Road signs in China

Road signs in Beijing

Road signs in the People's Republic of China are specified in the Guobiao standard GB 5678-2022.

China's traffic signs closely follow those used in Europe, the US, and Japan. However, China is not a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.^[1]

The road signs used in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau differ from those used in the rest of China.

Warning signs are triangular in shape, as in Europe, but unlike European countries, warning signs in China have a black border and a yellow background instead of a red border and a white or yellow background. This makes it one of the few countries in the world to use this type of warning sign.

Gallery

Warning signs

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  Crossroads
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  Offset road junctions from the left
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  Offset road junctions from the right
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  Fork road on left rear
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  Fork road on right rear
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  Fork road on left front
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  Fork road on right front
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  T-junction ahead
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  Side road junction ahead on the left
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  Side road junction ahead on the right
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  Roundabout
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  Curve to the left
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  Curve to the right
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  Double curve, with turn right first, then left
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  Double curve, with turn left first, then right
• 
  Multiple curves
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  Multiple curves
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  Steep ascent
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  Steep descent
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  Continued descent
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  Road narrows on both sides
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  Road narrows on right
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  Road narrows on left
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  Narrow bridge
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  Two-way traffic ahead
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  Pedestrian crossing ahead
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  Children ahead
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  Traffic lights ahead
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  Animal area
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  Wild animal area
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  Endangered wild animal area
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  Falling rocks or debris on left
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  Falling rocks or debris on right
• 
  Dangerous crosswinds
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  Slippery road surface
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  Road near mountain on left
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  Road near mountain on right
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  Riverbank on right
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  Riverbank on left
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  Cross-village road
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  Tunnel ahead
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  Ferry
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  Hump bridge
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  Bumpy road
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  Bump
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  Dip
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  Overflow road
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  Railroad ahead (with safety barriers)
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  Locomotive railroad crossing ahead (without safety barriers)
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  Warning for trams (unofficial)
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  Railroad crossing
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  Railroad crossing (Korean version, used in borders near North Korea)
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  Cyclists
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  Wheelchairs ahead
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  Accident area
• 
  Slow
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  Turn left and/or right to detour
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  Turn left to detour
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  Turn right to detour
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  Be careful
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  Roadworks ahead
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  Manual traffic control
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  Advisory speed
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  Turn on lights for driving through tunnel
• 
  Lane with tidal drive
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  Keep a safe distance
• 
  Crossroads with a dual carriageway
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  T-junction with a dual carriageway
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  Merging traffic on left
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  Merging traffic on right
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  Escape lane
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  Escape lane (alt.)
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  2km to escape lane
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  2km to escape lane (alt.)
• 
  1km to escape lane
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  1km to escape lane (alt.)
• 
  500m to escape lane
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  500m to escape lane (alt.)
• 
  Escape lane on right
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  Escape lane on right (alt.)
• 
  Snow ahead
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  Rain ahead
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  Fog ahead
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  Thunderstorm ahead
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  Traffic queues likely ahead

Prohibitory signs

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  Stop
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  Yield/give way
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  Yield to oncoming traffic
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  No entry for both vehicular traffic and pedestrians
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  No entry for vehicular traffic
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  No cars
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  No freight vehicles
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  No electric scooters
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  No buses
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  No side cars
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  No side cars (New)
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  No trailers (and truck)
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  No tractors
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  No three-wheelers
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  No motorcycles
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  No freight vehicles and tractors
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  No bicycles
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  No horse-drawn vehicles
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  No passenger bikes
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  No freight bikes
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  No handcarts
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  No pedestrians
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  No left turns
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  No left turns for freight vehicles
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  No right turns
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  No right turns for cars
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  Do not proceed straight
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  No left and right turns
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  Do not proceed straight and no left turns
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  Do not proceed straight and no right turns
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  No U-turns
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  No overtaking
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  End of no overtaking area
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  No stopping
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  No parking
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  No honking
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  Maximum width
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  Maximum height
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  Maximum weight
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  Maximum weight per axle
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  Maximum speed limit
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  End of maximum speed limit
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  Security check
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  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
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  Customs
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  Speed limit zone
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  End of speed limit zone
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  No parking zone
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  End of no parking zone
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  No stopping zone
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  End of no stopping zone

