Driving in China

One of the questions I had when coming to China is it possible to drive in China as a foreigner. This is not a clear cut answer, but ultimately you can drive in China provided you gain a Chinese drivers licence. If you are planning to visit China for holiday or only here a short time I recommend you use public transport or hire a driver for your visit. In most cases a short term visitor to China will be well looked after by their host. If you do decide you want to drive in China I want to offer you some tips and advice. My first word of advice take your time and observe the traffic here and ride a bike if you are up to it. I have to say it can be scary at times but you get used to it. Once you drive expect to see some crazy inconsiderate and sometime dangerous driving.. If you can learn some characters for the road signs this also helps. You should at least also have some basic Chinese as this helps. If you have a Chinese spouse this make it easier  as you will see later.

Getting your licence

Depending on where you are in China this will vary. I am in Hefei the capital of Anhui Province at the time I gained my licence  I am only one of two Australians in the city with a drivers licence ( there are now more people I know of and Tim my friend returned to Australia).  My first word of advice is get he help of a good Chinese friend who is in the process of getting a licence or knows the road rules well. You will be required to do a multiple choice test and it will be in Chinese.  I did need with me  on the day my passport, a statement from my employer that I worked in Hefei and my Australian licence with a Chinese translation. In the licence office I did a series of tests from eyesight, hearing and they examined my hands.

There was also a multiple choice test  After a 20 minute wait we were cleared to get my licence. So now I am proud owner of a Chinese drivers  licence which is a little book. 

Where have we driven in China?

It was interesting for me when we bought the car my brain was thinking "Great! We can have a look around" my wife was thinking "Great! I now can get to my sister in 20 minutes" Soon I realised she was not big on travel and more interested in seeing friends. We did compromise and do some drives - one of our favourties was our first trip away in the car to Huangshan in Southern Anhui in 2009. Since that time time we have travelled to many cities and scenic spots in Anhui and also across to Jiangsu Province. The Gao Shu Lu - Expressways are a pleasure to drive if the traffic is low - though when busy these roads can be hazardous with some crazy driving. Eastern and Central China has an extensive network of Gau Shu Lu's making intra-provincal and inter-provincial travel quite easy by car. When we first drove there were were few private vehicles on the expressways, but this has rapidly changed now with many more cars on them.

At night, country roads have their own pitfalls with unlit trucks, bikes and agricultural machinery on the roads so generally we prefer not to travel at night on back roads. Frequently also, roads will be partially blocked with building debris or construction materials, which are not always sign posted. Occasionally, we have been blocked by street markets especially in the morning which can hinder the flow of traffic through a small town or village.

In a city like Hefei with no subway, driving  has given us mobility and also freedom. Now in Hefei quite a few foreigners drive including one of my fellow teachers at Anhui College of International Economy