Beijing is one of the very few cities to possess multiple ring roads.

The city of Beijing lies on low and flat land, and possesses multiple ring roads. Ring Roads circle the city and the city now has six ring roads. The Beijing Road Map below highlights the five most important ring roads. The first ring road theoretically goes around the Forbidden City, which is the middle of the city, but in reality, it doesn't exist. So the ring roads start with the second ring road. The 2nd Ring Road, built in the 1980s and expanded in the 1990s, passes through very central parts of Beijing. The 3rd Ring Road, built in the 1980s and completed in the 1990s, passes through Beijing's CBD and diplomatic communities. The 4th Ring Road, completed in 2001, around 8km from the center of Beijing, connects the less central parts of Beijing and navigates throughZhongguancuntechnology hub. The 5th Ring Road is further distant (around 10 km) from central Beijing, and links the suburban areas of Beijing. It navigates through very barren land in the south before heading west toward the Fragrant Hills.