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This comment is unfortunately so wrong on many levels. I live for 12 years in China and work in systems security. For the hotels, "easy to find" for you -> eas

This comment is unfortunately so wrong on many levels. I live for 12 years in China and work in systems security. For the hotels, "easy to find" for you -> easy to find for the police. China is actively resisting people moving around without tracing them, so please rest assured those "spy" hotels are the first ones to file everything about you to the local police unit. I know of several anecdotal cases. For years and years, all mopeds and scooters require plates. You can buy fake plates on Taobao, but it's a great way to get into a very big trouble, especially if you're a foreigner. Every train and every long-distance bus are ticketed with original ID only. Maybe in some small rural train station, you can buy with a photoshopped passport copy, but certainly not in Tier-3+ cities. In 12 years I've never ever heard of "4am" police checks. They come sometimes, they're very polite. You don't even have to open the door for them, and they will never break the door unless there is a fire or a distress call. Chinese police are lazy and wrong on many levels, but they're very very far from the Western media portrayal. Chinese name tip is a joke. You will be registered everywhere with your passport name, and nobody ever asks for a Chinese name.

baybal2 8y ago
Quite surprised to heard that. That's interesting. I travelled few times from Shenzhen to Heihe and back without having to produce my ID even once. Just a year ago, I went Beijing to Heihe by bus, and again I only needed cash. And you can for sure travel around Guangdong on regular rail (non CRH,) and buy plain paper tickets without any barcodes for cash at few remaining standalone ticket departments. And access to the train platform on regular rail is way laxer than on CRH. I don't have a specific need to travel without paper trail, nevertheless, sometimes, I have a need to travel with 4+ huge bags full on electronics, maotai, clothes, and other mass consumption items whenever relatives on the other side of the border request provisions from the land plenty. And that attracts a lot of unapproving looks and solicitation of humanitarian aid by impoverished officials, security personnel, and town Bubbas. As for moped number plates, I know that individual cities require them, and issue them themselves. There are no nationwide moped number plate system as I know. On what is Chinese interstate network, and even on toll roads, I do frequently see people riding without number plates. And if you travel on smaller roads, and not on a highway, there is close to no control, and no random ID checks. As for 4am checks, quite a number of people in Shenzhen did get them. The famous South African youtuber SerpentZA living in Shenzhen had a number. So did few of my coworkers. And it all times, the guys coming are not your chill policemen posted at streets, but Teqin, other Chinese three letter agencies who are totally not against manhandling you face to the floor. As for Chinese name, you know that you have a full legal right to use your legal Chinese name if you have such?
- mstaoru 8y ago
  Seriously doubt that. The relevant law for bus travel is in effect since March 1st, 2017. Source: http://www.gd.gov.cn/gzhd/zcjd/snzcsd/201703/t20170301_248047.htm http://www.gd.gov.cn/gzhd/zcjd/snzcsd/201703/t20170301_24804... For train travel is in effect since Jan 1st, 2012. Source: http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2012-01/01/content_2035488.htm http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2012-01/01/content_2035488.htm I also travel around China for work, sometimes by non-CRH train, sometimes by bus, and was always asked for original ID.
  - baybal2 8y ago
    I never meant that it is easy to ride paper trail free in China, or if you can get ID free tickets on a golden platter. With busses it is still hit and miss. Bigger bus companies, which allow you to reserve tickets online tend to require it, and smaller "Uncle Liu Bus" type companies more than likely not. As for train tickers, you will always be asked for an ID and given a regular blue ticket if you buy them right at the railway station these days. To get an old type pink ticket, you have to look for standalone ticket offices ran by agents. There are very, very few remaining, but they do sell legit tickets. One or two in Foshan, one in Shunde, one in Meizhou. And there is always a risky option to buy them from grannies. https://imgur.com/a/xlB2sX4 https://imgur.com/a/xlB2sX4 And one even lesser known way is to find stations with very, very old ticket vending machines that are from 2008 or so. Those don't require IDs, and take cash. Only single digits of them are remaining in Guangdong, and whom ever knows of them don't blabber around about that.

baybal2 8y ago

Quite surprised to heard that. That's interesting. I travelled few times from Shenzhen to Heihe and back without having to produce my ID even once. Just a year ago, I went Beijing to Heihe by bus, and again I only needed cash. And you can for sure travel around Guangdong on regular rail (non CRH,) and buy plain paper tickets without any barcodes for cash at few remaining standalone ticket departments. And access to the train platform on regular rail is way laxer than on CRH. I don't have a specific need to travel without paper trail, nevertheless, sometimes, I have a need to travel with 4+ huge bags full on electronics, maotai, clothes, and other mass consumption items whenever relatives on the other side of the border request provisions from the land plenty. And that attracts a lot of unapproving looks and solicitation of humanitarian aid by impoverished officials, security personnel, and town Bubbas. As for moped number plates, I know that individual cities require them, and issue them themselves. There are no nationwide moped number plate system as I know. On what is Chinese interstate network, and even on toll roads, I do frequently see people riding without number plates. And if you travel on smaller roads, and not on a highway, there is close to no control, and no random ID checks. As for 4am checks, quite a number of people in Shenzhen did get them. The famous South African youtuber SerpentZA living in Shenzhen had a number. So did few of my coworkers. And it all times, the guys coming are not your chill policemen posted at streets, but Teqin, other Chinese three letter agencies who are totally not against manhandling you face to the floor. As for Chinese name, you know that you have a full legal right to use your legal Chinese name if you have such?

mstaoru 8y ago
Seriously doubt that. The relevant law for bus travel is in effect since March 1st, 2017. Source: http://www.gd.gov.cn/gzhd/zcjd/snzcsd/201703/t20170301_248047.htm http://www.gd.gov.cn/gzhd/zcjd/snzcsd/201703/t20170301_24804... For train travel is in effect since Jan 1st, 2012. Source: http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2012-01/01/content_2035488.htm http://www.gov.cn/jrzg/2012-01/01/content_2035488.htm I also travel around China for work, sometimes by non-CRH train, sometimes by bus, and was always asked for original ID.
- baybal2 8y ago
  I never meant that it is easy to ride paper trail free in China, or if you can get ID free tickets on a golden platter. With busses it is still hit and miss. Bigger bus companies, which allow you to reserve tickets online tend to require it, and smaller "Uncle Liu Bus" type companies more than likely not. As for train tickers, you will always be asked for an ID and given a regular blue ticket if you buy them right at the railway station these days. To get an old type pink ticket, you have to look for standalone ticket offices ran by agents. There are very, very few remaining, but they do sell legit tickets. One or two in Foshan, one in Shunde, one in Meizhou. And there is always a risky option to buy them from grannies. https://imgur.com/a/xlB2sX4 https://imgur.com/a/xlB2sX4 And one even lesser known way is to find stations with very, very old ticket vending machines that are from 2008 or so. Those don't require IDs, and take cash. Only single digits of them are remaining in Guangdong, and whom ever knows of them don't blabber around about that.