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'''China''' is the most populated country in the world and tourism is booming with its rapidly expanding economy, but hitchhiking is only practiced practised sporadically and don't expect speaking English to solve your problems. Despite If you follow the advice in this page you will most likely have a relatively low crime rate compared with many western countrieswonderful time hitchhiking in China.Although it's not really common, local more and more people tend to believe that picking up a stranger on understand the road is unsafe especially on concept of hitchhiking (if you use the highwayword da-bian-che).

The Because of it's size, among other factors, it'Thumb'' gesture used s hard so talk about China with general info. hitchhiking in the west of the country, as in most countries to indicate you want a lift Tibet, is not fully understood different than in the east. hitchhiking in China, although rural areas is different than on highways. the difficulty also varies. Generally speaking it will still work. It's possible to categorize it like this: the more readily understood as meaning "good" or "OK" so Chinese drivers developed the road is, the less chance people will probably not think of stopping. The most common signal to ask a vehicle to you for money, the faster you will get and more likely you should stop is drivers by sign or by talking with them while they are stationary. the more rural the roads are the more hand waving you will have to outstretch your arm do and gently wave more explaining beforehand that you do not pay for the hand up and downtrip. also, on rural roads it's easier to find camping spots.

Safety is an issue as traffic regulation is practiced practised half-heartedly. Expect people to honk rather than brake, to drive while holding a phone, drive on the hard shoulder, overtake in unsafe places, or worseand more. Buckle up if you can. Some travellers report that the driving in China is way safer than in Russia and neighbouring countries. Chinese usually don't exceed the speed limit much(130km/hr on expressways).

As __TOC__Hitchhiking is not really know for everybody, so the famous ''Thumb'' gesture used in many most countries, on major roads try to hitchhike from indicate you want a service stationlift is not fully understood in China, toll area and although it will still work, will probably wont be very effective. For Chinese this gesture Is more readily understood as meaning "good" or some other place where traffic has "OK" so drivers will probably not think of stopping. The most common signal to ask a vehicle to stop or slow. Otherwise use the outstretched is to outstretch your arm and gently wave the hand wave described above, or hold a cardup and down, preferably in Chinese not Pinyin (but this isn't the Romanised script) showing where you ant most recommended way to go. This latter approach is used locals in some areas (eg Guangzhou)hitchhike.

The hitchhiker's appearance is important: the Chinese Also, taxis are less used to really common in the extreme casual style country. If you hitchhike without a sign, you will probably have a lot of many westerners so long hair should be made tidy and clothes should appear clean and tidytaxi stopping by to take you. Students in China tend What I would recommand is to dress more conservatively and males usually have short haira sign with writing 搭便车 (Dabianche - Hitchhiking) on it. The translation litteraly mean "free-ride", so you will not have any problem with money. It Also, this will save you from some awkward situations if your chinese accent is a good idea not to wear sunglasses bad : When you pronounce it slightly differently, "Hitchhiking" become "eating shit" which can be understood as they an insult or the fact that you are not as commonly worn and might make you look sinisterlooking for the toilet. There By writing it, there is some prejudice against people who look what no misunderstanding. You can also write the name of the Chinese consider as hippyish or like a beggarplace where you want to go under it.

The Western concept of hitchhikingAs in many countries, on major roads try to hitchhike from a service station, toll area or some other place where traffic has to stop or slow. Standing on the hard shoulder or the motorway works fine as suggested above, doesn't exist in Chinawell though. When you do To get to the toll area/service station use a ride be prepared map, GPS or Google map to pay as locals will often pay for show you where the road begins. there is also a rideChinese website the shows the actual toll stations. It might seem odd but drivers of plush cars might seek payment whereas drivers of commercial vehicles don'tOn arrival to the road, use the outstretched arm and hand wave described above. This is because some chauffeurs (and many businessmen have them) try to make extra income using their boss's car as a part time taxi!

