China driving guide

China is a vast country with countless things to see and experience. Consider all the interesting places you can visit. You can spend some time exploring the Forbidden City, the Great Wall. Terracotta Army, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. You can also see Beijing National Stadium, Summer Palace and more.

Since there is so much to see and do, this means that reliable transportation, such as a rental car, is the best way to do it. However, driving in China is not easy.

Can you drive in China?

In China, you can only drive if you have a Chinese driver's license. You are not allowed to use your national license and international license. However, even if you intend to stay in the country for a short time - less than three months - you can apply for a temporary Chinese driver's license in major cities - Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing. In fact, you will need to attend classes to learn how to drive in China before you can get a temporary permit. However, once you get the permit, you can use it along with your national driver's license to drive small automatic vehicles. Do not try to drive in China without first checking all the necessary channels.

Road conditions and safety

Once you get your permit, there are a few things you need to know about driving in China. First, road conditions can vary greatly. In towns and urban areas, the roads are paved and generally in very good condition, so you can drive safely on them. In rural areas, roads are often unpaved and may be in poor condition. When it rains, some sections of the road may be washed out, so be careful when traveling far from cities.

Vehicles drive on the right side of the road and overtaking on the right is prohibited. You are not allowed to use mobile devices while driving. Do not drive with headlights on during the daytime.

Even though China has many strict traffic rules, drivers tend to ignore many of them. This can make driving there very dangerous. They do not always yield or give way and may not use their turn signals.

Speed ​​Limit

Always obey the speed limit in China. The speed limits are as follows.

• City - from 30 to 70 km/h
• National highways - from 40 to 80 km / h.
• City Express – 100 km/h.
• Expressways - 120 km / h.

There are several different types of highways in China.

• National - for driving pleasure
• Provincial - these highways may not have a road separation between lanes.
• County - In some cases, foreigners are prohibited from driving on these roads.

There are many things to see and do in China. While it takes a few extra hoops to be able to drive in China, if you're on vacation for about a month and have the time, it might be a good idea to get a permit and rent a car.