Kunming, Yunnan, China - May 2026

[9w6vx]

I am in contact with a company chinaroadtrips.com and they claim they can organize China domestic driving license and you do not need a guide.
They are also helping to organize the bike rental.

I have no idea on the cost yet but at the moment it looks like it's just myself keen to do Yunnan in May 2026.

Here's my plan.

Fly in to Kunming KMG, Yunnan in middle May 2026. Have to avoid the China May Day holidays which is from 1st to 5th May.
About 14 days of riding and add a few days attending the course for the domestic license.
We don't have to necessarily ride together. A few days together to get the domestic license and once we pick up our bikes we can go our own way.

My tentative route subject to more research is:
Kunming to Jinghong (head south from Kunming)
Jinghong to Dali ( head north)
Dali to Lijiang
Lijiang to Shangri-La city
And then head back to Kunming via Jianchuan County & Chuxiong Yi prefecture.
Estimated distance 2800 to 3000km.

If there are more people taking the domestic license course and also renting bikes it would make it easier for chinaroadtrips.com to organize.

I have always wanted to ride in China and have not been able to do so due to the licensing requirement together with finding a place that will rent bikes to foreigners at a reasonable price.

If you are interested in the prospect of riding in China here is the opportunity. I don't think I would be able to make the ride a reality if it is just myself.
We need the numbers for the license course and bike rental. Everyone is free to go on their own route without a guide.

[9w6vx]

Not getting traction here.

I'll have to skip riding in China and plan to go somewhere else.

[ouroboros2015]

I am interested, but not for April 2026, I've a bike trip to Taiwan penciled in for then. If Chinaroadtrips can organise the paperwork; I'd definitely be up for it further down the line. Cheers!

[9w6vx]

I don't think the May 2026 Kunming tour will work out since there is no one else interested.

I am doing Vietnam from March to April 2026 and if China doesn't work out I will plan to ride somewhere else.

Please share your experience and thoughts about Taiwan after your trip. I have been on the fence about Taiwan for some time.

[travel4four]

We did a lot of driving in China, including around Kunming/Dali, and it's all great. Keep trying to gather enough to go! (We were on work permits with Chinese driver's licenses, so had no problem renting - in our case a vehicle.)