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Hello everyone,
My name is Bill, I was born in Taishan and immigrated to Canada in 1980. I have been back to China for vacations and visit family every few years. Just sign up with MCM to learn from riders and about riding routes in Western China. I hope one day soon that I can come home to the motherland and see all its beauty on 2 wheels. I just learned how to ride a motorcycle 2 years ago and have taken a few trip thru North America.
Dear Bill,
welcome to MyChinaMoto! And welcome back to China.
To whet your appetite, start with the many many ride reports from all across China. You'll probably have questions about how to ride legally -- it's challenging for an occasional visitor without forking out bucks for guide services, etc. but it can be done with a bit of planning. If you've got any lingering kin over here that could help, especially if you end up wanting to buy and garage a bike here. (Are you from Taishan the Pearl River Delta city or the Taishan Mountain area of Shandong? I'd keep the bike in Chengdu or Kunming...) As an emigrant do you qualify for any kind of program that allows you to stay in China for extended periods? That could make getting a drivers license a lot easier. It's not how long you stay that matters, but how long of a stay is allowed by your visa....
What are those bikes are you riding in Canada and what prompted you to start riding? (I'm a late bloomer too!)
cheers
Euphonius
Hello,Euphonius
I was born in Taishan city beside the Pearl River Delta and the city is now 3 times bigger than when I left it in 1980. I currently own a SYM HD200(173cc) scooter from Taiwan and traveled from Toronto, Canada to Mount Rushmore, S.D. USA 8500km round trip for 2 months last year. I also have 2 Honda Nighthawk CB450sc (82 & 84). I bought the 82 Nighthawk in Western, USA and fly there to pick it up and ride it home thru Yellowstone National Park 6000km one way also last year. I love touring by car, van and now on motorcycle. I didn't start riding motorcycle when I was young because I really like to drive FAST! As I get older and more mellow, its much safer now for me to ride:thumbsup:
My Chinese girlfriend (born in Vietnam) and I want to tour South Western China starting in Taishan and end at Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam for the duration of 2 months.
The plan:
-get myself a Chinese car and motorcycle license(don't know how yet),
-buy a Chinese 250cc enduro bike, title and insure it in one of my cousin's name to avoid "guide service"(is that legal?),
-stay in hostels and guest houses as much as possible as hotels are way too expansive(is there a website for that?)
-avoid big cities as much as possible
-leave the bike at the Chinese and Vietnam border for my cousin to pick up and take home.
-rent or buy another bike inside Vietnam ride from North to South.
-Fly back to Canada from Ho Chi Minh City.
Questions:
-Why do visitors in China need guided service?
-I have an international car and motorcycle license and why is it not violet in China?
Regards,
Bill
You don't really need a guide service. If you have a license, registered vehicle, and a valid visa, you can pretty much go wherever you want with the exception of sensitive areas in/around Tibet and Xinjiang.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chinadian
Your international license is not valid because China is run by a peculiar bunch of people that refuse to honour laws and commitments amongst the international community. You have a very marginal chance at getting a license here because your tourist visa will probably not be valid long enough to meet the license requirement. If you still have Chinese citizenship, or family members with connections to the local government, maybe you can swing something.
Cheers!
ChinaV
is it a little bit ironic that a bunch of foringerres are giving advice to a chinese guy about how to ride in China.
welcome btw and have a good trip
there are many hills and valleys between beijing and western China
not saying its the right thing to do but if i had a cousin who looked a bit like me
i would borrow his license
just sayin
btw
http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/
you can check any place you plan to visit for hostels, food , bars or tailors
If reads Chinese, motorfans.com.cn / Guangdong section http://www.motorfans.com.cn/bbs/f_80.htm is a great place to ask Qs about license etc. My roots is from Zhongshan. When i "home" in '12, heard the "D" still can buy via some Wuzhou countryside officials .
now that's what i'm talkin about
Quote:
Originally Posted by zhu
I am ashamed to say I have been westernized long ago. I can't read Chinese any longer but can speak Cantonese and a bit of Mandarin learned from my ex-wife from Taiwan. It would be a really bad idea to borrow my cousin's license as the officials will notice I only look Chinese the moment I open my mouth. I keep reading ride reports at ADVrider.com riders from around the world coming to China for adventures. Its looking more and more like pipe dream.
