A drive from Italy to China can be a fascinating and challenging endeavour, allowing you to see many different countries, while crossing continents. With that being said, you will realistically need to acquire assistance from a tour operator that has helped to plan such a journey before, because the preparation can be complicated. The road trip itself spans thousands of miles and will likely take you several weeks. Yet, the biggest challenge is often acquiring the necessary paperwork and permits, allowing you to drive in the country as a foreign visitor and bring your own vehicle in. Over the course of this article, we explore some of the key steps you will need to take.
First, it is important to understand that foreign visitors cannot legally drive from Italy to China on a tourist visa, using a foreign driving licence or international driving permit. While you will need both a visa and your current licence, driving in China itself requires you to obtain a valid Chinese driving licence too. Assuming your stay in the country is relatively short-term, you should be able to apply for a temporary Chinese licence. It is usually possible to acquire one without passing either a theory or practical test, but there will be significant paperwork. Longer stays in the country may require you to pass a test and gain a full licence.
To make matters more complicated, China also has tough laws on bringing foreign-registered cars, motorcycles and other vehicles into the country. While it is possible to do so, you will likely need help from experts. Moreover, you will need to acquire temporary Chinese number plates and fit these to your vehicle upon arrival. None of these obstacles are insurmountable and with the right support and preparation, you should be able to go ahead with your road trip. Nevertheless, the entire process – including acquiring a licence and registering your vehicle – can take months, so it is best to plan ahead. Of course, you will also need a passport and valid insurance too.
Table of Contents
Is it possible to travel from Italy 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.
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:
Chinese travel agencies usually ask for following Materials and documents
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 Italy.
The ideal route may depend on where in Italy you start from and where you are planning to travel to in China. However, a basic route, which should offer both efficiency and practicality, will take you through Austria and the Czech Republic, then through Poland and Belarus, before you arrive in Russia.
From there, you will travel through Kazakhstan and have the option of either passing through Mongolia, taking you into China via Inner Mongolia, or travelling through Kyrgyzstan, bringing you into China via the Xinjiang region. Some people opt for other routes, but they may lengthen the journey and complicate matters further.
Most of the European leg of the journey should be fairly simple, as you will not need separate visas to cross borders into countries like Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. Similarly, Kazakhstan can usually be accessed without a visa, as long as you are not staying for more than 30 days. However, you will need visas for countries like Russia and Mongolia, and biometric data will likely need to be collected as part of that process.
The following are the most commonly used routes for Italy-China:
Route 1(Entering China from Kyrgyzstan): Italy-Slovenia-Hungary-Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-Turkut Port or Irkstan Port-China
Route 2(Entering China from Mogolia): Italy-Austria-Czech-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Mongolia-Bulgan Gol or Zamiin-Uud-China
Route 3(Entering China from Kyrgyzstan): Italy-Slovenia-Croatia-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China
Route 4(Entering China from Pakistan): Italy-Slovenia-Croatia-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
Route 1: Italy-Slovenia-Hungary-Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-China (Xinjiang)-Pakistan-India
Route 2: Italy-Slovenia-Hungary-Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-China (Xinjiang, Tibet)-Nepal-India
Route 3: Italy-Slovenia-Croatia-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
Route 1: Italy-Slovenia-Hungary-Ukraine-Russia-Kazakhstan (or Uzbekistan)-Kyrgyzstan-Turkut Port or Irkstan Port-China-Laos-Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.
Route 2: Italy-Austria-Czech-Poland-Belarus-Russia-Mongolia-Bulgan Gol or Zamiin Uud – China – Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.
Route 3: Italy-Slovenia-Croatia-Serbia-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China – Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.
Route 4: Italy-Slovenia-Croatia-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.
We help our customers drive to china and cross china with car or motorbike. We organize road trips with automobile and motorcycle clubs. With our extensive experience and in-depth knowledge, we also provide following services for your Automotive Events: drive or ride event, media event, test drive, support for automotive show, customer relation and brand image production.
+86 28 8503 0959
Mon - Fri 9.00 - 18.00
No 51, Section 4, South Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041 China
# BMW Motorcycle Rentals in China
# Kawasaki Motorcycle Rentals in China
# Ducati Motorcycle Rentals in China
# Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Rentals in China
# Motorcycle Rentals in Beijing