Kazakhstan - China Border, Chorgos (Korgos) or Drushba (Druzba)??
 

Hi,

I'm planning to cross into China in early June/2008. Somewhere (can't remember where) I heard that the Druzba cross point is no longer open for motor vihicles, ie just for trains. Has anybody been there recently, have updated info? The Korgos/Chorgos cross point seems to be an alternative?

I do have as many papers as I possible can get (chinese driving license, chinese bike plates/papers, chinese insurance, working visa) but I'm still about to import the bike kind of unofficially..., do you think it's possible??

btw: I'll stop over at Almaty and be happy to meet other fellows or natives for a drink and stories http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/1drink.gif

Last year, June, it was impossible to enter via Korgos without all the paperwork as a tourist. If you have a work visa, it may be different... or did you mean VALID visa?
Did you get your docs via an agent?

Even so, I think you will be forced to engage an agent to do the import. They also levied a 5000RMB "bond" on the bike. Our agent paid this as we said we had no available money for it.
The customs procedure is very long winded and even though we had pre-arranged permits/license etc., it took 6 days!!

Best of luck and post an update when you get in!

John

Hi John,

thanks for the information. I really meant work visa - I live and work in Beijing for many years. Those visas are called Z-Visa and valid for one year. Due to this visa, I could get regular driving license (not temporary) which I make a lot of use of because I drive car, motorbike and a chinese side car here. 3-4 years ago I made a trip through western China and saw the Korgos border from the chinese side. What really makes me feel uneasy is the upcoming Olympics and with it the tighter controls at borders. The bike plates and papers are chinese (from Hebei province) and semi legal at best. I didn't use any agency but may check out some names&contacts. I don't really have 6 days to spare but if this guarantees entry, I'll do it... Otherwise I need a backup, ie ship or drive bike back to Germany...Gunther

Hi Gunther,

so, you are leaving with the bike, not entering...?

I don't think that should be so bad if you have ownership docs. You will have to buy insurance in Kaz.
Our problem was entering China on French/UK registered bikes.
Our story of entering China starts here: BikerBytes.com: Korgos

I thought the Chinese part of our trip was the absolute highlight!

Mfg, John

fantastic adventure you had! The paperwork and quarrel you had at the chinese border sounds too familiar, I've witnessed many such things during 10 years in China. On the other hand there's always a way... I wouldn't like to return at the border, in fact I return home to Beijing and I don't have unlimited holidays. Whether I take the bike back one day or sell it here remains to be seen, I'm not worried about that.
A couple of roads and places you rode look familiar too me, I've been there myself on a BMWGS1100 3 years ago. This trip is with a KTM 950, hope it's as reliable as the Beemer - it's certainly more fun to drive (for me). How was your route and experience through Kazakhstan? A little thing that bothers me is that I only got a single entry visa to Kazakhstan, I wonder what happen if we clear Kazak. border but refused at Chinese border? Or does this go in hand in hand, ie no exit without entry??

Chees,
Gunther

I had the 950... sold it to get the BM as my friend and I were going to use the same bikes... less spares etc.

We changed our planned route through Kaz... A mistake. We went north to Astana and then down to Almaty. We were told the roads to the south were shite... so were the roads to the north!

We met a guy called Helga from Norway at the Chinese border. He was refused entry with his bike and was able to go back to Kaz and leave his bike with the mayor/police and continue his journey after a couple of days by bus, so I guess the Kaz border police are used to people being refused entry to China after the have traveled the couple of kms of
no-mans-land.

Cheers,
John

Hi John,

I'm planing a trip from Beijing over Kazakhstan ... to Berlin with a Chang Jiang and have problems to find information to organize the boarder crossing from China to Kazakhstan. Do you know if it's possible to turn up at the boarder and get an agent there? or can you recommand a good agent?

My other problem is, that my Chinese visa is running out 6 days after I'll reach the boarder. I guess if they don't let me into Kazakhstan with the bike I would have to leave it in China and enter Kazahstan without it..?!

I have chinese papers for my bike, chinese ensurance, numberplate, and driving license.. but still need an agent.

It would be great if you could send me some advice!
Best

Sophie

PS: Do you know how much those agents take for the crossing? What is a "bond"?

Hi Sophie,

if you are leaving China, then its not the same. What nationality are you?
Normaly, you will need a Kazakhstan visa but they do not have a "carnet" system in place. Travelling into Kaz from Russia was no problem with with the bike but you must/should buy insurance at the border.
The entry to Kaz "should" be simple and not require an agent.

The guy that can give you more info is "Roel Hendriks". He rode a Chinese registered Chang Jiang to Holland a couple of years ago. Check out his web site and send him an email.
He exited via the KKH but I don't see that it will make any difference.

Some reading here on this old thread: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/southern-asia/more-china-24284

Good luck with it all!!

Cheers,
John