Hello fellow bikers and travelers !

I'm looking for INFORMATIONS about borders crossing and TRAVEL MATES

I'm Lucas, a 26 yo French guy traveling around the world and I'm currently planning to go from Vietnam to Japan through China by bike I'll certainly need your help to get me through as it sounds like there is very few people crazy enough to do something like that... which means few recent informations or very tricky to find.

I'm not looking for an exact answer to all my questions, but I'm quite struggling at the moment as I keep finding old very discouraging posts or websites in Chinese / Japanese. That's why any help will be welcome...

Here are my details :
I've got my passport, my international driving license, and the blue card of my Vietnamese bike (ownership) which is not on my name as it's a vietnamese one, and so no carnet.
My bike is a Honda Wave 100cc (I know it's quite a toy, but so far after 6300km through Cambodia and Vietnam it's still alive !)
Mostly forums talks about motorbikes above 125cc, it makes it difficult to find accurate and updated informations for my situation.

Here are my questions about China :
I know it's very tricky to get in, so I need to be prepared...
Do they request any special paperworks to cross the border that I should get before ?
Do I need any special paperworks to drive in China ? I saw things about drive tests (mostly for above 125cc) and translating my international driving license in chinese, is it necessary and if yes, do you know where I can get it done and for how much ?
Any feedbacks about riding through China ?

No I can't go to an agency and pay for a guide for a month, I don't have enough money. Any other solutions / experience are welcome

Here are my questions about Japan :
I'm planning on taking the ferry from Shanghai to Fukuoka.
Do I need any specials paperworks to import a bike / ride through Japan ?
How much the ferry for me and the bike could cost ?
Any feedbacks about riding through Japan (South to North) ?


Travel mates WANTED !
I'll start around the 11th August from Hanoi and I've got NO arrival dates (and don't want one) the trip will be finish when I'll reach the other side of Japan I think it's gonna take 1 month and a half to 2 months.
I'm an easy going sometimes f***ed up artist ( into cinema, photo, writing, all kind of arts and juggling with fire ) always happy to meet new people and quite skilled in bargaining / finding my way through a country.
You feel like tagging along ? Join me in this adventure !


Thanks a lot for your help...
Have a good day !

Lucas
fernandez.lucas@hotmail.fr

I finally found a website in english for the ferry !
SHANGHAI FERRY BOAT “XIN JIAN ZHEN”

Shanghai - Kobe or Osaka :
The trip will take 2 days, cost min 200$ USD for a 8 people room (Japanese style bed on the floor) breakfast included. There is a boat every 3 or 4 days.

Though I didn't find any informations about transporting a bike.

You need a carnet.

__________________
Japan touring information

Hardest part of all of this is getting your bike into, and out of, China.

I won't say it is impossible, but it is HIGHLY unlikely, that Chinese customs will allow your bike into the country. Best option is to try the most out of the way border that you can, and hope you strike a customs official who is in a generous mood on that day.

By comparison, everything else is a piece of cake even though technically you will be riding illegally in China.

Good luck.

P.S. I personally ended up buying a Chinese bike on the Chinese side of the Vietnam border, and then riding (illegally) across China. You may wish to consider this as an option.

__________________
Garry from Oz - powered by Burgman

very good advise.


pls read this for the China part:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...a-wave-82280-4

and also about my entry/exit from China last year:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...na-i-did-82852


as said above, just go to the border and try, like I did. You can buy a bike cheaply on the other side of the Vietnam/Chinese border if you dont make it on yours.

Japan. Maybe it is best to buy another bike for the Japan part of your journey and save on ferry costs and hassle. But just try, and maybe you will be lucky even to enter Japan with no carnet.

I you want the email address of my friend Rustam (who helped me to get into China) pls send me a pm, Rustam lives now near Shanghai, so on your way up.

All the best
mika

Thanks a lot for your answers guys !!
I'm gonna try to pass the Chinese border anyway and see what happens. Will they check my paper when I'll try to leave with the motorbike ? I guess so... and I'm still wondering about Japan.

I think I can't have one having a bike from Vietnam, am I wrong ?
If I import my bike they'll certainly check on the Japanese side, and if I can't get through I'll be obliged to leave the bike and I'll have paid the ferry for nothing isn't it ? That does't sounds good...
If I buy a bike in Japan, will I be able to drive straight away or do I need something else than my International driving License ?

I do want it yes, please ! That could be very useful if something happens as I don't speak Chinese at all... I read the posts, both are awesome !! Sometimes I feels big and powerful riding through unknown countries, and then I read articles like that and I feel so small... I hope I'll met you on the roads guys !

Hi Lucas, send you Rustams email address to your email. Good luck with your journey and pls post about it here on the HUBB, so others can see that riding in China is possible. mika

Thanks a lot Mika !
I'll post what happens next for sure, though I don't know yet if it will be a success story... Hope so ! I'll keep you updated. Right now I'm gonna head to Laos in 2 days from Sa pa ( Vietnam ) So at least I'll be able to check the border crossing there. Stay in touch !

I will also suggest sell your bike in Vietnam, before you try to cross.
Then just buy a Chinese bike.
It's really not with the hassle.
Also with a Vietnam bike, you will get stopped in China, and they really will take your bike off you.
Then you lose.
So do yourself a big favour and sell in Vietnam.
I lived in China for 4 years, and know what th traffic police will do.

I'm also researching info about SE Asia-especially China. Below are links to a recent China trip from Laura. Seems to be a lot of good info.
Overlanding China: what you need to know BEFORE you go | Laura’s Travel Tales

Overlanding China: what you need to know when IN China | Laura’s Travel Tales