Four wheels into China
 

Hello all,

I have spent the last few hours reading the many posts on China, and it would seem that the general opinion is to take a vehicle into China it is going to cost approx $200 (??) a day and you will need to take a guide with you.

As part of my planned trip to Oz, I would love to hook by China, particularly as I have a good friend there who could put me up. This would mean staying in China for about two months, with my trusty vehicle alongside.

So this wouldn't really fit in with paying big bucks each day, and having a guide alongside.

So I suppose the questions I have to ask are:

1. Is it true about the cost and the guide?
2. Does anyone know if its on the cards for this to change, particularly with the Olympics around the corner.
3. Assuming its possible, are there any particualr routes I should look out for to get into SE Asia from there?

Apologies if I'm bringing up old news, but most of the posts were more particularly about motorbikes than cars, so I jsut wanted a more relevent post to ask the question.

Thanks in advance for the help ........

Hi Ollie,

I have been looking at this for a long time and the best I could get is that the charges for the permits, as in:

Xinjiang Border Management Bureau
Xinjiang Custom Department
Xinjiang police Bureau
Xinjiang military Department
Xinjiang Border Transpoartation Bureau
Xinjiang Border Security Bureau
temporary driving licence
temporary licence tag

will cost about $700 (USD). I'm told that it will cost you another 700 to enter another province!.... new permits for new province.

The guide, as you say, is $150-200 per day - outrageous in a country where $20 a week (or was that per month), is consided good wages!

I was also told that it is possible to travel without a guide if you sign a contract, not to break the law and not to go to "closed" areas, (list supplied).
No further info on this yet though.

I could live with the cost of the permits if I could be shot of the guide;-))

Cheers,
John.

Let us know if you get more other info please!

As I feared
 

Thanks for that John. That is as feared. I have only been looking into this for 4 months now, and this seems to be the biggest issue with choosing a route. Well maybe the fate of Iran .........

I was hoping that with the Olympics things might change, butI have seen no sign of that. I have written to the Chinese embassey and a couple of people advertising there services on websites, but no reply yet. My next hope if my friend out in Shanghai, but he seems as confused as me.

I'll certainly let you know if I hear anymore, and would be grateful if you can do the same. When are you thinking about heading out there?

Hi Ollie,

want to set off in late May (from France), to be in Chiana during the 1st week of July.

I was also hoping the the Olympics would ease things but no sign as yet.
It a bit of a bugger really 'cos we want to go to Goa and back in a loop. China and Iran are the 2 biggest problems... I think.

John

Some Info
 

Hi
This lot do trips into China about once every two years or so.

http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/index.html

Have friend Bill who spent 6 weeks driving China 2 years ago and suggested that its best to go there only if you have a very good reason!!!
Lots of bureaucracy at every border.

Good luck with the trip what ever you decide.