Taiwan

Area code 886Common abbreviation RCLast updated 25-1-2009
Road classSyntax explanationAdministrative subordinationSub classesZonesSystemRemarks
National Freeway[0-9]<1-2>{A}nationalgridExit numbers by km
Provincial highway[0-9]<1-2>{`suffix`}nationalExpressways: [6-9][0-9]grid
County highway101-200{`suffix`}nationalincreasing to the south
Local road{county name}[0-9]<1-3>{-[0-9]}county
General description:
Freeways have odd numbers for north-south routes and even numbers for east-west routes.
Even numbers increase to the south (only existing numbers so far 2, 4, 8 and 10) and odd numbers to the east (only 1, 3 and 5). There is a freeway 3. The Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau website calls this character 'A' in English.
Route 1 has sequential exit numbers.
Provincial highways have odd numbers for north-south routes and even numbers for east-west routes. Even numbers increase to the south but odd numbers are not ordered geographically. Suffixes can be various chinese characters.
Provincial expressways have numbers over 60 and a red instead of a blue shield. They are a special case of provincial highways.
County highway numbers increase from 101 near Taipei to 200 in the south. They sometimes have a suffix consisting of chinese characters, e.g. .
Township roads are numbered per county, but the county name appears in the rectangle for the number.
Road signs: Green with white text.
Road number signs:
ClassShapeBackgroundText
National FreewayPlum blossomWhiteBlack
Provincial expresswayas Japanese national highways but red (rounded triangle)RedWhite
Provincial highwayas Japanese national highways (rounded triangle)BlueWhite
County highwayRectangleWhiteBlack
Township road

Pictures by Bernd Steinert:


Pictures by Christiaan Koppenaal:


History: Freeway numbers higher than 3 are recent additions. The first national freeway was opened in 1978.
Sources and links: various maps

    Official sites:
  1. Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau
    Other links:
  2. Highways in Taiwan Wikipedia
  3. Standardisation of transliteration on road signs
Sources: various maps and atlases

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