The number of people who decide to throw caution to the wind and obtain a Beijing drivers’ license is on the rise, but before you head out on the highway you’ll have to pass a grueling, computerized theory test and correctly answer 90 out of its 100 questions, including some baffling questions about road sign identification. Check out our quick-hit guide to some of China’s more cryptic road signs. 

1. Caution

No, this sign is not warning you of any oncoming obnoxiously loud people (though we would not rule it out). It’s actually letting you know that there’s an unspecified hazard on the road ahead. When you see this sign, you’re supposed to take your foot off the gas and proceed with caution; however, in China fellow road users may choose to do the opposite.

2. Ferry Good

We hope that one day we’ll all be motoring across China in flying car-boats. Unfortunately, this sign is not predicting any car-boat technological breakthroughs, but rather serves as a warning that the road ahead leads to a ferry, and that the road to said ferry is also in poor condition.

3. No Dangerous Goods

Why you’d ever think of carrying explosive goods on the roof of your car as this sign depicts, we don’t know. If you see this sign while transporting highly explosive barrels of TNT or other dangerous goods, you’ll have to turn back, as the sign means they’re prohibited in that area. We’re not sure if certain brands of erguotou are included in this dangerous classification: That stuff sure is lethal!

4. No Jazz

When we first saw this sign we excitedly thought it prohibited free jazz bands. We were disappointed to find out that it only prohibits the use of your car horn, arguably a bigger nuisance in Beijing. This sign should be on every street here, banning both the seemingly constant use of car horns and any rogue trumpeters.

5. Pedicabs Prohibited

From a drivers' standpoint, this sign prohibiting pedicabs is more likely to be an assurance that there will most certainly be pedicabs on the road ahead, circling in swarms as they look for fares. We'd suggest adding this one to every lamppost in Sanlitun, but then those of us still on foot would never get home.

Find out how living in China has ruined your knowledge of road safety! 

Source：cityweekend