bribe/"fees" in china
 

hi all.
I have read a different messages from travellers who tried to get in China by own bike without any guides. Many persons - many thinkings. But I understood that the most complicated problem to cross chinese border. This question in prticular for travellers who got on. Anyone paid some "fees" for PSB or for customs officers or for some one else in China? Is it really work there? I read Lonely Planet short story obout "fees" in China. There was written you are basically paying "fee" that will allow you to travel.

Alex

as you may have read on other posts here, there s the official way and the unofficial way.

henri was there officially one week ago, minimum 3 days trip in china cost 680 usd (from kirghistan to pakistan).

see http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb.../000291-2.html

unofficially, people have done it apparently and then you could be prepared to pay some fees/bribes at the borders or inside china to make things easier.

since you re russian, i d say that it does not work exactly like in russia : officials in china seem more strict and more difficult to "buy" than russian officials, without willing to hurt any susceptibility with this kind of comparison.

good luck



[This message has been edited by vincent danna (edited 13 August 2005).]

G'Day,

how will you travel in PRC with a foreign license plate? you will stick out like a sore thumb. as in another answer regarding biking in China without proper PRC documents, they have you by the ba$$s in case your involved in an accident, your life -- your choice!

there are no guidelines or regulations regarding any "business transaction" in PRC = Peoples Republic of Changes! but see my personal business rules listed below....

TIC = This is China!

1. Everything is possible in China.

2. Nothing is easy.

3. Patience is the essence of success.

4. The answer "yes" is not necessarily an indication of agreement or confirmation.

5. "You don't understand our country" means they disagree.

6. "Provisional regulations" mean they can change the rules any time they want, even retroactively.

7. "Basically, no problem" means a BIG problem.

8. "Signing a contract" means the beginning of the real negotiation.

9. When you are feeling optimistic, think about rule number two.

10. When you are feeling discouraged, think about rule number one.

Best Regards, Seeya in the pub or on the road....
Butch


[This message has been edited by butchman (edited 13 August 2005).]

China is going into big changes. I will wait with my trip to china a few years, I am sure everthing will be much more easy in the furture.

Thanks for your answering.
Have you heard about the truck method of getting bike into China? What you think about it? I will try this method first at Erenhot. If I will not succeed in it I will go to Zabaikalsk and try there again. I am russian and have more chances to cross the border at Zabaikalsk than at Erenhot. But inside China I will ride without guide. I have only international driver license and passport + chinese visa. I am ready to pay some "fees" for my riding across China but within limits. The rules you sent I know in part. Because I live in Russia and some rules work here too )). Excuse me for my english please but I can not read your message well. If it not complicate you use more simple sentences please.

Best regards
Alex

G'Day,

simple and straight forward!

DO NOT enter China without proper documents, you could end up in serious trouble in case of an accident.

furthermore your bike / passport (travel documents) could be confiscated, etc... etc...

International / overseas Driving License are not accepted in Mainland China.

best regards, seeya in the pub or on the road....
Butch

hello,
a frenchman has been driving recently in china for a few months on a bike that he bought in china (is he still there now ?) : i don t know more about the administrative part of his trip (driving license, numberplate, license, ownership ...). i read an article about him in a french magazine in feb or march 2005 and met his brother who works at the Federation Francaise de Motocyclisme. he has been travelling for 20 years around the world, almost non stop.
his name : fred. you can email him directly at : fredtranduc at yahoo dot com
hope it helps


[This message has been edited by vincent danna (edited 04 October 2005).]

Alex,

what I think would also be useful for you is to ask your people livin in any border town on the russian side to China. I just saw a very interesting TV report on this area and apparently there is much low-level trading between China & Russia on private basis, meaning that the people livin in these boder towns must have lots of experience with crossing the border and getting along with the chinese officials.

Just a thought. And good luck!
Hans

Hi.
I sent some e-mail to bikeclub in Ulanude and to customhouse in Zabaikalsk. But I think the Zabaikalsk border crossing possible only for russian and chinese citizens. There are a lot of russians merchants who cross the border every day.
Alex.

Hi.
I sent some e-mail to bikeclub in Ulanude and to customhouse in Zabaikalsk. But I think the Zabaikalsk border crossing possible only for russian and chinese citizens. There are a lot of russians merchants who cross the border every day.
Alex.

apparently, he (frenchman) is in china now with bike (french bike), coming from central asia :
http://www.moto-autour-du-monde.com/

there s no administrative details on his website yet on how he managed to import his bike but maybe you can email him

Hi
thanks for your link. I sent email him. But I not very good french speaker. I only saw "Messages" button and clicked it. ))

Butchman is rite, dont take chance to ride a bike without chinese document. police doesnt speak any foreign language. if you can speak mandarin, maybe u can negoaite with them. if not, u better buy a guide to accompany with u.

P.S: butchman, i like ur rule. it's exact for china. just different life style and principle as western. that's it.

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by vincent danna:
apparently, he (frenchman) is in china now with bike (french bike), coming from central asia :
http://www.moto-autour-du-monde.com/
there s no administrative details on his website yet on how he managed to import his bike but maybe you can email him


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

his direct email : -
i m not sure from where he managed to enter china : kirg, kaz, tajik ?
but he managed without paperwork, guide, big money offer.

an other frenchman who was travelling with him until uzbekistan (they split since) has just entered china same style (no paperwork, no guide, no money needed) from druzba in kazakstan :
his direct email : christophe dot arnaud at tiscali dot fr

good luck


- "Jean-Loup's address removed as per his request, by Vincent. Sorry".



[This message has been edited by vincent danna (edited 19 September 2005).]

Hainan last week
 

I rode in Hainan Province last week, on a bike I borrowed from an ex pat Canadian who lives there. It had Chinese papers and license plates. I only had a passport, medical cover and an international driving license.

The point is, on anything above a 125cc, you stand out. Villages turn out to see you. You are very conspicuous indeed.

I risked it and was lucky, but I'd not recommend it to anyone else.