In Dec.2009, i have received 4 individual motorcycle self-driving tour inquires in China. Here i would like to list some information about the self-driving tour in China.
1. The Chinese government paper work. If the foreigners wants to drive their own vehicle to China, they should first find an in-country agency to help them deal with the process of Chinese government. And Vietnam also has this rule. It’s not so free like drive the vehicle in other countries. China has many restrictions in this field.
2. The prepare time period. For me, i need at least 3 month to apply the government permits for our guests. And once i do this, it means the guests has already paid the first payment to us. So the prepare time including the talking through the emails, it need at least 4-6 months in advance.
3. According to the chinese law, it’s necessary to have a guide accompany the whole journey. And if you drive the motorcycle or the whole team are combined by motorcycles, then the in-country agency have to send a guide vehicle to you. Because they can’t take risk to ask the guide sit back to the motorcycles. This part will raise the costs too much because of the guide vehicle.
4.In China, Motorcycle is not allowed to drive on highway, and this will add the difficulty of crossing most big cities.
So if you are plan the motorcycle self-driving tour in China. First, please contact the in-country agency as early as you can. And the most important, please be sure your heart is well prepared for seeing the high price from the in-country agency. If there just has 1 or 2 motorcycles group, I don’t suggest you choose this way to travel in China unless you have another normal vehicle to go with you. Or you just want to waste your money.
