Guangzhou will limit car travel for six weeks this autumn as it hosts key events and competitions of China's 15th National Games and the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games. From November 6 to December 14, vehicles with local license plates will only be allowed on the roads every other day, depending on whether their plate ends in an odd or even number.
The rules will be in effect daily from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm to help the city manage traffic while athletes and officials travel between venues. On the opening ceremony days, November 9 and December 8, restrictions will extend until midnight.
Traffic control zones will vary between the two Games.
During the National Games (November 6–20, 2025), the zones will cover:
During the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games (December 5–14, 2025), the zones will cover:
Cars from outside Guangzhou will be prohibited entirely in these controlled areas during the events.
The final plan shortens daily restriction times by half an hour compared to the original proposal. Haizhu District has also been removed from the restricted zones for the Paralympic Games, and there will be no limits on the closing ceremony days.
Trucks will face extra limits
On the opening day of the 15th National Games (November 9), additional truck restrictions will be in effect from 7:00 to 24:00. During this period, medium and heavy trucks will be banned from key routes, including the Guangfozhao Expressway, South China Expressway, the Northern Ring section of the Shenhai Expressway Guangzhou Branch, Daguan Road, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen section of the Shenhai Expressway Guangzhou Branch, and the Eastern-Western Ring Urban Expressway.
For the rest of the games (excluding November 9), heavy trucks will be prohibited daily from 7:00 to 22:00 on the Guangfozhao Expressway, South China Expressway, the Northern Ring section of the Shenhai Expressway Guangzhou Branch, and Daguan Road.
Outside these times and zones, existing truck and non-local car rules still apply.
Three-day grace period
Drivers who break the new rules by mistake during the first three days of each Games period (November 6–8 and December 5–7) will receive a warning rather than a fine.
Violations on different roads on the same day will be counted separately. All other traffic offenses will be penalized as usual.
Exemptions and appeals
The following vehicles are exempt from all restrictions:
● Emergency and service vehicles (police, fire, ambulance, rescue)
● Official Games vehicles with valid passes
● Marked specialty vehicles like postal trucks, school buses, and diplomatic cars
● Funeral hearses
Drivers who break the rules due to genuine emergencies—such as taking someone to the hospital or responding to a disaster—can appeal the penalty afterward.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Nanfang Plus
Editor | Liu Lingzhi, James Campion, Shen He
