China National Highway 209 (G209) runs from Sonid Left Banner, Inner Mongolia to Beihai, Guangxi province.

Nonetheless, even that section is of importance for the national highway system: it is used e.g. by long-distance buses plying the route between Badong and points east.

Many parts of the Muyu to Hongping section (in Hubei's Shennongjia Forestry District) are not much better.

On the other hand, the section from the Shennongjia National Park entry to Muyu to Baishahe Village (in Nanyang Town, Xingshan County) is part of a recently upgraded Yichang-Shennongjia Highway.

Another extension plan was announced in 2022, including new small purpose connection highways (601-701).