The information below is ONLY valid for Xinjiang province which is an autonomous region. Other provinces may, more than likely differ.

As of June the 1st this year, new procedures are in place for vehicle importation to China (Xinjiang).

It really aint simple and you will need an import agent to handle the customs side of things. (for a fee).

You can get a "provisional driving licence" like mine. Its supposed to be used as a translation to you home license.

You can get a registration number for the bike but its the size of a credit card so you run with your existing plate.
You can get insurance - its required.
You can get "accident insurance" - not sure what this was but we were forced to buy it.
4 photos of the bike are required.
4 passport photos are required

ALL of these docs have VERY finite duration. You say you want 10 days, that's all they are valid for.

Just so you know what they look like the images below are, in descending order: license front, registration plate front, insurance card front... followed in order by the reverse sides.

One other thing. If you exit at Tashkorgan for the Karakoram Highway, they will insist on your import documents. We tried for hours to convince them that what we had was all we were given on entry. No chance. They can sit there until your visa expires and then lock you up. Fancy that?

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

Thanks for that last bit of info! planning trip from vietnam into china and north to mongolia/russia then west. Looks like we will be purchasing bikes in vietnam and heading off april next year. my dad lives in saigon so starting from there. Any other info on getting into china would be grand, just hoping with the olympics and all that it will only get easier! (fingers crossed)

Hi John,

How much did your paperwork cost?
How long did it take to arrange?
Where/from whom did you get the paperwork?
Did you have to have a guide for the duration of your trip?
Do you think I'd be able to get such documents if I want to enter from Pakistan and travel across to Shanghai?

Regards

If you're going to buy bikes anyway, I would strongly recommend flying to Kunming, buying bikes there (with all the stuff you need for less than 1000US each) and then riding up.

I know some people insist on taking their own bikes and must go through the border hassle. If you don't have to though, fly in, get a bike and save yourself the hassle. You can even come back out with it if you want.

CrazyCarl

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mine is from thai-laos-china-pakistan, is that possible?

cheers

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[QUOTE=CrazyCarl;151236]If you're going to buy bikes anyway, I would strongly recommend flying to Kunming, buying bikes there (with all the stuff you need for less than 1000US each) and then riding up.

There's a report from a guy who basically did just this over on Advrider.com

He entered China from Laos, on a Chinese registered bike,

But when he got stranded somewhere on his first bike, he just sold it,bought a new one, and got a welder to prepare the thing for overlanding. All ridiculously cheap.

Detailed accounts of expenses etc at this link: China or bust... - ADVrider

SAluti,

Giacomo.

Hi HA, sorry for the late reply

Our original costs were supposed to be 1500 USD for 2 bikes/riders and thats what we paid... up front - more later

About a month. So all the docs were sent off in good time.

The person we used has gone to ground. Known as Janet. Avoid her like the plauge!

The deal was that we would NOT. A guide to get us through the border procedures and escort us to Irumqui was the deal. When we arrived there
we were met by someone from the agent that we had never heard of or dealt with, our contact having gon to ground. This guy said he wanted another 3200 USD for the guide etc to complete the rest of our trip. Caught said we!
However, he had the import docs for the bikes that would be required for exiting China. Anyway, the next day we took of real early on our own and did not follow our intended itinerary in case he tried to intercept us It was all a big mess and it ended up costing us another 1500 USD to get the papers to exit to Pakistan

[QUOTE]Do you think I'd be able to get such documents if I want to enter from Pakistan and travel across to Shanghai?[QUOTE]

Yes. Contact Abdul on +86 132 797 143 01 or abdultour "at" yahoo.com Mention John & Mick that he met in Korgos and Kashgar and he will know what you are after.
The difficult bit is inter-province travel. You may, (will) have to pay for permits for each and every province you travel through.

Bets of luck. Its a fantastic place and I want to go back!

I think I would use Crazycarls idea of buying in China and riding out for the next one

John

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Nostradamus Ate My Hamster

[quote=Giacomo;151728]Yeah that's Robert. I helped him buy his new bike in Chengdu. He crashed out, went back to Thailand for RR then came back to China and after a bout with altitude sickness ended up heading straight back for Laos.

It is possible, and the bike he got was a QingQi 200cc Chinese made with a DR200 engine. Was just looking at them this past weekend. As far as China is concerned, I think they are currently the cat's meow.

Anyway, I still suggest people consider this option as long as they are:

a) not too tall
b) don't pack the kitchen sink
c) are okay with moving at 70kph

I suspect it won't be possible to do this for long so timing is critical to take advantage of the chaos and poor organization.

Also worth mentioning is that the extreme ruggedness and beauty of China is world class. As every year goes by tourism becomes a HUGE industry and slowly permeates into even the most remote corners of the lands. Sooner is better than later, methinks...

CC

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The world's newest, most super-awesome Chinese Motorcycle and Travel Community!
http://www.mychinamoto.com/

Personal China travel info, photo and video site:
http://www.carlparker.com

I've been considering this. Just parking my Ducati somewhere, buying a bike (I'm amazed at how much faster it goes!) and seeing China.

My Duc is a 250 so maybe I can just buy a Chinese wreck and switch plates.

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Thanks bro sounds like a good option!

I'd like to also say that there will be a little bit of wheeling and dealing to do but hey this is the bribes thread right!

If you wanted to land yourself in the heart of China's motorcycle production fly to ChongQing to get your fill of bikes and hot women then head west or wherever (although I recommend west and as fast as possible).

CC

__________________
---------------------------------------------------
Buy "The Return - Riding Western China" DVD - Now on Holiday sale!!!
http://www.motocyclops.com/buydvd/

The world's newest, most super-awesome Chinese Motorcycle and Travel Community!
http://www.mychinamoto.com/

Personal China travel info, photo and video site:
http://www.carlparker.com