China from India or Nepal

[Pete471]

Hi
Curerntly in India and wanting to cross into China to drive down to Vietnam/Laos. Unable to go through Myanmar as NZ travel advisory says no.
What is the best land border crossing for a foreign national on an NZ passport to get from India/Nepal into China please?

With thanks
Pete O'Keeffe

 

[socal66]

China doesn't permit foreign nationals entering their country on vehicle without possession of an actual Chinese driving license obtained by passing their driver's test requirements. You can obtain a temporary license through this process but it is only valid for 90 days and only valid for driving a rented vehicle within China. You would have to enter China first to one of the identified major cities that provides the exam with translation to your language if Chinese is not your thing. Furthermore they don't allow for vehicle travel across their roads in a foreign registered vehicle unless escorted in convoy by a Chinese national and/or on an approved pre-determined route with your exact stops for each night identified. I have wanted to cross by vehicle through China if only to get from South Korea to Mongolia to Kazakhstan but in researching this the Chinese government makes it near impossible for outsiders to independently drive their own vehicles anywhere in the country. Your best option is probably just to ferry your vehicle from India to Thailand.

 

[El-Dracho]

Hi Pete,

Up-to-date information is a little difficult, as I don't have the impression that there ares so many overlanders on that route at the moment as it was the years before Covid. You willneed an agency to do the red tape stuff for China, that's nothing new and many overlanders have done it this way over the last few years.
The whole thing is not cheap, which is why overlanders usually join together to team up for the China crossing.
You might want to have a look on caravanistan to see if anyone is currently looking for others to team up. You will also find a lot of information for your route there.

Grood luck and keep us posted,
Bjoern

 

[Sea Diamond]

Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.

 

[El-Dracho]

Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.

Just found this about the visa-free entry to China. This is great news.

China to apply visa-free policy to nine more countries: spokesperson

 

[Pete471]

Hi Pete,

Up-to-date information is a little difficult, as I don't have the impression that there ares so many overlanders on that route at the moment as it was the years before Covid. You willneed an agency to do the red tape stuff for China, that's nothing new and many overlanders have done it this way over the last few years.
The whole thing is not cheap, which is why overlanders usually join together to team up for the China crossing.
You might want to have a look on caravanistan to see if anyone is currently looking for others to team up. You will also find a lot of information for your route there.

Grood luck and keep us posted,
Bjoern

Thank you as always for your info Bjorn - incredibly helpful
It may be that we hit Myanmar and do a straight shot from one border to the next and get through as quickly as possible

A lot more checking to do first before we make a decision

Thanks again for looking out for us

Pete

 

[Pete471]

China doesn't permit foreign nationals entering their country on vehicle without possession of an actual Chinese driving license obtained by passing their driver's test requirements. You can obtain a temporary license through this process but it is only valid for 90 days and only valid for driving a rented vehicle within China. You would have to enter China first to one of the identified major cities that provides the exam with translation to your language if Chinese is not your thing. Furthermore they don't allow for vehicle travel across their roads in a foreign registered vehicle unless escorted in convoy by a Chinese national and/or on an approved pre-determined route with your exact stops for each night identified. I have wanted to cross by vehicle through China if only to get from South Korea to Mongolia to Kazakhstan but in researching this the Chinese government makes it near impossible for outsiders to independently drive their own vehicles anywhere in the country. Your best option is probably just to ferry your vehicle from India to Thailand.

Thank you for your info - incredibly helpful
It may be that we hit Myanmar and do a straight shot from one border to the next and get through as quickly as possible

A lot more checking to do first before we make a decision

Thanks again for looking out for us and your reply I really appreciate it

Pete

 

[Pete471]

Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.

That is a great suggestion- thank you

 

[Pete471]

Hi Pete...great to hear you're on that awesome adventure of yours. And I'm guessing tibettravel.org was of no help? China has recently been relaxing visa requirements...and possibly a window could be opening. I would suggest approaching a Chinese embassy or consulate in India and see if they have any suggestions for you.

A further question.

I’m aware the visa restrictions have loosened considerably but I can’t find anywhere to ascertain if they will let a UK registered vehicle to transit through from India, into China and then transit through to Thailand or Laos.

Are you aware of anyone in the know that I could talk with please, or any org that could help?

With thanks

Pete O’Keeffe

 

[Sea Diamond]

A further question.

I’m aware the visa restrictions have loosened considerably but I can’t find anywhere to ascertain if they will let a UK registered vehicle to transit through from India, into China and then transit through to Thailand or Laos.

Are you aware of anyone in the know that I could talk with please, or any org that could help?

With thanks

Pete O’Keeffe

I do recall a group of British rally enthusiasts doing a self driving tour here back in 2023, driving their own antique vehicles. Can't seem to find much about them online, but I'm sure you'll have a broader search than myself. Possibly someone from that group is available and can provide some suggestions.

 

[socal66]

I do recall a group of British rally enthusiasts doing a self driving tour here back in 2023, driving their own antique vehicles. Can't seem to find much about them online, but I'm sure you'll have a broader search than myself. Possibly someone from that group is available and can provide some suggestions.

That’s probably the Peking to Paris Rally. I was doing a Baja rally earlier this year that had participants that also did the P2P and asked the same questions. The above regulations still apply so all drivers still needed to obtain a Chinese drivers license and the rally event arranged for enough escort vehicles and personnel during the route in China to meet that requirement. That rally also seems to attract a lot of wealthy participants and it was said that several of them had someone else to fly in before and do the drivers test on their behalf to obtain their license. I don’t have any details on how that aspect was done.

One other thing that you’ll want to double check on is whether or not there are any special security zones within your planned route that restrict access for foreign visitors. The most known of these are the provinces in the west of the country that are involved in the Uyghur lockdown but I think there are other areas as well. These restrictions are not just for self-driving but apply to any type of visitation by foreign nationals without special exemptions.