The first question every overlander planning to drive into China asks isn't about visas or licenses — it's: "Which border port do I actually use?" Mohan is in Yunnan, but I'm driving from Europe — should I go through Khorgos? Gyirong is near Tibet, is that the closest coming from Nepal? Erenhot sounds remote, why is it the most expensive? If shipping the car, Dalian or Guangzhou? This guide breaks down all 7 ports we actually handle: where each one is, who it suits, service fees, pros, cons, and opening hours.
I've been doing foreign vehicle entry for nearly ten years. Cars come to us from Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand — every direction. Every week someone messages me: "Zara, I'm driving in from Germany, which port should I use?" Today I'll lay it all out.
1. First thing: only these 7 ports accept foreign cars
China has a very long border, but not every port lets a foreign-plated car cross. Under current rules, we only handle 7 ports consistently — 4 land ports and 3 seaports. No other port accepts temporary foreign vehicle declarations.
Land ports (4):
- Mohan (Yunnan, China–Laos border)
- Khorgos (Xinjiang, China–Kazakhstan border)
- Gyirong (Tibet, China–Nepal border)
- Erenhot (Inner Mongolia, China–Mongolia border)
Seaports (3):
- Dalian Port (Liaoning)
- Guangzhou Port (Guangdong)
- Shenzhen Port (Guangdong)
That's the complete list. Don't just drive to whichever port looks closest on the map — confirm it handles foreign cars first.
2. Mohan Port: the entry point for Southeast Asia
Mohan is at the southern tip of Yunnan, right across from Laos's Boten port. Convoys coming from Thailand, Laos, or Malaysia basically all use Mohan — there's no other land crossing between those countries and China. From Bangkok you drive through northern Thailand, across Laos, and enter China at Mohan. It's the only overland route.
Service fee: RMB 5,000–6,000 per vehicle. Lao-registered vehicles: RMB 4,000.
Pros:
- Closest for Southeast Asian drivers — about 1,500 km from Bangkok, 2–3 days of driving
- We've worked this port for years; our on-site team knows the process inside out
- You're in Yunnan the moment you clear customs — head north on G8511 to Kunming, then toward western Sichuan, Tibet, or Qinghai
- Good climate year-round, unlike northern ports that close in winter snow
Cons:
- If you're coming from Europe or Central Asia, Mohan is a huge detour — you'd cross the whole of China from Xinjiang to Yunnan
- Not 24 hours — roughly 8am to 10pm. Don't arrive at midnight
- Peak season (November–February, the cool season in Thailand/Laos) means queues
Best for: Drivers coming from Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore. This is your only practical option.
3. Khorgos Port: the main entry for Europe and Central Asia
Khorgos is at the far western edge of Xinjiang, on the Kazakhstan border. Drivers coming from Europe, Russia, and Central Asia basically all use Khorgos. This is the old Silk Road route — leave from Germany, France, or the Netherlands, drive through Eastern Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, and enter China at Khorgos. Total distance: roughly 8,000–10,000 km, about a month of driving.
Service fee: RMB 6,000–9,000 per vehicle.
Pros:
- Most direct route for European and Central Asian convoys — no detour
- Large, modern port with efficient clearance
- You're in Xinjiang on entry — take G30 east through Gansu, Shaanxi, Sichuan, lots of route options
- Summer in Xinjiang is stunning — grasslands, desert, open highways
Cons:
- Service fee is higher than Mohan due to distance and on-site coordination costs
- If you want to go to Tibet from here, note: the Xinjiang–Tibet highway G219 (Dahongliutan section) is closed to foreigners, and the Kashgar–Yecheng to Rutog (Pangong Lake) section is also off-limits. To get from Xinjiang to Tibet legally, you must detour south to Golmud and take the Qinghai–Tibet highway G109. That's a long detour — plan for it.
- Some border restricted areas in Xinjiang are off-limits to foreigners — don't just drive toward the border
- Winter (November–March) means snow closures; not recommended
Best for: Drivers coming from Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan, and other Central Asian countries. This is your main entry point.
4. Cross-country: Khorgos in, Mohan out (or reverse)
Many drivers don't want to backtrack. Coming from Europe, they want to drive from Xinjiang all the way to Yunnan, then exit through Mohan into Laos and Thailand. We handle these "cross-country" entries too.
Service fee: RMB 8,000 for the full package. Same price whether it's Khorgos-in/Mohan-out or Mohan-in/Khorgos-out.
Pros:
- No backtracking — you cross China from northwest to southwest, scenery changes dramatically: Gobi desert, snow mountains, grasslands, tropical forest
- This is the dream overlanding route: Europe all the way to Southeast Asia
- You cover western and southern China in one trip
Cons:
- Long — Khorgos to Mohan via G30 then G56 is about 4,000+ km, 5–6 days of pure driving before you even start sightseeing
- Demands a lot from both vehicle and driver
- Slightly more expensive than single-entry, but cheaper than doing two separate entries
Best for: Drivers with plenty of time (at least 2 months) who want to cross China.
