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  #1  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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Entering China on a bike... with work permit/contract
Well, I've been in touch with an agency that hires english teachers in China, and although it's easy to get work for me as such there, they weren't able to help me out at all about the whole "geting in overland by bike" as all the people they've hired till now have flown in.

So, my question is:

Would it be possible to go in by motorbike if I had a work permit and/or contract for China?

Alternatively, anyone know someone I could ask about this?

I'm kind of curious, seeing as I wouldn't be going in as a tourist, but to work (and thus with a work/business visa instead of a tourist one), so figured perhaps they would allow me in.

Anyhow, just trying to figure things out... any help at all appreciated.

Oh, and assuming things don't work out, does anyone know if there are any posibilities for cheap long-term storage in India where I could leave my bike for a year while in China? (Or perhaps a friendly HUBBer with a bit of space in their garage)
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  #2  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by QuePasaJero View Post
Would it be possible to go in by motorbike if I had a work permit and/or contract for China?
G'Day,

Mate, same red tape, makes no difference... with or without contract / work permit.

How will you obtain your Chinese work permit outside of China? You have to complete a few visits to Chinese government offices in person and lets not forget the great medical check up for the China work permit and Z visa. Your China work permit and Z visa will be processed in the city you will live and work.

Best Regards, Seeya in the pub or on the road somewhere.....
BUTCH
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  #3  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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Sometimes I wonder why I hate authority... and then I get reminded.
Ah well, that plan out the window then... so either put it in storage in India or flog it off before entering China and get another one once I leave again.

Guess I'll just putt-putt-putt it on a 100-or-less cc when in China ... that, or a pushbike...

Hmmm... I wonder if the "thumb" is a recognised signal in China? :confused1: (somehow I get the feeling that's even less realistic than getting my bike in).

And for wishful thinking, maybe, just maybe, they'll ease up a little in the next couple of years (I figure it has about the same amount of chance as a snowball in Hell, on a hot day).

What can I say? I'm an optimist (yes, I'm a little bathtub-shaped sailing boat without an engine... in the middle of the ocean)

PS: Thanks for the info btw!
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Last edited by QuePasaJero; 9 Sep 2008 at 09:35. Reason: Forgot my manners.
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  #4  
Old 9 Sep 2008
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Originally Posted by QuePasaJero View Post
Hmmm... I wonder if the "thumb" is a recognised signal in China? :confused1: (somehow I get the feeling that's even less realistic than getting my bike in).
G'Day,

hitchhiking? not allowed and never seen it in 20 years China.
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  #5  
Old 10 Sep 2008
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QuePasaJero,

best forget your dream, I've worked in China off and on for a total of 9 years, had all the paperwork etc. but never could get a bike in. I gave up in the end. Depending where you plan to be based you can bye small bike in China, and larger Chang Jiangs (750 BMW R61 copies) they have Sachs 125 Madass's... great little things.

Chine is a red tape heaven, if you like red tape.
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  #6  
Old 10 Sep 2008
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Don't be too dismayed.
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Originally Posted by deaninkl View Post
QuePasaJero,Chine is a red tape heaven, if you like red tape.
It can just be heaven too if you want.

I was there in April/May, bought a new 125cc Haobon in Qinzhou and rode 7,500km around China including to Xian, Beijing, Mongolia and Shanghai. I did this on a tourist visa with no licence, no registration and no insurance. I had daily interactions with police, all of whom went out of their way to help and assist me.

In my experience, in China the rules are one thing and reality is another.

Garry from Oz.
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  #7  
Old 11 Sep 2008
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Hi QPJ,

first of all, forget about bringing a bike to China.

Very much depending on where you are going to live, China can be motorcycle heaven or hell .

After you got your work permit and residence permit (formerly called Z-visa), you can get a driver's license (procedures vary in different places).

Things go fairly easy in Beijing and can be a PITA in other cities.

There are, let's say, 4 groups of bikes available, which can be legally registered:

1. The < 200 cc class you can find everywhere and they go for 5k to 8k RMB.
2. The 600cc Chinese made Jialing, which is quite a nice bike, carries a price tag of 30k RMB.
3. Price range for the CJ sidecars is 8k to > 50k, depending on the condition of the bike, but they may be difficult to register in some areas.
4. The imported big bikes start from about 100k RMB. To my knowledge, to date BMW, Ducati and HD have dealers in China.

Depending on the place of rego, the plate costs from 1k to 20k RMB.

Check this out for more info on riding in China.


Remember, every village has different rules!

Andy

P.S. Tell us where are you going to live.
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  #8  
Old 11 Sep 2008
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Originally Posted by chinabiker View Post
Check this out for more info on riding in China.
G'Day,

check here as well: BG Performance's Forum - Home

where will you live = work in PRC?
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  #9  
Old 19 Sep 2008
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First of all, believe it's possible
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Originally Posted by farqhuar View Post
I did this on a tourist visa with no licence, no registration and no insurance
Hi QuePasaJero

Same experience for me, it was heaven, i ride through China (from Kazkhastan to Beijing) in 2005. Then as was saying Farqhuar, in a so huge country, there is also huge differences between rules and reality... First of all, believe it's possible

Chris
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  #10  
Old 19 Oct 2008
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Talking To QuePasaJero
Sell your existing bike and buy a new one here in China. i've driven many bikes including a Honda CB 1100 back home, and for 9000 RMB (about $1300 Canadian) you can get a decent clone of a 250 Rebel (i have one as my first string bike). Yeah sure you'd get laughed off the road back home, but seriously, with the roads here being what they are, you REALLY don't want a big frikking land yacht! HOWEVER! IF you want a big bike? Many places can be found that sell reconditioned (new paint job) Japanese 2nd hand bikes and though the regi is non-existent, there ain't too much to worry about. i've been driving around with my other beater bike in town with no plate on for over a year now. Basically, the cops here have the attitude; if they CAN turn their head the other way, they will. They don't usually want to hassle foreigners in any way and many times are pretty easy to get along with. In the end, the worst they can do is deport ya bro!
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