Overland China Travel
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Contents
- 1 Entering China with a Car or Motorbike
- 2 Driving in China
- 3 Gas and Diesel price in China
- 4 Safety and Security Considerations
- 5 Camping in China
- 6 Navigation
- 7 Special Overland Travel interests
- 8 Vehicle Maintenance
- 9 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in China
- 10 References
- 11 Helpful External links
Entering China with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: June 2013
Required Paperwork
China is a difficult country for an Overlander to visit with their own vehicle.
It's mandatory to pay for a guide, Chinese Driver's license, etc. etc. and the costs can be very high.
Checkout http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/ to contact others who have done it, or people who might want to do it with you to share the costs.
Process at border
(To check if you need a travel Visa for China, application instructions and fees see: China Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle
Cost of entry
State the cost for a vehicle to enter
Permitted length of stay
State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in China
Insurance requirements
Yes or No if insurance is mandatory, and what kind is acceptable.
Cost of insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Driving license
Chinese drivers license is needed. Usually you are supplied with a temporary one with all the other permits needed..
Driving side of road
Right.
Unknown if RHD vehicles can be driven in China
Mandatory items in vehicle
State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)
Roads
General Road quality
Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
China has an extensive system off toll roads. Prices vary on length of road and size of car. With my truck I ended up paying about 500 Yuan from Pakistan to Laos..
Bribery in China
Briefly describe how common bribery is and whether it should be expected, and the best way to deal with it.
Checkpoints
describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas and Diesel price in China
Last updated: October 2012
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded | €1.06 EUR per Liter[1] |
| Diesel | €1.02 EUR per Liter[1] |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.
Vehicle parking
Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.
Special driving considerations
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for China - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in China
I do not know of any campsites in China and ended up in parking lots of hotels..
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.
Paper maps
Description of the best paper maps and where to purchase them.
GPS Maps of China
Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in China
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Travel Guide Books
List good travel guide books (not necessarily Overland related.
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in China
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- China: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to China - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- China travel guides at wikivoyage
- China - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
