China crossing by moto: Looking for experiences with luggage checks
 

Hi,

We are crossing into China from Kyrgyzstan (Irkeshtam) to Pakistan mid September by motorcycle, and are looking for some answers on the searching of our vehicles and luggage. We have a drone and are doubting whether to send it back home or try to take it with us.

In other countries where the drone was prohibited I kept it in my motorcycle jacket, together with the controller and the batteries. However, I read in China about X-rays but not if that is only vehicle or all our luggage. Another option is to hide it on the vehicle, but I am doubting on the probability of the drone being spotted while hidden in the vehicle.

Same question for medication: did anyone experience a thorough check on the type of medication they were taking with them?

Is there anyone who recently made the crossing that can tell us about the experience ? How were you as a person checked? The vehicle? The luggage?

Thanks

I dont think that drones are prohibited.

I just went with the motorcycle to mongolia, left it there and went back with the plane.
Via Bejing

And they saw my drone and no problem.

Ok for future reference, here is our log through China, specifically for carrying your drone.
From/to: Kyrgyzstan (Irkeshtam) - China - Pakistan (Sost)
Date: Sept '23

For starters: Drones are specifically prohibited to take into Xinjiang and Tibet. So if they find it, the only thing that happens is they confiscate it, but you will still be allowed into the country.

X-rays:
We only had 1 x-ray during the whole tour, when entering the country. First I had the drone hidden somewhere in the motorcycle. However with the x-ray the border guard picked only my vehicle out of the group for further inspection. While I was opening all the bags he was specifically looking at the location where I hid the drone but couldn’t find anything unusual. I got anxious that a next check may be more thorough, so I took the drone (DJI Mini 2) out and carried it in the inner pocket of my suit until we crossed the border with Pakistan. Each time we would have to enter a building (always with a metal detector) I left the jacket on the motorcycle. And in case the motorcycle would have gone through the X-ray, I would have had it in my pocket. It’s only the drone they look for. Both the controller and battery pack were in my bags and went through the X-ray without any issue.

Supposedly we should have been x-rayed with exit customs too, but somehow it wasn’t necessary because the customs bureau was almost closing for the day. Leaving at the Khunjerab Pass it looked like they were building a new checkpoint with X-ray, but that was not operational yet.

Searching luggage
At both the entry and exit customs they are supposed to search through the bags but none of the vehicles has been searched. I asked the guide about it and apparently after COVID, Chinese officials are less thorough with their searches. Eventually none of our bags were searched. Not even once during the five days. Only with entry customs one bag had to be scanned, but we could pick any of the bags ourselves. Very strange but if one bag is scanned, all is OK. I just took my backpack to be scanned.

So all in all it was pretty easy to get your drone across.

Just another question:

Are you maybe a couple, which traveled through Uzbekistan further?
And i might have met in Jashlik at a small hotel for a talk in the afternoon?

Yes we are a couple riding a RE Himalayan and a Honda Transalp. We were in Uzbekistan in Mid July !

Hi Muijsmans,

We (a good friend of mine and me) are planning a trip from France to Japan starting in july 2024. Our Itinerary passes through Iran and China. Could you tell me if you succeed to drive in China ? Did you had to pass the driver licence and imatriculations ?

China crossing info
 

Hello there,

Did you cross the China border with the guide? Or are you solo trip?
Have any recommendation of travel agent in China or other tips to do so?

Thanks