Hi from UK (I ride UK to China) & hope also China - UK

[bikerdoc]

Thailand changed the rules/regulations on vehicles overlanding through Thailand starting from approx. June 2016. Motorcycles must apply approx. 6 weeks minimum in advance for approval to enter Thailand subject to a number of requirements including obtaining comprehensive insurance, an approved travel guide, and more. The maximum time allowed for the foreign plated/registered motorcycle in Thailand is 30 days.

There are provisions through reciprocal agreements that allow some freedom of movement of motorcycles plated/registered from neighbouring SE Asian countries where there are legal agreements in place e.g. Malaysia.

Ch!na doesn't have such an agreement with Thailand. This past 2017 Chinese New Year and Spring Festival saw few if any PRC plated vehicles in northern Thailand, which is quite a contrast to previous years.

During the 2017 Chinese New Year there were many PRC plated vehicles being driven around Laos (more so than previous years), or parked in large parking lots near the Laos-Thailand international border crossings such as Chiang Khong. The occupants of the latter group took buses into Thailand, though I wonder how significant the numbers were, given the new Thai regulations.

Understandably the Thailand Authority of Thailand (TAT) has worried how the new regulations might impact the Chinese tourists overlanding (self drive) from the PRC and have attempted to have the relevant Thai authorities relax some of the policies.

There are fairly lengthy threads on the subject on other forums...