Do take a map with you: ideally it should be The first alternative is to use the "sign system", preferably in both Chinese and not Pinyin. You need Pinyin for yourself and (the Chinese for pointing out Romanist script) showing where you want to go, for asking directions, . Both hand and for sign approaches is used locals in some areas (eg Guangzhou). When you to compare with road signs are standing by the roadside, having a sign indication where there is no Pinyinyou are going can be very useful. These If you don't speak Chinese, a sign can be bought in service stations also help avoid misunderstandings as many people will not know what hitchhiking is and in major bookstores (usually won't understand what you are doing. a sign is the most common way to hitchhike on the Xinhua chain)highways of China, but they will not always have pinyin. One consideration because the concept of Hitchhiking is not well known in China, it means that only people going to say this actual place will stop you are heading to for a far distant city as ride, and never people who go on the driver road to this place. Some might refuse suggest you rather write a destination that is closer than offer to where you are actually going - perhaps a sign with a lift part of the waycity 500 km away is better than one that is 1000 km away. This is complex though. So unless If you can speak some Mandarin and can explain, simply ask have a sign for the next closer city, a driver who is going to the further city may pick you up and if leave you are successful try at the closer one, not understanding your futile attempts to see if inform them that you want the driver further city. That's why another good way to hitchhike on Chinese high-ways is going furtherto talk with drivers.

It is always The "talking" system generally means getting to a good practice in China to have someone write in Chinese place where you want to gothe drivers are stationary (gas stations, toll stations etc.) and ask them where are they going or hand them with a small letter indicating what are you ant to dodoing. This most people will politely tell the truth about their destination and if this is certainly true for hitchhiking so that when a car stopsin your direction, or if you approach a driver you can show the note to explain. You might include what hitchhiking is, in simple sentences and hand questers that you will point out on want to join the map where ride. saying "thank you are heading and ask if the driver wants paying and how much. Some hitchhikers have reported this makes a very big difference" in advance can also be of help.

An issue in many countries The hitchhiker's appearance is getting out of important: dressing fairly smartly and having a city or into the correct part of the city clean appearance will help you are travelling togreatly. Many cities are Students in excess of 5 million people and in the large conurbations of megacities there are hundreds of intersecting highways China tend to dress more conservatively and freewaysmales usually have short hair. Finding the right bus or metro stop It is a good idea not to wear sunglasses as they are not easyas commonly worn and might make you look sinister.

The first character of a vehicle's number plate is in Chinese and indicates the home province and then there It is important to note that on highways most drivers will not expect to be paid for a roman letter indicating ride, even though they probably do not understand the city concept of hitchhiking. However, you will find that some drivers, particularly on side roads, will ask for payment before you get in the province (A . This is always the capital)no problem as you can make your decision whether or not to get in. However, some drivers may ask for payment once you have reached your destination. If in doubt, try to signal that you are do not want to pay before you get in Anhui and see a 成 (Chengdu's "Cheng") with some numbers and an Athe vehicle. Generally speaking, you will find in China that's from Chengdumost people who pick you up are extremely generous, occasionally overly so. If one On highways many drivers will let you off their car only if they are sure you know where you are going and is heading in the direction of home you can use it as a criteria to select a car to stopgood situation.

If At any case you want need to sleep while on bring a map with you, either download from the net buy one at the roadfirst opportunity. The Gao su gong lu network is very complex, and you may get lost very quickly, or end up stuck in a city for a day. You should have a map in Chinese, try so that other people can understand where you are going. You may be able to pick up some Chinese characters and understand the names. However if you are struggling, consider getting a slow and confortable truckPinyin for yourself as well, if you might only make 400km can find one (they are not very common). Maps can easily be found in 8 hours but if that's at night service stations, supermarkets and avoids an accommodation book stores, city maps cost, who cares? The lack of malice around 10Y while road atlas costs around 30Y (at an individual level at least!2012) of the Chinese makes most of China easy - if you find a Pinyin one expect it to hitchhike 24h without fear. There is little fear of being attacked or robbed though of course such activities exist everywhere, and as always girls should take extra carecost much more - only foreigners would buy them.

Even It is always a good practice in China to have someone write a polite letter in Chinese about who are you and where you want to go. A short "destination note" is important for showing immediately to the driver. After entering a car it is also highly recommended to include some more letters of information about you, especially if heading for a long drive. you successfully hitchhikecan explain practical things about your doings, it what hitchhiking is often slow, especially off and go on telling about yourself and you travels, you thoughts and hobbies and other fun stuff. this opens up the main highways. Buses driver to you and trains if your letter has pinyin as well it can also help the driver with his English (many Chinese want to learn English but are very cheap by western standards and most foreign travellers choose shy to use them rather than hitchhikepractice).

