Butch probably is negative & rightly so.
Most = 99%? of people don't do it or get into China.
It’s generally agreed that you can’t just enter as you please on your own. “We all” know that.
But if you want to pay big bucks & sign up with a guide & tour group, then yes it is open.
What would you prefer Butch to say? He simply states the facts, from experience.

Agreed that there are individuals who have succeeded. But they would be the first to acknowledge that they were lucky & their success was probably a one-off at that particular border crossing. You can probably count the recent success stories on your 2 hands.

Take the 30th November post by Goetz, the guy who originally started this particular thread “China is Open.”
Even he now apologizes & says “after reading the whole thread it seems we were very lucky in a way. Maybe the right theme for the topic would have been "Is China open?"
Our excuses to all the lads ´n´ lasses we might have led astray. “
So even good ol Goetz thinks that he may have lead some people up the garden path with his post.
In matters like this then, where lots of time (=money) is involved it’s probably best to err on the conservative side & be negative. That way you won’t be disappointed if you fail.
Should Butch go the other way & advise: “yep no worries mates” China is open. Its real easy now, just roll up at any remote border & you can sweet talk your way in with a little bit of patience & money.”
If he offered advice like that he’d really make some enemies & be totally despised. But by being negative & realistic he’s doing everyone a good service with his advice.

It’s funny how some people don’t want to take no for an answer & believe that the rules don’t apply to them, they know better than the locals as they are a (future) RTW rider.
It would be good if svenpwrenn kept everyone informed of his success at the Chinese embassy in England & pending entry into China, after 20 days of ongoing discussion he must have just about cracked it now & he will only have positive news.
Robborxv I reckon that the reason you don’t hear of too many true bad stories, only rumours, is that because most of them don’t want to talk about it.
Butch keep giving out the advice as you see it mate!
China is not open for every motorcyclist all the time at every border crossing.

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Keep The Power On
Davidfl