Exiting China by Motorcycle - Details

It seems that how to exit China by motorcycle is a popular subject among adventure riders in forums. Recently, I've been asked about the details, so I thought it would be good to include these aerial photographs to help make things clearer. The following explains how to enter Laos from China.

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1. Arrive in Mohan, Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan China. The town is something like a midwestern American 'strip mall.' Find a good place to sleep- there are a few inns or guesthouses to pick from. You will want to start fresh the next day.

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2. Go to the passport processing station (exit/entry station) park outside on the curb and then fill out the standard paperwork and departure card for leaving China as a tourist. Then, mention the bike. (now they are trapped and have to help you get the bike out.) They may tell you to go to Customs. You don't have to go, but humor them anyway - it's just down the street.

3. Back at passport control, haggle with them until they agree to let you take the bike out. You may need to pay a $1 toll. (7 RMB) I showed them the following paperwork: bike ownership papers (fake), registration booklet (small blue booklet), international license. This seemed to be enough for them.

4. Show your passport with the exit stamp to the guard in the kiosk in the middle of the road. You will have to 'walk' the bike until you are out of his sight.

LAOS SIDE.

5. Ride the 3 km through 'no mans' land until you reach the other side. The immigration station looks like a wooden house on the righthand side of the road.

6. Park your bike on the curb to the left of the station - on the road. Follow the regular procedures for a tourist entering Laos. Don't mention the bike to them. Change your money at the immigration station - they have good rates. You will need to get a 'police' stamp while at the immigration house. Show the stamp to the cops in the wooden kiosk next to the immigration station. Then ride on in!

7. Most likely they will not say anything about the bike. I had no customs docs or paperwork for the bike in Laos, and never once was it a problem - either while riding or exiting into Cambodia.