Will this work? Questions about starting a trip in China

I've got a rough plan for a several-year motorcycle trip. I plan on concentrating on Asia/Europe/Africa. China (and Burma) pose a large problem due to the impossibility (or excessive cost) of bringing in foreign registered motorcycles, cutting off SE Asia entirely. After much thought I decided that I must start with a Chinese registered motorcycle if I had any hope of doing this trip on just one bike. I have no time limit, and an adequate budget.

So here is a rough plan... will it work?

1. Get a Z visa teaching English in China.
2. Use the months working to deal with getting a Chinese motorcycle license and findi a motorcycle.
3. At the end of my Z visa, get a multi-entry L permit (hopefully 180 days).
4. Cross the southern Chinese border with my Chinese motorcycle, crossing several international borders in South-East Asia.
5. Cross back into China, head west, and leave China towards Europe on my China bike.

In theory all this seems possible. The question is:

As a foreigner, can I acquire all the necessary motorcycle papers in my name (proof of ownership, registration)?
Will having a Chinese bike allow me to cross back into China without the government tour-guide required for foreigners on foreign bikes?

Looks like a well thought out plan. We're not used to these kind of posts here, you must have done some searches or something before creating this thread :thumbsup:.

I would look at the ChongQing area as a place to start. You should have good luck with the licensing, bike purchasing and registration there.

If you have a valid visa and motorcycle, you can go pretty much anywhere you want in China without a guide. Just forget about Tibet and some sensitive areas in Xinjiang.

Cheers!
ChinaV

Attachment 10974

Beyond China

Attachment 10975Attachment 10976Attachment 10977

Khunjrab Pass at 18000ft

Dear Rehan,

Holy snowline, batman!!!! You are a man of few words, friend, but, damn -- what a couple of awesome first posts! Whatever the hell you are doing up there in the clouds, it definitely deserves its own thread, and maybe 1,000 more pictures. Amazing!

Picking up the few clues, your profile says you are in Pakistan, and your first pix says "beyond China" -- does this mean you rode into Pakistan from China? Or you are heading into China from Pakistan? What's the story with the bike? Is that a Qingqi?

I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking: "More! More! More!"

Thanks in advance, and cheers!
Euphonius

Thank you for your interest.
We Pakistani are at liberty to cross over to china, with out visa.
Trips are thru the silk route and certainly a wonder of the world.

The trechrous route to Kashgar or Urumqi is an experience of a life time.
We need powerful bikes of 1/4 liter 25 - 30hp.

I have a Honda XL250R Degree (de-militaryized) and its as good as my other KAXA, BODE, MIKILON, BROUSER
and OMOW CRF250R.
Chinese are our brothers and we are depend on them since 60 some years now.

Ill be reaching Shanghai some time next week to pick up some bikes from Zhejiang.

Best Regards
Rehan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RehanK.Janjua

Chinese are our brothers and we are depend on them since 60 some years now.
Rehan

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Brothers?

Not sure the Chinese think that. :naughty:
60 years is a long time to depend on some one.

Gra.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RehanK.Janjua

Thank you for your interest.
We Pakistani are at liberty to cross over to china, with out visa.
Trips are thru the silk route and certainly a wonder of the world.

The trechrous route to Kashgar or Urumqi is an experience of a life time.
We need powerful bikes of 1/4 liter 25 - 30hp.

I have a Honda XL250R Degree (de-militaryized) and its as good as my other KAXA, BODE, MIKILON, BROUSER
and OMOW CRF250R.
Chinese are our brothers and we are depend on them since 60 some years now.

Ill be reaching Shanghai some time next week to pick up some bikes from Zhejiang.

Best Regards
Rehan

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Dear Rehan,

Keep us posted about your progress toward Shanghai. Are you saying you are riding into Shanghai from Xinjiang??? That's a long slog!

I'm sure we can round up a group to meet you in Shanghai and share a meal together. Welcome!

Cheers
Euphonius

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RehanK.Janjua

Thank you for your interest.
We Pakistani are at liberty to cross over to china, with out visa.
Trips are thru the silk route and certainly a wonder of the world.

---

Sadly I am a US citizen, so I think things are more complicated.

Anybody know if a US citizen with a Chinese-plated/registered motorcycle can cross back into China without the government guide nonsense?

Dear Jordan,

There is a lot of mixed information out there about your question. Some Chinese riders have reported departing China in their Chinese-plated bikes, then re-entering, all without paperwork. Others say you need proper paperwork or you'll face trouble upon re-entry. Riders with foreign passports face tougher scrutiny, but if you are legally licensed and plated, and do whatever paperwork you need to do upon departure, you'll have no serious problem re-entering, as long as your passport and visa are valid and your license remains valid.

How is it that you'd be entering China on a Chinese-plated bike if you didn't ride out on it in the first place? Purchased in a neighboring country? Even if you had a visa, if you were entering China for the first time on a Chinese-plated bike, you'll be lacking a Chinese driver's license. I imagine that would be problematic.

Again, what are you proposing to do?

cheers!
Euphonius

Well my experience with a crossing the Pakistan/China border is: Go out of China NP, return on the bike NO way... its a export thing. Pay and Pray

Inner Mongolia/ Outer mongolia same deal as pakistan. Pay and pray

China/Laos is a different story, coming and going is rather common and while a guide helps, not completely necessary.

