Drive from Germany to China – Road Trip to China by Car from Germany

People may wish to drive from Germany to China for a wide variety of reasons, but the ideas of exploration and discovery are common. Regardless of your precise motivation, however, you may find that you run into complications and practical problems, especially with the country’s strict laws on foreign drivers and foreign-registered vehicles. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that, contrary to its reputation, driving in China as a foreign visitor is possible and travelling by car or motorcycle from Germany can be an unforgettable experience. In this article, you will learn more about the legal requirements and the best route to travel.

When planning a road trip from Germany to China, it is imperative that you do the necessary work to ensure you are granted entry to the country and are allowed to drive on Chinese roads. In particular, foreign drivers are required to obtain either a temporary or full Chinese driving licence, depending on circumstances. For most travellers, a temporary licence will be sufficient. To obtain one, you will need both the original and an official translation copy of your driving licence. A full Chinese licence will require you to pass a theory test too, with a score of 90 percent required. Either way, it is best to speak to a tour operator about the steps involved.

Bringing your own vehicle into the country also requires significant paperwork and you will have to obtain temporary number plates too. Moreover, authorities will expect you to have valid insurance, as well as a detailed plan of where you will travel within the country, and you will need to know the rules for each province you plan to enter.

Feasibility of driving from germany to china with own car

Is it possible to travel from Germany to China or South East Asia by Motor vehicles? Yes, this is possible. Every year there are people who have done it. They drive normal cars, motor homes, old timer, trucks, buses, vintage cars, pure electric vehicles, and even ride motorcycles to China, India or Southeast Asia.

How to drive into china with a germany-registered vehicle?

Because China is not a party to the United Nations International Treaty on Land Transport, international driving licenses are not recognized in China. using ATA Carnet or Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) to temporary import the used vehicles of tourists into China is not currently feasible. Tourists’ vehicles need to be registered after entering China and they must obtain temporary Chinese number plates to drive on the road. Therefore, tourists driving in China and driving on Chinese roads usually need to complete the following procedures

Therefore, foreign tourists who want to drive own car/motorbike into China and drive on Chinese roads usually need to complete the following procedures:

• Passport (valid for six months)
• Chinese tourist visa (It is recommended to apply in in your own country, of course, it is also possible in a third country, but if possible, apply in your own country)
• Temporary import of vehicles into China (via a China Travel Agency)
• Apply for a temporary driver’s license in China (via a China Travel Agency)
• Apply for Chinese temporary number plate (via a China Travel Agency)
• Need local guide (via a China Travel Agency)

Chinese travel agencies usually ask for following Materials and documents

• Passport, valid for at least 6 months
• Chinese tourist visa
• Vehicle registration certificate
• Vehicle inspection report (TÜV, MOT, DEKRA, ContrôleTechnique, ITV etc.)
• National driving license (no international driving license required in China)
• Vehicle photos
• ID photo of the driver (people who want to get Chinese temporary driver license)

Apply china visa in germany

You can apply for a Chinese tourist visa(L Visa) in your home country, or you can apply for Chinese tourist visa in a third country on the road. If conditions permit, we always recommend that you apply in your home country. To apply for a Chinese visa in your home country, you need to ensure that your visa is still valid when you reach the Chinese border. Following are places for applying china visa in germany.

• Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Berlin
• Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Frankfurt
• Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Hamburg
• Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Munich
• Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Duesseldorf

Road Trip from Germany to china

In addition to sorting out the legal requirements, it is crucial that anyone intending to drive from Germany to China takes the time to plan out their route and sets aside sufficient time to make the journey. Depending on your precise route and your precise start and end point, you are likely to be driving for upwards of 100 hours. With this in mind, in order to safely make the journey, take in your surroundings and rest sufficiently, you are going to need to allow yourself several weeks and it is best to get advice from experienced tour operators.

The best route to travel is to head east, through Poland and Belarus, and into Russia. From there, travel south, through Kazakhstan and then through either Mongolia or Kyrgyzstan, and into China. You will need to check visa requirements for the route, but travelling through the European countries and Kazakhstan will usually not require a visa. Some travellers opt to deviate from this basic path, in order to see different parts of the world along the way. While this is possible, you will need to check travel requirements. Some of the countries in the region have strict laws, which can make it unnecessarily challenging to actually complete your journey.

The following are the most commonly used routes:

Route 1(Entering China from Kyrgyzstan): Germany-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-Turkut Port or Irkstan Port-China

Route 2(Entering China from Mogolia): Germany-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Mongolia-Bulgan Gol or Zamiin-Uud-China

Route 3(Entering China from Kyrgyzstan): Germany-Czech Republic-Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China

Route 4(Entering China from Pakistan): Germany-Czech Republic-Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-(Many governments will advise their citizens to stay away from the Iran-Pakistan border, please refer to the latest Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel security tips)-Pakistan-China

Road Trip from Germany to India

Route 1: Germany-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-China (Xinjiang)-Pakistan-India

Route 2: Germany-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-China (Xinjiang, Tibet)-Nepal-India

Route 3: Germany-Czech Republic-Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-(Many governments will advise their citizens to stay away from the Iran-Pakistan border, please refer to the latest Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel security tips)-Pakistan-India

Road Trip from Germany to South East Asia

Route 1: Germany-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-Turkut Port or Irkstan Port-China-Laos-Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.

Route 2: Germany-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Mongolia-Bulgan Gol or Zamiin-Uud-China-Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.

Route 3: Germany-Czech Republic-Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China-Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.

Route 4: Germany-Czech Republic-Hungary-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-(Many governments will advise their citizens to stay away from the Iran-Pakistan border, please check the latest travel security tips from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)-Pakistan-India-Myanmar-Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.