I am wondering if I can take a ferry from Japan somewhere to china and ride China with my own USA registered motorcycle without having a guide with me? I did not list China as a potential country on my Carnet, so I'm also wondering if China requires a Carnet?

Hi,

I have registered (and paid) to do a month long loop through China. I'm an rtw rider and am progressing up through SE Asia. I'm due to start the tour on Nov 6.

The long and the short of it is that the tour operator is turning out to be a really strange and abrasive guy. I was warned about him, but thought I'd take my chances. Looks like that was a mistake.

There's still time to get a refund and find another operator.

I have written to 'Ride China' twice, with no answer.

Does anyone have the name of a good tour operator in China?

Thanks.

Tibetmoto are very reliable and awesome. We had booked an independent trip which was cancelled due to another group misusing their trust. You may have heard about it? they refunded our deposit and were fantastic to deal with. Please tell them we recommended them

oops. We are Liz and Con from roostersoverland.com

info@tibetmoto.de (Hendrik)

Regular ferry sailings Japan to Yantai, Shandong Province

hello scootpilot,

Sorry, I just saw your message this morning. China does not recognize the CDP at all, hence the need for special permits etc etc

Seems changes are coming as per China Daily Newspaper....

Rules eased for foreign tourists on road trips
China Daily Newspaper 2015-09-03

China has simplified procedures for international travelers who drive cars through the country, making it more practical.

The ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs and the National Tourism Administration jointly released a notice in late August to manage international tourists' driving trips in China, effective Oct 1.

"Public security bureaus and tourism administrations at all levels are no longer issuing approval documents for international tourists' self-driving trips in China. Organizations should not require these documents to issue driving permits for international travel," the notice said.

According to the notice, all international tourists' driving trips must be arranged by a certain number of tourism agencies with approval licenses. Agencies must arrange tour guides to follow the entire trip. No individual trip is allowed.

"It is a sign that China's tourism is going global and becoming more open, aiming to link to the world," said Wei Xiao'an, China Tourism Leisure Association secretary-general, adding that the regulation is not for foreigners who reside in China but for tourists only.

"Under current policy, it is very complicated to have a self-driving trip for international tourists, including going through public securities and customs. The complex procedure makes foreigners' self-driving hardly possible in China," Wei said, adding that the new policy might be a signal to gradually nurture the market of foreigner's driving trips.

However, Wei said it is hard to predict the potential of the market. "It depends heavily on the tourism products and season," he said, adding that the notice is only a start for the market to grow.

"Currently, foreign travelers' driving business accounts for less than 1 percent of the company's inbound tourism business," said Yu Liangbing, deputy general manager of inbound tourism under China CYTS Tours, adding that many countries have complicated procedures regarding foreigners' driving, not only in China.

He also hopes that the future policies regarding foreigners' driving can continue to be simplified.

"For instance, if international travelers rent vehicles in China, there will be more specific policies to manage their trips," he said.

Web-link = http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2...t_21781620.htm

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Lets see wich effects this "publication" on the pricing of the agencies will have.....

Wolfi
www.gritsch.at.tt

DavidZweig where does one get tgat letter of permission?

So does that most recent official announcement from the Public Security, Foreign Affairs and the National Tourism Administration mean we're back the square one, wrt escorts and the indi-travel loop hole has been closed?

Less docs means maybe weeks not months to organise, but as Wolfi asks, will tour agency prices drop accordingly?

Unfortunatelly i have to agree. No chances only with CDP

Well - reads everything back to group tours as shady tour operators must have stepped on some toes recently.
Haven't really looked fully into current requirements and procedures as doesn't affect riding motorbikes as a resident with a fully legal China registered bikes and required documents (driving license / visa / insurance).

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Well at least the rules seems to be moving in the right direction, officially that is. I'm planning a trip through China in early 2016 so was happy to hear some clarification to the rules. I'll be checking now with some tour operators to see if their costs have been updated

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any more recent info in regard to self driving/riding across China?

It was sensational hearing that it was done, then it was like a kick in the teeth a month or so later.

I am trying to organize to overland through China from either Laos or Vietnam, to be able to continue my trip through Mongolia in Russia.

Regards...