I just arrived in Dushanbe / Tajikistan after riding the Pamir Highway ... enjoyed it very much.

Here I met a Swiss guy, that showed me pictures and told me his story about riding in China without a guide. He bought a 200cc Chinese made motorcycle in the South of China and traveled for two months around China, up to Inner Mongolia and to the West, Kashgar. He bought brand new for around 900 Usd and sold for 600 Usd on a motorcycle market in Kashgar. Of course he had similar problems to what I had on the road, plus he had to get the bike fixed a few times. He even showed his Swiss driving license once, and it was accepted. And he did not put any numberplate on the bike. So, this confirms, it can be done and it is still an adventure ....



mika

Hi mate,
great reading your story. Sorry to bear about your mate Sergey. Look forward to having that some time. Stay safe, look forward to hearing more of your travels. Just returned to China from my India Himalayas trip. Cheers Ken.

Hello Mika. I'm Mikhail from GreenHouse hostel from Dushanbe.
Really great story. Spent one week on the border! You are really unstoppable man.
Hope you have a good travel and nice weather after Dushanbe. Will you post report about your further travel?
FYI We were lucky and passed Pamir Highway without any rain, all days were sunny.

Hi Mikhail,

did you guys get back to Moscow alright. Good that you had sunshine on the Pamir Highway. I had sunshine for two days in the Wakhan valley along the Afghan border, it this two days were one of the highlights of this journey.

For China it helped to have the German "Sturkopf" (pigheaded fellow or die hard) mentality, and my Sturkopf is bigger than that of any Chinese that I met. And of course, I met the right people at the right time on the right place.

Greetings from Baku
mika

The word "Hypocrite" comes to mind?

Nuff Said

Hello Nuff Said,

I would not call TBR-China, whos name is Butch, a hypocrite. Yes, he told me a lot of things about China, that I did not find when I rode across, but China is big and he traveled at another time in a different part. And I have enough travel experience to understand where he comes from and that his advise was meant well, but he did not know who he was writing to. So, of course I cant blame him for his advise here on the HUBB, but I had to post my story to show people that not all his advise is correct all the time and for all of China.

So, China can be crossed without a guide, without a stupid Chinese drivers license and without paying big bugs to a travel agency.

Your name, Nuff Said is interesting, as I had to google it after I read one of TBR Chinas posts a few months ago, because he uses this phrase a lot. This phrase is shorthand for "enough said," which means: there is no more discussion needed about the topic of conversation. The phrase is often intended to bring a halt to the discussion.

TBR China is a great asset to the HUBB, and I enjoy reading his posts.

nuff said

greetings from Albania
mika

Thanks for great information and your adventure spirit to China !

I kick myself to goole more info and I found that

Chinese border is opened to foreign registered vehicle with temporary driver permit since 1989 !
And Chinese government renew to very friendly regulation 2007.

Here is papers by Chinese government and other department info

New Regulation for Foreign Vehicles And Drivers -- china.org.cn
New Regulation for Foreign Vehicles And Drivers

China has issued a new regulation on foreign automobiles and drivers in an effort to improve road traffic safety, according to the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The new regulation will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2007.

The existing law dates from 1989 but is seen as outdated for dealing with rapidly growing trade and traffic, the ministry said.

A large number of foreign passenger and freight vehicles cross into China at border zones for short periods, the ministry said.

Foreign vehicles temporarily entering China must be covered by automobile liability insurance and automobile safety and technical inspection certificates.

The regulation also requires foreign vehicles to use designated areas and routes and leave China by a certain date.

Statistics from the MPS show that in 2005, vehicles driven by foreigners caused 95 traffic accidents leading to 28 deaths and 90 people injured.

Taking into account all road accidents in China during the year, , a total of 40 foreigners died along with 198 injured.

Foreigners visiting China for a short period must either drive automobiles brought from outside China or rental cars. Authorized rental cars are compact models.