5. Gyirong Port: the only option from Nepal
Gyirong is in Shigatse, Tibet, on the Nepal border. If you're driving from Kathmandu, Gyirong is the only land port available. Zhangmu port was closed for a while after the earthquake; Gyirong is the main one now.
Service fee: We handle this route too — fee depends on vehicle details, contact us for a quote.
Pros:
- Closest from Nepal — Kathmandu to Gyirong is about 150 km
- You're in Tibet immediately on entry
Cons:
- High altitude — the port is above 4,000m, altitude sickness is common on arrival
- Complex mountain roads; landslides in July–August monsoon season
- Tibet trips require a guide throughout plus a Tibet Travel Permit — documents need 1 month of lead time, longer than other ports
- If you want to go to Xinjiang from here, remember G219 is closed to foreigners — detour via Golmud on G109
Best for: Drivers coming from Nepal, or those planning a Tibet-focused entry.
6. Erenhot Port: from Mongolia and the Russian Far East
Erenhot is in Inner Mongolia, on the Mongolia border. Convoys coming from Mongolia or the Russian Far East use this port.
Service fee: RMB 8,500 per vehicle.
Why is Erenhot the most expensive? We handle lower volume here, coordination costs are higher, and route options after entry are more limited.
Pros:
- Closest from Mongolia
- You're in Inner Mongolia; heading north toward Beijing is convenient
Cons:
- Highest service fee
- Extreme winter cold — minus 20 to minus 30 Celsius, tough on both vehicle and driver
- Getting to Yunnan or Tibet from here means crossing the whole of China
Best for: Drivers coming from Mongolia or the Russian Far East. If you're not coming from that direction, don't detour to Erenhot.
7. Seaports: ship your car in by sea
If you're shipping your car from Europe or Australia and don't want to drive the whole way overland, you can use a seaport. Three options:
- Guangzhou Port: RMB 22,000 per vehicle (excluding sea freight)
- Dalian Port: RMB 18,000 per vehicle (excluding sea freight)
- Shenzhen Port: similar to Guangzhou
Pros: You fly to China, the car comes by ship. No need to drive through Southeast Asia or Central Asia.
Cons:
- Much higher service fee than land ports — sea clearance is more complex
- Excludes sea freight itself (shipping one car from Europe to China is roughly USD 2,000–3,000)
- You still need the temporary plate and temporary license after arrival, same as land entry
Best for: Drivers with limited time whose cars are shipped from Europe or Australia. Guangzhou suits Southeast Asia-bound shipping; Dalian suits Korea/Japan-bound shipping.
8. How to choose? Ask yourself three questions
After all that, how do you pick? Answer three questions:
Question 1: Where are you coming from?
- Thailand, Laos, Malaysia → Mohan
- Europe, Russia, Kazakhstan → Khorgos
- Nepal → Gyirong
- Mongolia → Erenhot
- Car shipped by sea → Guangzhou or Dalian
Question 2: What route do you want to drive?
- Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi → Mohan, head north
- Xinjiang, Gansu, Shaanxi → Khorgos, head east
- Cross China from northwest to southwest → Khorgos-in/Mohan-out
- Tibet-focused → Gyirong, or another port plus Tibet permit
Question 3: How much time and budget do you have?
- Short on time (under 1 month) → closest port, no detours
- Plenty of time (2+ months) → consider cross-country entry
- Tight budget → Mohan, lowest service fee
- Budget allows, don't want long drives → sea freight
9. Practical tips before you go
A few practical things:
Ports aren't 24 hours. Mohan and Khorgos have fixed opening hours — check them in advance. Don't arrive at midnight only to find the gate closed. In peak season, allow half a day to a day of buffer for queues.
Send us your documents 20 days ahead. Passport, visa, driver's license, vehicle registration, photos — all 20 days in advance so we can pre-screen. If your trip includes Tibet, 1 month ahead. Don't wait until you're at the port to realize something's missing.
Don't believe "all ports are the same." Clearance efficiency, coordination costs, and queue times differ at every port. We work these ports every week and know which ones are running smoothly and which are backed up — that's not information you'll find online.
Know the Xinjiang and Tibet route restrictions in advance. The G219 Xinjiang–Tibet highway (Dahongliutan section) is closed to foreigners, as is the Kashgar–Yecheng to Rutog section. To get from Xinjiang to Tibet legally, you must detour via Golmud on G109. Don't plan a route that includes these restricted sections — you'll hit a checkpoint and get turned back.
Final thoughts
There's no single "best" port — there's the port that fits where you're coming from and where you want to go. Most people overthink this; once you know your start point and your route, the answer becomes clear. If you're still not sure which port to use, or whether your planned route is allowed, send us your starting country, your planned route, and your approximate dates — we'll tell you the most efficient way in.
Zara — WeChat and WhatsApp: +86 13759155671. Email: [email protected]. No matter which direction you're coming from, we handle all four land ports (Mohan, Khorgos, Gyirong, Erenhot) and three seaports (Dalian, Guangzhou, Shenzhen). Send us your documents 20 days ahead and we'll handle the rest.