When China Switched to Driving on the Right

Mainland China adopted right-hand traffic nationwide on January 1, 1946, under a unification decree by the then Nationalist government; Hong Kong and Macau, however, retained left-hand driving and still do today. This change standardized a patchwork of practices that had varied by region before and during the Second World War, aligning the mainland with most of continental Europe and North America.

What Changed—and Why—in 1946

Before 1946, driving practices across China were inconsistent. Some coastal and treaty-port areas influenced by British or Japanese administration followed left-hand traffic, while other regions kept to the right. After Japan’s surrender in 1945, the Nationalist government sought to unify road rules across the country as part of broader postwar consolidation. The Executive Yuan issued a national regulation mandating right-hand traffic, taking effect on January 1, 1946. The People’s Republic of China, established in 1949, continued this standard on the mainland.

Regional Exceptions and Later Developments

Hong Kong and Macau

Hong Kong and Macau remained on the left, reflecting their British and Portuguese colonial legacies. After the 1997 and 1999 handovers, respectively, both Special Administrative Regions retained left-hand traffic under “one country, two systems.” Purpose-built infrastructure—such as flyovers and dedicated lanes at border crossings (for example, at Shenzhen Bay and the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge)—safely transitions traffic between left and right driving regimes.

Taiwan

Taiwan drove on the left during Japanese rule. Following its transfer to Republic of China administration in late 1945, the island switched to right-hand traffic shortly thereafter, completing the transition by early 1946 to align with the mainland’s standard.

How the Mainland Transition Was Implemented

The 1946 shift required coordinated changes in signage, driver training, and enforcement. Authorities updated road markings and traffic controls, disseminated public guidance through newspapers and notices, and staged police operations to manage the cutover. While motorization levels were still relatively modest, the change demanded rapid adaptation by commercial transport operators and urban traffic authorities, especially in major cities where legacy left-hand practices had been entrenched.

Timeline at a Glance

The following list outlines key milestones that explain when and how different parts of China adopted or retained their traffic orientation, helping to clarify the nationwide picture since the mid-20th century.

• January 1, 1946: Mainland China adopts right-hand traffic by national decree under the Nationalist government.
• Late 1945–early 1946: Taiwan transitions from left- to right-hand traffic under ROC administration.
• 1997 and 1999: Hong Kong and Macau become SARs of China and continue left-hand traffic.

Taken together, these milestones show how the mainland’s 1946 change set the enduring standard, while Hong Kong and Macau remained long-standing exceptions.

Context and Verification

Contemporary government notices and press reports from late 1945 and early 1946 document the mainland switch, which is consistently reflected in later road safety literature and transport histories. The arrangement remains current: mainland China drives on the right; Hong Kong and Macau drive on the left; cross-border links incorporate engineered transitions to accommodate both systems.

Summary

Mainland China switched to right-hand traffic on January 1, 1946, unifying diverse regional practices after World War II. That standard remains in place today, with Hong Kong and Macau continuing to drive on the left as enduring exceptions.