Foreigners holding an overseas driving license can obtain a temporary driving permit after being trained in China's traffic law and regulations.

The new regulation will govern day-to-day foreign vehicles and drivers in China. Foreign journalists driving in China during the 2008 Olympics will be treated as "special cases", the ministry said.

China will adopt the standard International Olympic Committee practices of convenience, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2006)

This one is 1989
临时入境机动车辆与驾驶员管理办法
临时入境机动车辆与驾驶员管理办法


Here is temporary driver license.
Foreigners Can Apply for Temporary Driving License in China -- china.org.cn
Foreigners Can Apply for Temporary Driving License in China
Foreigners who have driving license issued by their home countries can apply for a temporary driving license and drive in China without having to take related tests, according to a clause in a regulation issued by the Ministry of Public Security. The regulation will start to take effect from January 1, 2007, the Beijing Youth Daily reported.



The regulation, which deals with the management of automobiles and foreigners that come to China for a short stay, stipulates that the valid period for the temporary driving license should not exceed the period marked in the entry and exit certificates, and the temporary license can be valid for three months at most. The valid period can not be extended. In addition, the temporary driving license should be used together with foreigners' driving license issued at his or her home country and foreigners should always take these two licenses with them, in case traffic police ask them to show these licenses at any time.



Although foreigners who have obtained their driving license at home can get their temporary driving license in China without having to take related tests, they need to attend lessons to study Chinese road safety regulations, before they can drive in China. And they can only drive small cars or automatic-gear cars.



If foreigners will stay for a relatively long time in China, they can consider obtaining an official driving license in China. To do so, they should take their foreign driving licenses and valid ID cards to the automobile management bureau, fill up the automobile driving license application form, take related physical examination, and attend a traffic regulation test. Once they have fulfilled all these procedures and passed related tests and exams, they can get the official driving license issued by the Chinese government.



(Chinanews December 29, 2006)

Chinese version.
临时入境机动车和驾驶人管理规定(公� ��部令 第90号)
临时入境机动车和驾驶人管理规定(公� ��部令 第90号)

Guideline of temporary driver license application

Somebody already tanslate into English. Thanks nice guy !

How to apply for a temporary Chinese driving license? -- china.org.cn

How to apply for a temporary Chinese driving license?

Dear Editor,

I am a holder of a foreign driving license; how can I apply for a temporary Chinese

driving license?

Dear reader,

According to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, applicants should go to the Motor Vehicle Administration to apply. Holder of a valid foreign driving license can apply for a license to drive the same type of vehicle(s) listed on his/her foreign license. An International Driving License will not be accepted.

Required documentation:

(1) Driving license application form

(2) Original and photo copy of applicant's identification documents

(3) Original health certificate issued by hospital of county level or above. Holders of a valid foreign driving license from foreign embassies, consulates and Chinese offices of international organizations do not need to provide health certificate.

(4) Original foreign driving license and photocopy. Driving license in non-Chinese language must be accompanied by a Chinese translation.

(5) 5 1-inch color photos with a white background

The upper age limit restriction for applying for a temporary Chinese driving license is 70.

For further information, please contact the Foreign Affairs Department of the Beijing Motor Vehicle Administration.

Tel: 86-10-87625150
Website: 北京市公安局公安交通管理局




Chinese version.
临时机动车驾驶许可
临时机动车驾驶许可

Temporary driver permit application form
临时机动车驾驶许可申请表
临时机动车驾驶许可申请表


Read all info and printout Chinese documents above, then go to the border !

Please let us know when you try to across the border.

I hope I can try to across border from Laos net spring?


Have fun !

Hiroshi

Dear Mika,
I had struck off China on my 2017 rtw starting from india. But reading your travel has inspired me to put it back on the route. Maybe contacting Rustam would be a good idea or people like him. Thanx a lot and happy riding!
Aditya from india

aditya

part of upload was cut off, so last part is here.