== Regions ==There If you want to sleep while on the road, you will have no problem pitching a tent. People will usually not bother you. However do make sure your belongings are probably big differences between not on show and therefore do not pitch a tent directly on the different regions road (which is also a bit dangerous). You will find there is plenty of traffic at night also. You can try to pick a slow and comfortable truck, you might only make 400 km in China.:''please add more info 8 hours but if youthat've hitched in many parts s at night and avoids an accommodation cost, who cares? The lack of malice (at an individual level at least!) of the Chinese makes most of China''easy to hitchhike day and night without fear. There is little fear of being attacked or robbed though of course such activities exist everywhere, and as always girls should take extra care.

* [[File:Flag of Hong Kong.svg|30px|border]] [[Hong Kong]] Special Adm. Region of China* [[File:Flag of Macau.svg|30px|border]] [[Macao]] Special Adm. Region of China* [[Tibet]] Autonomous Region* [[:Category:Sichuan|Sichuan]]* [[:Category:Yunnan|Yunnan]] === Inner Mongolia === I hitchhiked around several villages in the western GobiThere are Service areas on highways, using Erenhot as a base. Truck drivers do not expect tips--at least, they did not when I offered money to them. However, private drivers will often request inordinate amounts of money for short distancesit have gas station, so it's best to ask "Doh Shao Chian?"big public toilets, which means "how much?" before getting in. Chinese is the majority languageshops, especially in the citiescoffeshops. As a Mongolian speaker who only knew a few words of Chinese, people were surprised at me, but pretty accommodating--outside of cities, there is Drivers usually at least one person in the room who speaks Mongolian. You should know that, if will drop you leave the cities, the police WILL detain you here at least once, and you should make according time allowancesoff there. In such a case, do not panic--they will actually be It is very helpful and friendly when they realize convenient to sleep there. Sometimes you're not a criminal. They will even can take shower if some of shop sellers offer you to the station, ask you questions, and when satisfied, release you. Have your visa ready, and expect to be asked "What are you doing here?". The whole process takes between one and three hours. Be prepared for this situation, as it happened to me three times (sellers live in service areas in as many days. Consequently, anyone considering hitchhiking here MUST be able to speak enough Mongolian or Chinese to get through this situation.dormitory)

“Highway” doesn't mean The expressways are often new and fast (100-130 km/h), where as the same as in occidental countries but express ways second level roads may be really bad and a fatal error, where there are great for going long distances. As of 2007 a lot of expressways are still under construction, less cars and most traffic consists of trucks that don't go too fastother rules for hitchhiking. When Stick to highways if you can, try want to hitch with normal carstravel fast. There are quite Most of the entrance to the highways from the cities in China, have a few cops on toll. Using the expressway"talking system", but it doesn't seem go there and talk straight to the drivers, pointing at the letter or map. be a problem to walk along themearnest. Cops help Say something like: "Nihao! Qing wen, ni qu nali? Wo qu zheli, ni ne? Ni qu zheli ma?" (Hello! Excuse me, where are you rather than being going? I go here, and you? Do you go here?), etc. Keep saying "Oh hao hao, xiexie a problem!" (Oh good good, thanks, ah!)Like mentioned above, Chinese people will typically tell you the truth about where are they going, and once they even stop buses for do so, if you for ask them to go with them and they have freespace, they will hardly say "no", either because they are just too naive or because they don't want to lose face.

The expressways are often new and fast (100-160Km/h)At the tolls, where as the second level roads may be really bad and a fatal error. Stick to highways if you want talk to travel fast.Most of the entrance to booth workers and the highways from the cities in China, have a toll. Go there guards and talk straight to the drivers, pointing the atlas. Show tell them your notice. Go like: "Nihao! Qing wen, ni qu nali? Wo qu zheli, ni ne? Ni qu zheli ma? Wo shi yi ge ren!" (Hello! Excuse me, where are you going? I go here, and you? Do you go here? I am just one person!)what is your purpose, etc. Keep saying "Oh hao hao, xiexie a!" (Oh good good, thanks, ah!) Unlike in Europe, ppl there they will typically tell often offer you to ask the drivers for you as they keep passing with their cars through the truth about where are booths to pay the fee, but sometimes they goingwill not know who to ask and will try to ask only specific cars, and once so it is recommended to also continue relaying on yourself.Sometimes some guard may look like they do so, if frown at you or even come to you and ask you some questions. most of the time smiling and showing them to go the cards or letters with the information on you will satisfy them and they have free space, they will hardly say "no", either because they are just too naive or because they don't want to loose facelet you continue ask drivers for a lift.

