Howdy all,
I've just joined up as I'm planning on going through China on my GS in Feb/March '09 and I'm looking for more help. Looking forward to getting lots of good tips'n'tricks for riding in China.:scooter:
Cheers,
TurboCharger
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Howdy all,
I've just joined up as I'm planning on going through China on my GS in Feb/March '09 and I'm looking for more help. Looking forward to getting lots of good tips'n'tricks for riding in China.:scooter:
Cheers,
TurboCharger
Welcome to the site turbocharger.
What area of China are you planning on riding through? It's gonna be a cold ride if you're coming through in Feb/March. Give us a few more details on your plan and I'm sure there will be lots of advice from the MCM crew.
Cheers!
ChinaV
We are planning on arriving in China in late February in Yunnan provence then into Sichuan, Tibet and Xinjing. Leaving China via Kashgar. I know the weather will be cold when we start but I expect that if it is very cold we'll just stop and settle down for a while until it warms up again.
Given that we have our own bike and we want to temporarily import it into China without paying for a guide any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Sounds like a sweet ride and welcome to the board!Quote:
Originally Posted by turbocharger
Ooooohhhh... that's a tough one. Some others have asked similar questions here before and it's worth searching for responses if you haven't already. Also, for some of the best GS in China knowledge around, be sure to hit up Chinabiker. He's a great guy and gen-u-ine rider.Quote:
Originally Posted by turbocharger
Would love to hear more about your trip!
CC
note: Thread moved and renamed
Hey Turbo Charger!
So we meet again!
I too am new to the site and planning to cross china in June 2009, coming from Cambodia where I have lived for the past, almost 8 years.
I would love to do the trip on just one bike, as us guys get attached to these things, but not averse to doing it on 2 or 3 different bikes if that means it becomes easier.
Will check out the site and see what people have discussed so far. I am thinking of going to the Chinese embassy in Phnom Penh next week and see what they have to say.
Turbocharger, where are you guys now? If youre in my locale (phnom Penh) lets meet for a beer.
Mick
The route takes me from Laos border through Yunnan to Chengdu then north to Xinjiang Provence skirting the mountains through Sichuan provence.
I have a fully detailed itinerary but I need help with the paperwork and entry into China. My preference is to enter and cross China without a guide as this is very expensive. Failing that I'm looking to join a group. I'm riding an '07 GS.
Are BMW's popular in China?
Unfortunately there is no documentation about the process to obtain the necessary paperwork, at least not disclosed to the public.Quote:
Originally Posted by turbocharger
You will, most likely, have to find someone who has a backstage view.
Check out this thread for some info and links on this topic or try to contact the guys from Hiddenchina or Haiweitrails.
There were people who have made it on their own bikes through China without guide, but only a few and quite a while ago.
I am not aware of anyone who managed to do so since the beginning of 2008.
Also, 2009 may not be the perfect year to try - look here.
If you have enough time you probably can sit it out at the border.
I doubt that there will be a group to join in this area at this time of the year.
BMWs are popular in some areas but not really widespread.Quote:
Originally Posted by turbocharger
Good luck for your trip and keep us updated with anything which could be helpful for others.
Cheers
Andy
looks like you can add Xinjiang to the list as well .
Feb/March will be very very cold and tough on the Tibet-QingHai plateau and in all areas above Chengdu.Quote:
Originally Posted by turbocharger
You have nearly zero chance to get the authorization to ride your own foreign plated bike unless you are part of a group built by a local travel agency. Be ready to pay a lot.
March 10 is the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising. Chinese authorities expect troubles in all Tibetan populated areas and there is a big risk they will close them to foreigners.
Maintenance of your BMW can be an issue. Your visa will be certainly no more than one month so you can't wait too long for parts.
Do not expect to do more than 300km in average a day (no night ride unless you want to be dead meat) so one month is what you need from South Yunnan to XinJiang.
Another solution is to come in China, buy a local cheap bike, ride it from A to B then sell it. Few guys have done it successfully. Normally it will be illegal because you need a local driver license but it seems that Police doesn't bother too much about license unless like me you are involved in a traffic accident.
