Berlin-Beijing trip
 

Hi all,

First of all, my apologies. I'm posting here even though I plan a trip by car. I hope that doesn't make me ineligible for this forum ...

My friends and I are planning a drive from Germany to Beijing for this summer, and at this point I'm just looking for general advice, as well as answers to the following questions:

1. Are there any major safety concerns in undertaking such a trip?
2. How does one go about obtaining visas and other documentation?
3. How long (roughly) would such a trip take?
4. How long does planning take?
5. Are foreigners allowed to drive in China?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Patrick

Complicated Business
 

Hi there Patrick,

My first advice is to search this forum regarding China. There is tonnes and tonnes of information. Unfortunately most of it is not definitive, and most probably not the answers you are looking for.

I am planning to drive UK -> Oz, via China so have been stalking all such threads. The basic answer regarding taking a vehicle into China is it is possible, but at a price. You HAVE to take a Chinese government guide with you, which apparently will set you back approx 100USD a day. There are other expenses too, which rachet the price up. I am allowing £2000 for a 5 week tour of China, not for living expenses, but to pay for the red tape. This is a price that I have been given by a group who did a similar length trip last year in a Land Rover.

A lot of people dwell on the negative sides of having a guide (I'm sure there are plenty) but miss the positive aspects, such as translation, bartering and as a proper guide. I'm not saying these outweigh the negative, but its certainly worth looking on the bright side if you choose to do it.

To answer your other questions, I will give my opinions. Remeber there are plenty of these, but at the end of the day you just have to make up your own mind.

1. Safety concerns: My main concern is getting into China via the KKH, karakom highway, via Pakistan. The safety concern is to make sure you have cross this by October at the very latest. Of course there are other entry points, and depending on your route you will have your own concerns, but generally you can do it all 'relatively' safely.

2. Visas: Hmmm haven't got the answers, but there are tonnes of agencies that will get them for you for a price. You can also try the embassies. Check out other peoples blogs that have done a similar trip, as there is a mine of information. Follow the links on my website (www.jollyfollies.com) for many people who have done it.


3. Time: Well we're taking a year to get to Oz. I'm sure you could drive to China in under two months if you wanted to. But why go that quick?

4. Planning: Sorting a guide for China apparently takes a minimum of 3 months (if not longer) to chase the paper associated with it.

5. See above

Finally, I believe there are people who have driven cars into China illegally, but this doesn't seem to be recommended, and not something I am even contemplating.

Hope this helps, and feel free to email me if I can help further.

Cheers