At the When no tollsaround, if you talk go to the booth girls and the guards and tell them rest areas where are you going and what is your purposecan talk to people easily, they will often offer you to ask or look for a jiayou zhan, a gas station. Without a big sign, I never got picked up there with the drivers for you as they keep passing cars (of most don't stop); with their cars through the booths sign, it took from a few minutes to pay the fee, so you can just sit down and waitseconds.

When no tolls around== Language ==English in rural or even urban areas are rarely used. Get yourself 1. a phrasebook, go easier to the rest areas where acquire when you can talk 're outside of China, were not easy to people easilyfind in bookstores in China, or look for and 2. a jiayou zhanpocket dictionary, a gas stationwhich generally available in China for 10 RMB in 2007. Without a big signBaidoo, I never got picked up there with the passing cars (ofc most dont stop); with the signchinese google, it took from has a few minutes to secondsfree translator, also for pictures.Here are some helpful phrases:

== Language ==English Chinese language use lots of tons. So if you don't speak chinese at all, it's probably better to write it (in rural or even urban areas are rarely usedcharacter) because chinese people will not understand you. Get yourself a phrasebook Also, the differents province have different accent (beforehandand sometimes differents dialect) , which make it more difficult. If you go to big city, most people know pinyin. But if you go to rural area, people only know character and a pocket dictionary. Here are some helpful phrasescan't read any pinyin.

搭便车 ''da bian-che'': HitchhhikeHitchhike literally "free-ride". That's probably what you want to write on a big card board, although it's a rare word in Chinese and many people do not know what it means. <br />

謝謝 谢谢 ''Xie xie'' : Thank you<br />这裡 这里 ''zhe-li'': Here<br />那里/哪里 ''Na-li'' : There / Where?(only different in tone)<br />服务区/服务站 "Fu-wu-qu/Fu-wu-zhan": Service Area<br />收费站 “shou-fei-zhan” Tollgate<br />

你要去那里？ 你要去哪里？ "ni yao qu nali?" (you/ go to / where) means "Where are you going?"<br />

Chinese, like many Asian languages, is a tonal language which means a change in a pitch will drive to different meanings. Without basic training, most westerners will find it hard to pronounce Chinese well at an decipherable understandable level. If you plan to learn a bit, Pleco is a must-have dictionary app. But if you just print the Chinese characters out and show them to the driver, things will work pretty smooth. Hong Kong and Macao use traditional, more complicated characters, but they can read either way for the most part.

