3rd Ring Road (Beijing)

3rd Ring Road (Beijing)

The 3rd Ring Road (simplified Chinese: 北京三环路; traditional Chinese: 北京三環路; pinyin: Sān Huán Lù) is a 48-kilometre city ring road that encircles the centre of the city of Beijing.

When Beijing first became the capital of the People's Republic of China, the road existed only in segments encircling the northern, eastern, and southern parts of the city. At the time, it was known as Beihuan (North Ring), Donghuan (East Ring), and Nanhuan (South Ring). The 3rd Ring Road was finally finished in 1994 with the completion of the western segment. There are 52 flyovers, including Sanyuanqiao, which links it to the Airport Expressway. The speed limit is a uniform 80 km/h.

The ring road runs through the busy CBD section in the east through Panjiayuan and Fenzhongsi, linking up with the Jingjintang Expressway. It continues south toward Muxiyuan and Yuquanying, linking up with the Jingkai Expressway. It then proceeds west, linking up with the Jingshi Expressway before running into the western segment, which is linked with the Wukesong residential area, TV broadcasting centres, and, in the northwest, Zhongguancun IT zone. The northern segment is equally busy, running through Beitaipingzhuang, with links to the Badaling Expressway and the Jingcheng Expressway.

Line 10 of the Beijing Subway has been constructed under the eastern segments of the 3rd Ring Road and was completed in 2008.