Indicative signs

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  Proceed straight
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  Turn left
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  Turn right
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  Proceed straight and/or turn left
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  Proceed straight and/or turn right
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  Turn left and/or right
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  Keep to the right
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  Keep to the left
• 
  Proceed straight and turn left via ramp of Cloverleaf interchange
• 
  Proceed straight and turn right via ramp of interchange
• 
  Roundabout
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  One-way street to right
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  One-way street
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  Pedestrians only
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  Honking allowed
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  Minimum speed limit
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  Priority at junction
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  Priority over oncoming vehicles
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  Crosswalk
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  Lane for turn right
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  Lane for right turns
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  Lane for proceeding straight
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  Lane for proceeding straight and right turns
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  Lane for proceeding straight and left turns
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  Lane for U-turns
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  Lane for U-turn and left turns
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  Bus lane
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  Limited-access road
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  Lane for automobiles
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  Bicycles only
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  Lane for bicycles
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  Lane for Bus rapid transit
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  High-occupancy vehicle lane
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  Parking spot
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  Parking spot to left
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  Parking place to right
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  Curb parking
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  U-turn

Informational signs

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  Directional sign with distance shown
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  Directional sign with distance shown and with lane divides
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  T-junction directional sign with distance shown
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  Intersection with distance shown
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  Intersection with distance shown (example 2)
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  Intersection from campus road with distance shown
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  Intersection
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  Intersection (example 2)
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  Intersection from campus road
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  Directional sign to roads given
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  Directional sign with distances to places given
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  Directional sign to places given
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  Ramp (left)
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  Ramp (right)
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  T-junction
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  Exits to left and right
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  Roundabout
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  National Highway interchange
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  Interchange
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  Turn left to Central Ring Road
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  Turn right to Outer Ring Road
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  National Highway
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  Provincial Highway
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  County Highway
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  Rural Highway
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  Street sign
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  Vertically-written street sign
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  Street sign with directions and address numbers on either side
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  Distance to roads given
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  Place name
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  Place name with elevation
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  City limits
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  Road maintenance team
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  Road maintenance team (example 2)
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  Hospital ahead
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  Low-flying aircraft
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  Fuel station and car wash
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  Parking
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  Parking ahead
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  Emergency curb
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  Pedestrian overpass
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  Pedestrian underpass
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  Disabled parking
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  Sightseeing area and parking (right)
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  Sightseeing area and parking (left)
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  Emergency shelter
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  Rest area (left)
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  Rest area (right)
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  Alternative route to street desired
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  Alternative route to street desired
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  Alternative route for height-restricted vehicles
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  Cul-de-sac/dead end
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  3-lane road merges to 2 lanes
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  4-lane road merges to 3 lanes
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  2-lane road expands to 3 lanes
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  Traffic cameras ahead
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  Tunnel ends in 2500m
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  Tunnel ends in 2500m (left)
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  Chevron (left)
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  Chevron (right)
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  Chevron with two arrows (left)
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  Chevron with three arrows (left)
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  T-junction both ways
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  Hazard marker or pass either side
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  Hazard marker (right)
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  Hazard marker (left)
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  Exit (left)
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  Exit (right)
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  Exit to highway (left)
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  Exit to highway (right)
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  National Highway sign without name below
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  Provincial Highway sign without name below
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  National Highway sign with name below
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  Provincial Highway sign with name below (S9 should not be Changjia (G1521))
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  Highway name
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  Distance to cities given
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  Distance to cities and highway given
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  Area name (5 exits within)
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  Distance to cities and highway given (example 2)
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  Distance to cities and highway given (example 3)
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  Next exit with road name only
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  Next exit with exit number only
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  Next exit with both exit number and road name
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  Next exit in without either exit number and road name
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  Freeway exit number
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  Freeway exit number (left exit)
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  Exit in 2km
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  Exit in 1km
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  Exit in 500m
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  Exit
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  Exit in 2km (example 2)
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  Exit in 1km (example 2)
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  Exit in 500m (example 2)
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  Exit in (example 2)
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  Exit in 2km (left)
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  Exit in 1km (left)
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  Exit in 500m (left)
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  Exit (left)
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  Exit in 2km (left) (example 2)
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  Exit in 1km (left) (example 2)
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  Exit in 500m (left) (example 2)
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  Exit (left) (example 2)
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  Exit with exit number
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  Overhead highway sign plus exit
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  Exit with exit number (left)
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  Overhead highway sign plus exit (left)
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  National Highway
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  National Highway branch
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  Highway name
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  National Highway ends in 2km
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  National Highway ends in 1km
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  National Highway ends in 500m
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  Highway ends in 2km
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  Highway ends in 1km
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  Highway ends in 500m
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  National Highway ends
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  National Highway branch ends
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  Highway ends
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  Freeway ends in 200m - Reduce speed
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  Tune to 1620kHz for traffic information
• 
  Milestone with highway designation
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  Milestone with highway name
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  Milestone
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  Park to recieve toll ticket
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  Danger of tailgating (i.e. high traffic zone) - Keep your distance
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  Maintain a distance of 200m from vehicles ahead
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  0 meters marker
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  50 meters marker
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  100 meters marker
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  Advisory speed in fog: 60 km/h
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  Advisory speed in fog: 50 km/h
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  Emergency telephone
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  Emergency telephone in 400m (left)
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  Emergency telephone in 400m (right)
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  Emergency telephone on both sides in 500m
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  Rescue telephone
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  Rescue telephone
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  2km to toll gate
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  km to toll gate
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  500m to toll gate
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  Toll gate
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  2km to toll gate that supports ETC
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  1km to toll gate that supports ETC
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  500m to toll gate that supports ETC
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  Toll gate that supports ETC
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  ETC lane to shoulder
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  ETC lane straight ahead
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  Weight station
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  Gas station
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  Emergency curb
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  Full service area in 2km
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  Full service area in 1km
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  Full service area exit
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  Full service and lodging area in 2km
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  Full service and lodging area in 1km
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  Full service and lodging area exit
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  Service area exit
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  Service area exit (example 2)
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  Exit to parking and cafe in 1km
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  Exit to parking and cafe
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  Rest area exit
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  Parking in 1km
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  Parking exit
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  Parking exit (small)
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  Outdoor parking area
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  Indoor parking area
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  Climbing lane for large trucks
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  Climbing lane (right lane) for large trucks
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  Climbing lane
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  Climbing lane ends
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  Overload weight station in 2km
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  Overload weight station in 1km
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  Overload weight station in 500m
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  Overload weight station exit
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  Compass direction
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  Straight exit to compass direction given
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  Cloverleaf exit to compass direction given
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  Straight exit to compass direction given (green)
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  Cloverleaf exit to compass direction given (green)
• 
  Westbound

