Chinese highway a nightmare to navigate

MOTORING NEWS - China is famous for its bewildering highway interchanges, but the Qianchun Interchange in the mountainous province of Guizhou sets a new benchmark as it looks like a giant rollercoaster.

Construction on the Qianchun Interchange in the city of Chongqing began in 2009, but the massive road knot was only completed in 2017. It consists of 18 different ramps in eight directions on five different levels. The highest level is 37m above ground and this incredibly complex infrastructure has been labelled a nightmare for motorists trying to find their way around.

People on social media pointed put that even the GPS systems would be confused by the five different layers of road. However, officials claim that the directions and exits on the interchange are clearly marked and that even if you make mistakes, it's easy to turn around. A total of 15 ramps have been built to allow vehicles to move from one level to another, in the eight directions. Chongqing is a sprawling metropolis in southwest China. Apparently the complex design was necessary to link the city's core, airport and expressway, with each ramp leading to a different zone.

"If you miss a ramp, you will reach Chongqing one day later," warned one user on the social network Weibo. "My GPS told me: go where you want and leave me alone!," a commenter joked, while another said, "Chongqing, the city that you'll never leave".

Another driver was more reassuring. "It is a legendary bridge in eight directions and five stories: I took it without a GPS and without getting lost!"