Called my Cousin in China yesterday and ask how I can obtain a moto licence and ride legally in China? The answer was LOTS OF $$$ and connections. If I decide to ride without a licence and get caught, possible 2 days in jail!
hi chinadian if worst come to worst and you cant get a moto licence here in china you say you have a friend who looks like you ?? in china
in my moto club we have a chinese menber who cant talk he is deaf and dumb ???? so just act the same way if you get stop by the police if worst come to worst but if you drive ok you could take the risk and not have one i did for over 20,000 km and got stop but just looked dumb and smiled and was let go not a good thing but sometimes you have to do what you have to do if you get what i mean it will be very hard for you to get the licence and no one has said about the test to need to get 90 out of the 100 question correct lol took me 3 time 88 then 76 the 98 then you can only get a car or bike licence not both so its hard here in china but can be done but you need to have a visa for 6 mouths to start with ??? well good luck hope all goes well
steve
just read a post of yours that said
"stay in hostels and guest houses as much as possible as hotels are way too expansive"
not if you dont have a chinese passport ??? will not take you in if you have a canada passport just one more shity thing that happens in china i get round it by sending in my chinese wife to book the room first then i just walk pass the desk hotel can get a big fine if they dont book people in with the police this is done online but most small hotel dont have this arrangment so will say no welcome to china lol
Sounds like we have a new candidate for the moron / idiot club that thinks they are above the law while visiting and / or staying in China.....Quote:
Originally Posted by Chinadian
i dont think he said he was TB he is making a good point the moron is the chinese goverment who makes the laws ??? and all the farmers who drive the ebike who dont know road laws and dont have a driving license and the ones who do who goes throuth reds lights with out looking and the morons goverments kids who think they are above the law and in most cases are ??? not the western person who has had been driving for many years in loads diffance country all over the world who knows to stop at red lights so i think you are being a bit unfair to say the least .....
Hey TB-Racing,Quote:
Originally Posted by TB-Racing
Its not very nice to quote someone OUT of context! Or may be your English is as good as my Chinese. Did you not read the first part of my post where my cousin said LOTS OF $$$ and connections but nothing about passing a test. FYI, there is only one law in China and its call the RED ENVELOPE!
Red envelope, bring a big fat one in case you have an accident - incident with your bought license.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chinadian
You can take the XxxX out of China.... but you can't take China out of the XxxX....
didnt know that CHINA was spell with X in lol i learn something new every day :clap:
Chinadian, if you are serious about riding and exploring China you should think about getting a 6-month visa in order to get a Chinese driver's license. I'm not particularly knowledgeable about visas but you could get a 6-month student visa (X visa) by applying for one of the countless short-term Chinese language courses available throughout the country who will then help you to get a student visa. Back when I was studying in China in 2009, a lot of these fly-by-night Chinese language schools didn't care about your attendance once you enrolled. Things might be more strict now though and they could cancel your visa if you failed to attend enough classes (as is the case in many developed countries).
The plan is to fly to Hong Kong in October and spend a few day there shopping. Travel to Taishan city thru Macau to visit my family and pick up my "cousin's bike". Ride 2 up for 6 weeks around south western China then onto Vietnam for 2 more week and fly home. TB-Racing is a DH but he is right, I must ride legal. Even if I managed to obtained a 6 months visa. We only have 2 months vacation and I can't wait around and waste valuable time writing and do a road test for the moto license. Besides, I can't write Chinese and read very little. As I said in prior post that my GF is Chinese but was born in Vietnam. She want to see China! My family and I have travel though out north eastern China for the past 10 years. Seen most of the major cities(tourist traps). I loved the Yangtze and Li river cruises but didn't care for all the pollution, glass and concrete jungles. I am hoping to see the real China, areas that have not been fully developed yet... Plan B is travel by bus or train and rent scooters inside cities. Will see...
There are many problems with what you are planning, Chinadian. Guangdong and South China in general are some of the most anti-motorcycle areas in China with many cities having complete motorcycle bans. I highly doubt that you will find legal gas scooter rentals over there either or in fact in any city in China. If you are caught riding unlicensed in China you run the risk of imprisonment for 15 days and deportation. You might also be barred from entering China for a very long time.
You are right PeteZ,
I am starting to come to my senses and rethink the whole thing. I never considered riding China illegally or "DIRTY" as described in many Asian moto forums. Thats why I jointed here and RideAsia.com to find ways to do it legit. There are not many reports in the ride China section compare to its neighbors in RideAsia.com because of what you mentioned above. I still can not understand why one must be accompanied by a "guide" to ride in China or why visitors must pay special rates for hotels? I have seen this only in one other country and its Cuba. I am researching the idea of fly to Bali Indonesia and buy a used small bike once on mainland and ride north to Vietnam. Get rid of the bike then fly to Macau and joint a tour there to appease my GF. As this whole trip is about her finding her Chinese roots! I still dream of riding China someday and without any "PROTECTION" from the Chinese government!
PS: I personally don't care for most of Northern China as I mentioned because the pollution and congestions are unbearable!
Glad to hear it Chinadian. As mentioned before, you do not require a guide to ride in China unless you enter into China from a neighbouring country. If you have a Chinese motorcycle license and Chinese-registered bike you can technically ride wherever you like, however there are countless bans and restrictions that will prevent you from legally riding in most major cities and on most highways. China is literally the least bike-friendly country in the world but if you have the time and patience it can be a rewarding experience.
As for hotels, they require special permits to allow foreigners to stay which I guess either costs money or have certain requirements in terms of hygiene and services that some hotels don't want to meet. For hotels that do allow foreigners to stay, I haven't encountered any that charge foreigners extra.
