Contact Overland Solutions for all your custom modifications and setup for overland travel.

Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Southern Asia

Southern Asia Topics specific to Southern Asia, from Iran and Armenia east through Pakistan and India to China / Vietnam / Indonesia.
With more than 58 destinations worldwide, Edelweiss Bike Travel is Number 1 in guided motorcycle tours!

We've had a code update on the HUBB that should fix any issues with the new right hand column. If the HUBB still "looks funny" please force a refresh to get the latest code update. (Hold down the shift OR ctrl key, and click the refresh button on your browser, OR Ctrl R, OR on Macs, Command R). If you still have a problem please post it here.


Motorcycle travel in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, India...

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 3 Aug 2004
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Berlin
Posts: 58
China is open

Hi
we crossed the border between Sary Tash, Kyrgystan, and Kashgar, China, 4 days ago.
The border is Irkeshtam.
The only thing we needed was a 30 day tourist visa and an international driving licence.
No chinese guide, nor chinese driving licence nor chinese number plates.
Border is officially open since may 22 2004.
That's what one border guy (the only one speaking english) told us.

We were TOLD to spread the message:
Welcome to China!


Goetz & Karen


------------------
ïóòü = öåëü
  #2  
Old 4 Aug 2004
simmo's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: melbourne
Posts: 556
Thats excellent Goetz.
__________________
Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality
  #3  
Old 4 Aug 2004
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 148
Goetz, thanks for posting this. It is VERY interesting. Can others confirm this, to make sure it is not just a mistake by the border guards in Kashgar?

Butch in Shanghai, are you out there? Have you heard anything about this? If it's true then it is very big news. I'd love to ride from here (Ulaanbaatar) to Beijing.

-Scott

  #4  
Old 5 Aug 2004
Grant Johnson's Avatar
HU Founder
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Vancouver BC Canada
Posts: 4,170
See http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000191.html for Norbert Berentz's story on travelling through China - 4 months, no problems.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.

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

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
__________________
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.

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

Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com
  #5  
Old 5 Aug 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Shanghai/China
Posts: 141
G'Day,

to my knowledge no changes regarding travelling in China with bikes/cars coming from other countries.
Harley Owners Group Hong-Kong is just preparing two rides in Mainland China again and will cost them dearly once again after all the paperwork is completed and those police escorts.

you still need a guide / temporary plates / temporary driving license. they do not recognise international / foreign driving license in China.

there are some incidents were lucky people came across the border into China and cruised around without hassles. there is always the danger of getting the bike confiscated or end up with more seriuos troubles with the PSB/Police.

we crossed from China into Mongolia Russia by truck & boat (bikes on boat) as well a couple of years ago by paying borderguards but would not do this again.......

Scott, send me an e-mail, like to ask you something, shanghai_bikers @ yahoo.com

best regards, seeya in the pub or on the road somewhere......
BUTCH
www.butchshanghai.com

[This message has been edited by butchman (edited 05 August 2004).]

[This message has been edited by butchman (edited 05 August 2004).]

[This message has been edited by butchman (edited 05 August 2004).]
__________________
Best Regards, Seeya in the pub or on the road somewhere.....
BUTCH
  #6  
Old 6 Aug 2004
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Berlin
Posts: 58
Hi Scott
no confirmation.
The border guy told us, we were the very first to cross this border with motorcycle the last four years.
The most interesting question at that border was: what authorizes you to go around worldwide with a motorcycle?
We answered: we are interested in other cultures and we got an international driving licence. He could read english, so we got through.

