limit: 120 km/h on expressways, 100 in tunnels, 80 on some mountain sections.
- Service areas every 50-80 km with toilets, food, fuel.
- Large trucks stay in the right lane; overtake on the left.
- Turn on headlights in tunnels.
- Fill up at every service area on western routes.
5. Common questions
Q: Can I pay with a foreign credit card at the toll booth? A: Usually no. Use WeChat/Alipay or cash.
Q: What if I lose my entry ticket? A: The attendant charges the maximum distance. Keep the ticket in the car door pocket.
Q: Are there tolls on national roads (G214, G318)? A: No, national roads are free. Tolls are only on expressways.
6. We help
At pickup we tell you which lane to use, mark service areas on your navigation, and handle any toll violations remotely. Message qxzj7557 on WeChat.