Good luck for your trip, riding in China is a fantastic experience.
I just got a reply from John Cafe, quoting me 4,500 euro, which is just too much to justify the trip for me, to do it alone anyway. It certainly seems to be well outside what have been normal for me to pay whilst living in Asia for the past. They must be charging a $100 daily rate plus $1500 fees.
I really need to link up with others to make this work which would mean redoing my schedule / budgets.
Another option is to do the bike buying and selling thing, i have some contacts in Guanghou who could help buy a registered bike.
Needs some more research
Sounds like riding in China to me! :lol8:Quote:
Originally Posted by steamerstimpson
CC
Ok so I'll spill the beans on this card that I've been keeping close to my chest.
I read that it may be possible to enter China with a temporary import permit, temporary drivers licence, temporary vehicle registration, valid visa and permits for each provence you're entering and without a guide BUT to do this you need a rights waiver provided by an authorised travel agency. Now I have not, I repeat NOT had this checked because no one has heard about this backdoor. So my plan was to find someone that can provide proper legal advice on China in Phnom Penh and possibly provide a statutory delcaration in Chinese that will waive my rights to assistance from the Chinese government should have an ill fated adventure. This needs to be endorsed by an authorised travel agent.
The catch is that for a travel agent to do this you must first speak Chinese - so you might as well be chinese...
If anyone has advise on this backdoor or any other loophole then now is the time to speak up.
The only people I've heard of entering China without a guide did so from the NW entry points like Kaz-stan. The rules and regulations are not universally enforced along all the borders so what may work for one might not for another.
The part of your backdoor that raises a red flag to me is the "Waiving my rights to assistance...ill fated" bit. Fact is if you are there and something goes wrong, you'll have to sort it out. I'm not sure what kind of "assistance" you're talking about but any help you would get would be from your embassy or consulate and I'm sure you'd want it. Talk to Brice about that.
Finding a way to legally ride China unescorted with your own bike is like the Holy Grail of riding in Asia. What I usually suggest is to do the best you can with what you have and then give it a shot. Just like everything else in China...it's a toss of the dice.
:deal:
CC
I did some research on the foreign vehicle - temporary import - temporary driving license thing, and slowly I begin to understand.
It's like playing with Matryoshka dolls :lol8:
1. temp dl and temp vehicle rego
A pile of documents is needed, 2 of which let the challenge start, the temp import permit of Chinese customs and a certificate from the Chinese host of the event the applicant will participate in.
2. temp import permit
Vehicles can be temporary imported for "performance or contest in cultural or sports exchange".
3. This is where those agencies appear on the scene. They are obviously hosting a "cultural exchange event" which has to be approved by authorities. E.g. the route has to get green light from the military region(s) it passes through. Also it will be decided on a guide or not.
Not surprising that this procedure takes a lot of time.
I am pretty confident on 1. and 2. but for 3. I still need to do a lot of research.
There is one company doing the tours for Edelweiss - their business title: cultural exchange :naughty:
They do all their touring in Xinjiang (Lanzhou Military Region)
Let's see who can host a cultural exchange event.
Andy
He could see if he could enter the Taklimakan Rally and get the invites from them but unfortunately the dates don"t line up.Kanas is real nice that time of year.
That's true. It would be one helluva way to experience China and REALLY see the desert. That by itself would be sweet and you'd get to see some of the cities along the way.
CC
I think 3 is the veritable fly in the ointment. Reason being that if it comes down to military approval, money doesn't really work all the time. Most of these guys would rather keep their ass in one piece than a few extra bucks in their wallet and Xinjiang is a tense region.Quote:
Originally Posted by chinabiker
I mean what are the chances that a military official would approve a request to let a foreigner (especially solo) ride Xinjiang or Tibet unescorted? If someone is fine with having an escort the entire time then it may be worth looking into but if you're looking into.Just showing up and riding is one thing but as soon as they know you intended visit, now they have to take responsibility for you and should something go wrong, the person who signed the approval won't be having a good time.
CC