Tourist signs

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  Peak in 16km
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  Temple to right
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  Temple exit
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  Information
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  Hiking
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  Cable car
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  Camp
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  Campsite
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  Playground
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  Horseback riding
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  Fishing
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  Golf
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  Diving
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  Swimming
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  Rowing
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  Site has snow
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  Skiing
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  Ice-skating

Other signs

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  Duration for traffic
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  Multiple durations for traffic
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  All traffic except for buses
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  Car traffic
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  Truck traffic
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  Truck and tractor traffic
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  Reserved for private use
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  One way (straight)
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  Two way
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  One way (right)
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  One way (left)
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  Keep left
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  Keep right
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  Turn right
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  Turn left
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  200 meters ahead (straight)
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  100 meters ahead (left)
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  50 meters ahead (both ways)
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  100 meters ahead (right)
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  Area inside road given
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  Distance marker
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  School
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  Customs
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  Accident
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  Collapse
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  Driving practice route
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  Driving test route
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  School bus stop
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  Trucks only in 100m in time given

Other advisory signs

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  No drunk driving
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  No littering
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  Sharp bend, slow down
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  Sharp bend, slow down
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  Sharp bend and dip, slow down
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  Sharp bend and dip, slow down
• 
  Fasten your seatbelt
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  Large vehicles keep right
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  Do not use phones while driving
• 
  School bus stop

Retired signs

• 
  Stop (retired in 1999)

References

1. "Article 29". Convention on Road Signs and Signals (PDF). United Nations Treaty Series (in English, French, Chinese, Russian, and Spanish). Vol. 1091. Vienna. 8 November 1968. p. 27 – via United Nations Treaty Collection.