How to apply for a temporary Chinese driving license?

Dear Editor,

I am a holder of a foreign driving license; how can I apply for a temporary Chinese

driving license?

Dear reader,

According to the Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, applicants should go to the Motor Vehicle Administration to apply. Holder of a valid foreign driving license can apply for a license to drive the same type of vehicle(s) listed on his/her foreign license. An International Driving License will not be accepted.

Required documentation:

(1) Driving license application form

(2) Original and photo copy of applicant's identification documents

(3) Original health certificate issued by hospital of county level or above. Holders of a valid foreign driving license from foreign embassies, consulates and Chinese offices of international organizations do not need to provide health certificate.

(4) Original foreign driving license and photocopy. Driving license in non-Chinese language must be accompanied by a Chinese translation.

(5) 5 1-inch color photos with a white background

The upper age limit restriction for applying for a temporary Chinese driving license is 70.

For further information, please contact the Foreign Affairs Department of the Beijing Motor Vehicle Administration.

Tel: 86-10-87625150
Website: 北京市公安局公安交通管理局




Chinese version.
临时机动车驾驶许可
临时机动车驾驶许可

Temporary driver permit application form
临时机动车驾驶许可申请表
临时机动车驾驶许可申请表


Read all info and printout Chinese documents above, then go to the border !

Please let us know when you try to across the border.
Have fun !

Hiroshi

I'm one of those people you so wittingly describe as being a 'good sheep'... I don't dispute that it's possible to ride through China without a guide, but it all depends on where you go in China. You already wrote that you needed a guide to get up the Torugat pass to Kyrgyzstan. Going from that pass south towards Pakistan, you'll need a guide too. I've just done it. Going towards the Pakistan border we still needed a military escort... it's not all as simple as you described.
Apart from that we had non of the sheep following as you described, non at all.

Hello Aditya, I will send you Rustams email address as a personal message. Maybe he can help you, or point you into the right direction, but as you could read in my short report, he lives in Heihe, in the NE of China. Good luck with your trip and please keep us up to date here on the HUBB. Greetings from Bolivia mika

Hello LittleMike,

thank you for your reply. You are right in one thing, it depends where you go in China, if you need a guide ... but it also depends whom you meet and how you approch this person or area. E.g. I crossed some restricted areas and had no problems. And I know, that could have done Torugat pass without a guide, it would have just taken longer to do it. But I just wanted to get out of China at that point, so I took the easy option with the guide.

Reading your last sentence a quote from one of my countryman, the poet Goethe comes to my mind. *The best slaves are the ones that believe to be free.* I would say: *The best sheep are the ones who believe to choose their own path.*

All the best to you and your journey
Mika from Bolivia

I just started looking for info about China and came across your name again. Is this Mika Kuhn???? Yes it is.

I hope to go there next year if I can work out the bike and (no) guide issues. I just returned from a southern Africa ride. My friend told me that he's been to China several times and never had a guide. He wasn't on a motorcycle though. But he said I was wrong about needing the guide. So I got on the HUBB and started researching again. And then I rediscovered you. I read Lauara's posts. Unfortunately all of her links are unresponsive. I would probably prefer to buy a bike there. I'm just starting to look at what is required and decide if I can put it all together. If it looks doable, I will be be visiting Vietnam,Thailand, and Cambodia (non motorcycle) with my wife first.

Buying a motorbike in China for short term visitors (non residents) brings miles of red tape and difficulties not limited only to language barrier as a few documents (bike / d-license) are required to be fully legal and no need to look over the shoulder all the time.
Renting a nice decent motorbike over in Thailand and explore the "Land of Smiles" Thailand, Laos, Cambodia is way easier....

A few China tour operators got told seriously to refrain from illegal doings (temporary vehicle import / travel permits) and some got shut down by the government.... spent your $$$$' wisely ~ nuff' said...

__________________
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