GS Rider Looking to Cross China...

[CrazyCarl]

Needs some more research

Sounds like riding in China to me!

CC

[turbocharger]

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.

[CrazyCarl]

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.


CC

[chinabiker]

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

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
They do all their touring in Xinjiang (Lanzhou Military Region)

Let's see who can host a cultural exchange event.

Andy

[bigdamo]

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.

[CrazyCarl]

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

[CrazyCarl]

I am pretty confident on 1. and 2. but for 3. I still need to do a lot of research.

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.

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