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Always Away and Dom begin their first drive in China with a car rental in Shanghai. At the hire company, absent staff and language barriers complicate the pickup, and the rental requires manual registration because the driver's license translation is missing. They learn that international permits are not recognized and that a temporary Chinese driving permit with a translation is needed. On the road, they use local navigation, encounter tolls and stop at a huge motorway service area with a dining floor and a British-style phone box. They try KFC with Sichuan spice before continuing late into the night toward a mountain area near a UNESCO village. They reach a hotel at 1:30 a.m.; a private onsen in the room is the day's final surprise. Their tips also mention English-language map information for lanes and signs, fixed-lane tolls, and the possibility that ETC is linked to the car. At KFC, the travelers try the numbing Sichuan powder with fries or chicken sauce.
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Renting a car and getting on the road
Always Away and Dom set out from Shanghai for their first drive in China. At a Shu Hoy car-hire branch, they find that staff are absent, and the language barrier makes the pickup more complicated. After locating the car, they have to complete the registration manually because the driver's license translation is missing. They learn that an international driving permit is not recognized in China and that a temporary Chinese driving permit, with a translation and local licensing steps, is needed instead.
The car looks sporty and comfortable, but getting it started takes extra steps because registration information is missing. The navigation has an unusual introduction, and a phone connects to the car unexpectedly; a destination in Beijing appears by mistake. They use local maps with an English interface for lane information and signs. On the drive they encounter tolls, including fixed-lane toll systems, and note that ETC may be linked to the car.
A motorway stop and a late hotel arrival
A huge motorway service area becomes a major stop. It feels like a shopping complex, with a three-floor dining area and places to pause during the journey. The pair also spot a British-style public phone box. Later, hunger leads them to KFC, where they try Sichuan-spiced seasoning on fries and chicken sauce and discuss how to use the numbing powder.
They continue for several hours through the night toward a mountain area near a UNESCO village. Their hotel has a private onsen, and they arrive at about 1:30 a.m. After the long drive, they explore the surprisingly spacious room and end the day with a hot soak. The journey combines rental paperwork, unfamiliar road systems, a large service stop, a late meal, and the private onsen at the hotel. Their practical notes include checking lane information and signs through a local map app with an English interface, and allowing flexibility for meals and rest stops because motorway service areas may have late hours. They also mention fixed-lane toll systems and that ETC may be connected to the car. At KFC they try Sichuan seasoning on fries and chicken sauce, taking care with the numbing powder.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: Do international driving permits work in China?
- A: No. You typically need to arrange a temporary Chinese driving permit with translation and local licensing steps.
- Q: What can drivers use for navigation?
- A: The travelers use A Maps with an English interface to check lane information and signs while connecting navigation to the car.
- Q: What are the motorway tolls and service areas like?
- A: They encounter fixed-lane toll systems and note that ETC might be linked to the car. The large service area resembles a mall, with dining and places to stop during the drive.
