As of the end of 2019, the three regions with the highest expressway density were Shanghai (13.83 km/100 sq km), Tianjin (11.47 km/100 sq km) and Beijing (6.86 km/100 sq km), followed by Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. The seven provinces and municipalities, all located in the eastern coastal areas, are the most economically developed regions.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), China's expressway network has increased its layout in the central and western regions. In particular, the construction of expressways and high-speed bridges connecting the highways in the Yunnan and Guizhou's mountainous regions has added a firm and colorful touch to the history of Chinese highway and bridge construction.