Oh and Rehan please let Euphonis and I know when your in Shanghai, like to meet you and hear about the ride....

Hello Euphonis, shanghaifingers and all.

Thank You for your hospitality and kindness. Im very greatful indeed.

Ill be flying to Shanghai from Kashgar, to look at some bikes there and Zhejiang.
Sort of a business trip to export a container ful lof 250cc Mikilon, Brouser, Kaxa, OMOW, and Wanda.

All these manufecturers are good, want to physically check the product and then choose.

We intend to become dealers for Pakistan. BODE and Mikilon are based in Shanghai.

Your input will be highly appericiated.

Best Wishes.
Rehan

Hi Jorden325ic

Hope you get all the paperwork done and can proceed on your adventure.
Yes it is very bureaucratic.

The new highways being built from China and Pakistan leading to the Arabian Sea port of Gawader again built by China.

I m a test pilot for Air Command International. Cado Mills, Taxes. Based in Pakistan.
Check me out on Google search "Rehan K.Janjua". Asymetric warefare against terror.

Good Luck to you.
Rehan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RehanK.Janjua

I m a test pilot for Air Command International. Cado Mills, Taxes. Based in Pakistan.
Check me out on Google search "Rehan K.Janjua". Asymetric warefare against terror.

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A rotary wing test pilot??? You and Shanghaifingers will have a lot to talk about!

Keep us posted about your dates, and we'll organize a (No-)Bike Night during your stay in Shanghai!

cheers
Euphonius

I'm getting conflicting information now!

I am a US citizen legally purchasing a Chinese motorcycle while in China on a work visa.

With that Chinese registered motorcycle in my name, can I cross out of and back into China without the official goverment tour guide?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jordan325ic

I'm getting conflicting information now!

I am a US citizen legally purchasing a Chinese motorcycle while in China on a work visa.

With that Chinese registered motorcycle in my name, can I cross out of and back into China without the official goverment tour guide?

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This has nothing to do with your citizenship. If you purchased the bike inside China, and it's legally registered and insured, and if you have a legal Chinese visa or residence permit and legal motorcycle license, you should have little or no problem riding out of China and then riding back in. But be advised: Some border crossings are more sensitive than others, and certainly the Karakoram Highway crossing at Khunjerab would qualify in that regard being that it's in Xinjiang. In other words, if you are a legal motorcyclist with a legal motorcycle inside of China, you can exit and re-enter, sometimes with no hassle at all, sometimes with some hassle, depending on who is manning the crossing and the current pol*tical temperature in the region. Your mileage may vary; your experience will be very location-specific.

If a Pakistani national can easily make the Khunjerab crossing because of the historically close Sino-Pakistani relationship, this has pretty much nothing to do with you.

What's conflicting about the information you are getting?

cheers!
Euphonius

Thank you Euphonius.

The conflicting info I was referring to was shanghaifingers' post.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jordan325ic

Thank you Euphonius.

The conflicting info I was referring to was shanghaifingers' post.

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In China, the thing and its opposite can both be right, or both be wrong, or neither. Please don't look for hard/fast rules. TIC!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jordan325ic

The conflicting info I was referring to was shanghaifingers' post.

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Rest assured once your in country (Lovely Liveable China) you will get a lot more of conflicting info from all sources.
Don't be surprised re-entry into ML China with a China registered bike is refused as import of second hand vehicles is banned and you left China via a border and exported the motorbike....

I got a full on RTW plan as well and working on a few solutions and angles but nothing firm just yet but still got a few years time down the track to sort them issues out. Another option would be starting my RTW trip outside China as I have been all over the place already but leaving PRC for good on a motorbike would be a real classic......

Most border crossings require you to export your bike... Only a few crossings allow your bike to cross over with temporary permission. Its this exportation which is the problem, once exported it is very hard to import the same bike back into China. Thats why most rides out of China are oneway.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shanghaifingers

Most border crossings require you to export your bike... Only a few crossings allow your bike to cross over with temporary permission. Its this exportation which is the problem, once exported it is very hard to import the same bike back into China.

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SPOT ON! checked with 6 international freight forwarders last year to export a legal imported Shanghai "A" registered motorbike for approx. 6 month to Australia and bring the bike back to Shanghai afterwards.... no go I was told as second hand vehicles are banned from China import.
The legal importer / distributor in China checked into the issue as well and same result, not possible.

Now, changes of course are much better at the backwater ~ hinterland border crosssings and some $$$$'s go a long way to make it happen I reckon but not worthwhile in my case....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Shanghaifingers

Most border crossings require you to export your bike... Only a few crossings allow your bike to cross over with temporary permission. Its this exportation which is the problem, once exported it is very hard to import the same bike back into China. Thats why most rides out of China are oneway.

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Are there any border crossings to Laos or Vietnam that do not require exportation?

Check out the Great Ride Forward threads by GRF_Hans and GRF_Pete and GRF_Hans.

There's also this Out of China thread...

And this China Vietnam Laos thread...

Pete recently rebased to China, so maybe he can chime in with what he remembers of his crossings. I vaguely remember that only Hans or only Pete rode back into China.

cheers