One must read between the lines. Freedom to choose vs control. I am not picking on China as one can NOT smoke anywhere indoor in Canada and not even in bars or casinos. I wouldn't' think of apply for a 6 months visa as China would never grant me one. There for no extended visa equals no moto licence any way you look at it. So the only option for visitors is to ride into China which a guide is required. Regarding hotels, we were thinking of staying in hostels and guess houses(great way to interact with locals, in the West its call bed and breakfast). Since its not allowed for visitors. Once again less choices and more control. We prefer hostels over hotels. Its a totally different atmosphere as travelers can exchange stories, itineraries and ideas. Being less expansive is just a bonus.
http://www.yhachina.com/topic.php?ch...cID=249&a=list
actually lots of hostels in china
not super cheap but a bit cheaper than hotels
open to all
HI Chinadian
Here is one way to get your bike license and is legal and can do on a 30 day visa but cost $600 and haikou is a very short trip from HK and do it and be back in HK in one day as i said it is legal license because you will take the test ??? but with some help ??? if you need the contact details please PM me and i send them back as i think i cant post detail of contack in the open forum this way you will keep people happy here ??? the detail was for car and bike license so the cost for just bike could be a lot less well good luck and i hope this infore helps and what make you think only the north has the pollution and congestions are unbearable! ??? some of the best bike rideing is\ found up north ??? all main cirty in china have bad poullution and the roads are congested its only when you get outside then things start to get better after 60.000 km on the roads here i should know just come back on a 650km trip one way from Longkou to jining done it in 7 hours by toll roads would take 12 hours on A roads
steve
P.S.
when they ask for a chinese name just make one up i find it strange you are asked for a chinese name when you dont have one ???
good afternoon and thanks for your email . so sorry to reply you so late because we are holiday .
we have two ways to get it for you , please see below :
Here is a list of documents we need to help you to get a Chinese legal driving license :
1.a copy of the mainpage of passport.
2.a copy of the both sides of validate china visa .
3.a copy of the both sides of your driving license
4.a copy of the last entry stamp
5．one picture (For your photo, you can sit down at a chair in front of a white wall taking for your half body, you should keep a little bit distance with the white wall without any shadow ) about the photo , you also can scan it and send email to me ,1-inch with white or blue background or 2-inch photo . later we will use one photoshop to adjust it and then print 6 piece for you .
6.Your chinese name and your height in centimeters
7. the deposit is 2000rmb, and the total price is 6900rmb for one people ( if you also want to apply one motobike driving license together , so you need pay more 2000rmb for motobike driving license . so the total price is 8900rmb for car and motobike driving license ,but your driving license need allow to drive motobike .)
you can scan the above documents and email them to me. When l receive them, l will check them. after which l will inform you to pay the deposit. When l receive your deposit, l will provide the receipt of deposit.
you need go to haikou city to make a test with your original passport and original driver license around may 9th or 10th morning and then we will arrange one driver to go to haikou airport to pick you up and bring you go to traffic department to make a test .but we have translator to help you to pass the test , 100% passing . you only sit the classroom . 100% you will get it . also you will get your original china driving at the same day . and evening you can come back with your original china driving license . when we give you original china driving license at the same time in haikou city ,you need pay balance money . at last you can drive at any city of china . the validate of license is 6 years old . after 6 years , you only renew it .
if you don't have free time at that time , so you just need advise us about your free time .
by the way , haikou belong hainan province . it is very close to sanya city (where have beautiful sea view ). many customers got china driving license and then directly rent one car there to drive to sanya and then spend weekend there . it is very good .
we also have another way for you . we also can arrange it for you in guangzhou city , the same documents and price as first way .you also need go to traffic department for one day around the middle of june . it will take around 45 working days to finish the whole process .
if you really need one , it is better to do earlier to apply it , because later it is more difficulty to apply .
if you want to get it urgently , so l suggest you fly to haikou . fast and easy .
If you have any question , please contact us .
AS people have said about cheap hostels when you get out in the sticks ??? away from the big city most hostel will let you in as they need the money but be warned they are shit holes cheap 20RMB a night some i have stayed at but not clean and you would not let your dog use the toilets lol and you need to wipe your feet on the way out hehehe now up to 200rmb you should be ok most 3 stars hotel charge about 300/400 but ask for a disscount sometimes it works was in jining cost of rooms was 450 rmb got it for 250 rmb a night and what is a 3 star here is not a 3 star in the west if you dont like smokeing then be warned agian people smoke everywear and the eating habit are vey different the what you are used to ??Quote:
Originally Posted by Chinadian
But all what i have said dont let it put you of it is a great place to travel and see when you make it your home like i have you just get used it all the funny and strange ways here as to the rules again people who live here just get on with it and adjust so please come and enjoy china ???
Steve, this is great! It will help this guy really. Sometimes this place (MCM) becomes more holy than the pope
I forgot:
Greetings, Wonderwomen
Attachment 11369
What was her name in the TV show then ??? i no ??? do you
yes\ you look a bit like her Sabine just a bit
Very nice! But I have blue eyes.