Police will usually not care about you and will more likely try to be helpful than make trouble. However, this can also mean taking you away from the motorway to a bus or train station.Sometimes (closer to official areas like Beijing and Shanghai) the police will insist you will go away to some other place, but if you insist they will most of the time let you stand with your sign/continue to ask drivers around.It also happens when a police officer will treat you like a privileged person, will take photos with you and will stop cars for you or even get you on the bus for free.You may also get free food and assistance with signwriting. nobody will say anything but this is an awkward experience when everybody around you pay lot's of money for the drive and you sit there after the police officer stopped the bus for you.Usually when dealing with the police in China, it is best to just smile and be naive but firm with your goal, and be independent about it. you are doing fine, not disturbing and in love with China. == Personal experiences == ''August 2017: Hitchhiked from Kashgar to HongKong. through: Urumqi, Kumul, Xining, Chengdu, Kunming, Nanning, Guangzhou. Spent most of the time in Xinjiang and Tibetian Areas. No mayor problems. I figured out that having a drawn map with me, with the main roads and cities on it (written in chinese) and a small letter explaining in chinese would help the most. However, in the tibetian areas I figured out that many people cannot read chinese, hence it makes sense to write the map in tibetian and chinese. Sometimes people would ask for money in advance, in tibetian areas seem to be some shared taxis also.Further I was once picked by the police in Amdo Tibet, they told me, I am not allowed to be there... Hence, in the next city I had to register, make a lot of selfies, they brought me to a hotel where I had to stay and they told me I have to take a bus the next day. the next day I hitchhiked further without problems ;)Tip: having an offline translator is the most useful thing for china! I travelled many parts of the world without speaking common languages with the people living there and always found a way of communication. But in China, it was even hard for me to explain the map where I want to go and where they want to go... sign/body language works so different to mine there... Still - awesome peopel and experience!''  ''In the South the police was unaware, or friendly but very confused, to [[User:Guaka|Guaka]] and [[User:Amylin|amylin]]. Most of the time the police didn't do anything while walking along the highway or trying to hitch. Once, at the highway entry of [[Kaili]] in [[Guizhou]], they started talking, found someone who spoke English, and brought the hitchers to a bus station, where the police paid for a bus ticket! Another time the highway police was very confused again, and it took 2 1/2 hours to find a translator and be left alone at a highway entrance again.''  ''[[User:Fijau|Fijau]] hitchhiked through Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi, Henan without being bothered by police. In Xinjiang police even helped him to get a ride. Problems started to occur in Zhejiang (Eastern China, near Shanghai). Several times police didn't let him onto the expressway through the toll gate and took him off the expressway while passing by.''  ''[[User:peraht|peraht]] somehow always gets helped by police. Especially when it's getting dark or at night it's sometimes very useful to rely on them. Not only next to pay tolls but also on service areas (there are almost always some police officers). Sometimes they will give you something to eat, take pictures with you, the usual stuff. In Jiangxi or Anhui they caught her a ride, took pictures of her and the driver's passports, which was for safety reasons and actually OK, but also of other visas she had in her passport. Probably only out of curiousity and to test their apparently new camera.''  ''[[User:lukeyboy95|lukeyboy95]] had a fantastic time hitchhiking in March 2013. Not without its dramas, but no adventure is. I kept to the Western fringe, avoiding most cities. I had a sign that read de-bien-che, in characters, and this was mildly understood by some. Roads are excellent, fast and new, and distances can be very large. I beat my record, at 1200km in one day in the North West region. Big cities are a total horror, try and get trains out where possible. Have your little list of phrases ready to point at, it isnt rude. The Chinese are spirited people, and connecting with them wasnt a problem. If they look like taxi drivers, or a little hard up, reiterate that you cant pay money for the ride. One thing of note was that at the border with Krygyzstan, the immigration police wouldn't let me past unless I was in a taxi. A little overnight protest outside their spanking new offices brough results, and the next day they put me in a pick-up. An interesting border, and be careful with this. In general I found the police enormously helpful, kind and well meaning. On two times, they put paid for a train for me, drove me out to the highway, even gave me money and invited me into their homes. China holds many adventures for the the hitchhiker! '' Hitchhikernick - was there in October 2016 for 2 weeks and Jan 2017 for 10 days. Hitched all of the eastern half of China with ease. At many highway tolls the staff would help me get a ride, only one had an issue, but luckily a driver pulled up when the staff were warning me they were going to call police. Police did help me on a few occasions as well. Waiting time was about 10 minutes in most cases, though there were odd occasions where I had to wait a while. Visited most of impressive National Parks in this time frame and Huashan 3 times to get a good photo of the famous plank walk. Camped out discreetly and publicly very easily as everything is orderly and compacted into the cities with open spaces inbetween, totally opposite to india. Border crossings were straight forward but crossed both from Vietnam and into Mongolia by transport. Hardly ever got asked for money and managed to communicate with apple maps and sign language/images/gestures. Even managed to hitch out of Beijing twice without difficulty.

Note: Be aware of Chinese maps - sometimes they are developed for the (often quickly changing) future! They show highways which are not yet existing, or they having wrong distances between cities. Its always good to have two or three maps (the province maps as well) and then search for the truth in the middle.

* [http://www.yourworldyourhome.com/hitchhiking-china/ Eric's tips on Hitchhiking China.] * [http://www.muhranoff.travel.ru/chinA/chinmain_en.htm Hitching in China], a Russian Website with tons of information. Some of them it available in English.

 [[Category:Yunnan|Yunnan]][[Category:Yunnan|Yunnan]][[Category:China| ]]