Someone else out there has to give it a try

Karen + Goetz

------------------
ïóòü = öåëü
  #7  
Old 6 Aug 2004
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Shanghai/China
Posts: 141
G'Day,

watch out at the other end..leaving China with bikes! good luck and if you ever make it to Shanghai, send e-mail shanghai_bikers @ yahoo.com (put the e-mail address together).

best regards, seeya in the pub or on the road somewhere...
BUTCH
www.butchshanghai.com

__________________
Best Regards, Seeya in the pub or on the road somewhere.....
BUTCH
  #8  
Old 7 Aug 2004
simmo's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: melbourne
Posts: 556
Last year Mark M from Utrecht tried to cross at the Tourgart Pass from Kygystan to China on his DR800. He had a tourist visa only and was sent back into Kyrgystan. it would be great if it was open as the possibility to ride from Thailand to Europe Via Vietnam, China and Mongolia is appealing.
cheers
alec

http://users.netlink.com.au/~asimpson
__________________
Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality
  #9  
Old 8 Aug 2004
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Berlin
Posts: 58
well we tried to leave China today. Unfortunately we gotta be back in Berlin 01.10.04 But no exit via Torugart Pass. First the border is closed during the weekend and second:
You need an EXIT permit if you go via torugart. First time I need an exit permit. Seems to be a special place.
We try to get the permit in Kashgar thru a travel agency. Tell U how it worked

Karen + Goetz
  #10  
Old 11 Aug 2004
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Berlin
Posts: 58
we got out of China, but we had to pay about 165 U$ for 2 people just to get the permit, a driver and a guide to go over the Torugart Pass from China to Kyrgystan. Without a guide they will stop you 85 km before the border.
Actually you're supposed to get a kyrgys party as well to pick you up at the border (another 100 U$) but we could at least skip that. Asking the kyrgyz borderguys they told us we don't need another escort. So we went without them.
Back to Bishkek again

Karen + Goetz

------------------
ïóòü = öåëü
  #11  
Old 12 Aug 2004
baswacky's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 129
According to my copy of Lonely Planet's Central Asia (2000) Torugart Pass is listed as "Asia's most unpredictable border posts, with reliable information scarce, many decisions taken seemingly at random, and unexpected closures by both sides". I wonder if it would have been easier (cheaper?) to leave by another crossing point? Hopefully I might out for myself in a couple of years.
  #12  
Old 12 Aug 2004
davidmc's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Posts: 377
Karen & Goetz or anyone else:

What are your thoughts on being able to enter China via Kyrgystan and continuing to Pakistan at the top of the Karakoram Highway? If this area of China is still accessible in another year this could be a desirable way to cross Asia versus the southern route through southern Iran & Pakistan. Is this a feasible route? I will be doing this trip in another year.

Dave



[This message has been edited by davidmc (edited 11 August 2004).]
  #13  
Old 12 Aug 2004
simmo's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: melbourne
Posts: 556
Dave, a belgian couple did Kygystan, kashgar Pakistan last year but with the guide and $$. It would be a great way to go as it is spectactular in Kygystan and along the KKH.
__________________
Close to Antarctica and a long way from reality
  #14  
Old 14 Aug 2004
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Berlin
Posts: 58
well going the KKH is feaseble from Kashgar. We rode down to Tashkurgan where we were stopped 120 before the border. Without a Pakistan Visum no way to cross that point. Sensitive border area. With Paki visum you can go ahead, no permits needed.
Whilst waiting for things to happen at the torugart border we had a chat with our guide concerning the borders around Kashgar.
Torugart is rated 2nd class (chinese / kyrgyz only). Therefore you need a special permit.
The Kulan Pass from Tajikistan NW of Tashkurgan is 1st class, Irkeshtam and the road from Urumqi to Kasakstan as well.
Khunjerab is also international.

BUT: EVERYONE in Kashgar who had to do with traveling told us, we were just lucky to get into China without nearly everything.
I would not count on it crossing into China like us.

Karen + Goetz

------------------
ïóòü = öåëü
  #15  
Old 16 Aug 2004
parkie's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 199
We met a Czech Aussie biker in Vientiane travelling on a KLR650. He had a Chinese visa already and rocked up to the Chinese border and they let him through - no probs!
Check out www.travelledaround.com for more info.
__________________
Rich
www.horizonsunlimited.com/tstories/richardandlisa
www.youtube.com/richparkie

280,000 kms on a TDM850 - ridden 2 up UK-NZ. Now abusing a Cagiva Elefant
Closed Thread


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:19.