World trip - Chinese import regulations / driving license...
 

Hey there,

In 2013 I will be driving all the way from Malaysia back to Germany:
Malaysia - Thailand - Cambodia - Laos - China - Pakistan - Iran - Turkey - Greece - ... - Germany

Everything seems to work out except China which turns out to be a massive pain in the ... I can deal with seemingly pointless regulations but China really is too much :P You can check out my route here: Route nach Shangri-La, Dêqên, Yunnan, China - Google Maps
Here are my main problems:

1) Carnet de Passage does not work in China so I will have a problem bringing my bike (either a new Yamaha XT660Z or an old BMW) there. I read tons of stories online about import fees several times the value of the bike or even that it's not possible to import motorbikes with more than 125cc. Others seem to have no problem at all importing their vehicle.
I would highly appreciate evidence-based information about import regulations. I could not find any reliable source so far. Even the embassy didn't know what to do.

2) Driving license. My German/International driving license is not valid in China so I will have to obtain a Chinese one. This involves paperwork and a written exam which seems to be challenging. Is there any way around this exam? Are the questions for Yunnan province available online? There's one great website that used to offer the question for free but doesn't work anymore (howchinaworks.com).

3) Let's assume I manage to import my bike + obtain the Chinese license; what other problems might arise? Do I need a guide? I really enjoy riding alone and (even apart from the money aspect) wouldn't want a guide to accompany me on my travels.

4) Yes, I know the possible consequences of Plan B(ribe) (losing the bike, fines, possibly jail): Just ignoring all regulations and bribing my way through China (6.000km). I'd drive on small roads in rural areas anyway and would avoid all major cities. If policemen stop me I'd just act stupid (which comes naturally to me) and pay them a small fee. I read several stories of people who tried that and got away with it. Obviously the reports are heavily biased towards success because nobody would post his "I lost my bike and spent two weeks in prison" story to get the inevitable "I told you so".


I'd really appreciate your help... To be honest I'm pretty much lost here and don't know what to do. Once China is out, driving all the way from Malaysia seems to be impossible (Myanmar doesn't work either).

I seriously doubt sneaking in, and bribing your way through entire China would work. Lately they seem to have forbidden inter-provincial travel even with a guide, so it's not looking very good. Burma is practically impossible, too.

But getting a carnet, shipping to India, and riding from there should work.

Thanks for your comment.

Yes, shipping (or flying) to India or Nepal is possible and if everything else goes wrong I'll do that. However, my dream is driving all the way and not taking any other means of transportation along the way. Call me romantic but that's simply the way I always pictured it and I would love to make it happen.

Dude, I suppose we all have this dream, but unless you have very deep pockets or are lucky enough to find another group of overlanders going the same direction at the same time you probably have to bite the bullet.
It was still possible to go from Laos into China and exit to any other country in spring this year, but only with a Chinese travel agency and - to my knowledge - absolutely impossible without it. I received a quote of over 10.000$ from Navo (China Driving Tour; drive your vehicle to China, 4X4 Silk Road - NAVO) for a route from Laos to Kazakhstan in about 25 days.
In the end, I drove from Pakistan (KKH-Khunjerab Pass) through Xinjiang (China) into Kazakhstan, organized by Wayne from Xinjiang & Tibet Expeditions and his local coordinators (Drive into China : Drive your motorcycle or foreign licensed motor vehicle into China : permit and license requirements) for 2000$ (for all the paperwork). I had an official time frame of 15 days (date to date). Except for the first 2 days (arriving at Tashkurgan and then going to Kashgar together) and the last day (crossing at Korgos into KZ) I was without a guide and was free to ride anywhere within Xinjiang. I haven't taken any exam but received a temporary driver's license and license plate (laminated pieces of paper ;-). But I was told by Wayne's local coordinator that it's a lot of hassle so they usually don't get them. In fact, I met two other overlanders who entered from Kyrgyzstan, stayed only about 5 days and then went back there. They used the same agency as I did, but never got any driver's licenses or license plates. I guess it depends on how many days you're in the country. Cross province traveling on my own was a big no-no: This is where the guide usually comes in because there are allegedly military checkpoints which you can't pass by yourself. There was actually one on the way from Tashkurgan to Kashgar so that's why the guide had to be with me that day.
So you could contact the various agencies (there are a few more than the two mentioned above) and ask them about the current situation re cross-province driving. It changes so quickly in China, like the ridiculous "5 people of same nationality"-regulation for foreigners going to Tibet the authorities introduced in May/June this year...

One last well-intentioned advice: don't ship your bike to India, better to Kathmandu. I've heard lots of bad stories about the first one, where in contrast Kathmandu is quite OK. Clearance and various service fees were some 30-40 $ (60 $ the highest I've heard) earlier this year.

I hope that helps you a bit on the issues re planning your itinerary.

Cheers,
Kevin

Good point. I´ve shipped from India to Thailand, so just wrote that without thinking.. or maybe "Indian subcontinent" was what I was thinking, to get across the Bay of Bengal. But yes, Nepal appears to be a lot easier to send to (or from!)

Thanks for your comments!

Can you recommend a company to ship my bike from Bangkok to Nepal?

Have a look at this thread: Air Freight Bangkok to Kathmandu. It's not outdated yet, maybe the prices, but both companies are still operating and doing a good job according to research and own experience.
I chose Mr. Thira (Excel Transport Int.) because his offer was a bit cheaper. Nice guy, good service, would do it again with him.

.
Doing it on the cheap could work out "the expensive way"
It can be done, but I feel thee is too much risk.
You can lose your bike, and get thrown in the slammer for up to 15 days, and a 2000 RNB fine, about US$350.

I think best to join a group, and stay with the group while in China.
Find a group that is planning similar to what your planning, and adjust and change to suit.
You really don't want to be going off on your own.
Motorbikes are not allowed on Chinese motorways, even the big bikes must not use them.

vette

.
Inter-provincial travel is still no problem.
You first need to get an "inter-provincial" permit from Beijing.
Then you need to get a provincial permit from the traffic dept. of the first province you will enter at, normally Xinjiang.
This is along with the entry customs clearance
Also the customs exit clearance.
Also the temporary Chinese driving licences.
The guide, you already know about.

vette

we looked at China a couple of years ago and in the end thought stuff them and all the rules regulations and restrictions. Shipped to Japan instead and had a great time... truly a totally underrated and ignored destination by most overlanders. From Japan we island hopped to sakhalin then Vanino on the Russian mainland.

my suggestions
 

Hi there

We did Oz to UK in early 2011. Same dream as you, same issues... In the end we flew the bikes from Bangkok to Kathmandu - all very easy with Trans air cargo (speak to kittima). We organised our China bit through Newlands travel. Pretty easy (did application etc whilst on the road in about 6 weeks). Went up KKH nd into China there. Impossible to get in without a company to do it for you. Don't think of the guide as any hassle. He was barely with us, might depend on who you get but our bloke Sadiq was really chilled and nice.
PM me if you want any more details

Cheers

Renting a car
 

Hi, has anyone tried renting a car in Xinjiang, having got the temporary driving license from an agency like Navo or Wayne's? I am going to be making a trip with my family, and would like to be able to rent a car and drive around as independently as possible.
Any advice much appreciated

still wanna go?
 

hey,

where are you right now?
I am in Bangkok and also want to cross china. maybe we could go together and share the costs?

Max