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First time driving in China 🇨🇳 NOT what I expected!
First Time Driving in Yunnan: 2000km BYD Road Trip
First time driving in CHINA (2000km road trip)
We rented a BYD hybrid and set off on our 2000km road trip throughout the Yunnan province. Our itinerary is pretty jam-packed-- these are all the things we plan to see:
Lijiang City
, Baisha Ancient Town,
Wenhai Village
, Yuwu Village
, Yulong Snow...
First time driving in CHINA (2000km road trip) We rented a BYD hybrid and set off on our 2000km road trip throughout the Yunnan province. Our itinerary is pretty jam-packed-- these are all the things we plan to see: Lijiang City, Baisha Ancient Town, Wenhai Village, Yuwu Village, Yulong Snow Mountain, Impressions of Lijiang, Blue Moon Valley, Baoshan Stone Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La, Dukezong Ancient City, Benzilan, Balagezong Scenic Spot, Napahai Grasslands, Shaxi, Dali, and Kunming Stone Forest. We will attempt to see all these places in 2 weeks. Let's see how many tourist attractions we make it to, which ones are must-see destinations and which ones are the best things to do in Yunan. We'll also answer the questions is it safe to drive in China? And how to get the temporary Chinese driving permit as a foreigner with an English license. Thanks for watching!
Buckle up for a wild ride! JetLag Warriors take on a 2000km Yunnan road trip in a rented BYD hybrid, tackling ancient towns, snow mountains, and local delicacies. From yak yogurt to pinecones, they uncover the real China behind the wheel. Is it safe? How do you get a temporary driving permit? This vlog answers it all with humor and heart. A must-watch for anyone planning a China road trip!
First time driving in CHINA (2000km road trip) We rented a BYD hybrid and set off on our 2000km road trip throughout the Yunnan province. Our itinerary is pretty jam-packed-- these are all the things we plan to see: Lijiang City, Baisha Ancient Town, Wenhai Village, Yuwu Village, Yulong Snow Mountain, Impressions of Lijiang, Blue Moon Valley, Baoshan Stone Town, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Shangri-La, Dukezong Ancient City, Benzilan, Balagezong Scenic Spot, Napahai Grasslands, Shaxi, Dali, and Kunming Stone Forest. We will attempt to see all these places in 2 weeks. Let's see how many tourist attractions we make it to, which ones are must-see destinations and which ones are the best things to do in Yunan. We'll also answer the questions is it safe to drive in China? And how to get the temporary Chinese driving permit as a foreigner with an English license. Thanks for watching!
In this episode, JetLag Warriors kick off their ambitious 2,000km road trip across Yunnan province, beginning with a frustrating but ultimately successful trip to Shanghai's DMV to secure a temporary driving permit. The traveler, known as Shi Shuai, had to scramble for a government-approved translation after his original one was rejected, but the entire process was wrapped up in under two hours, thanks to the helpful staff. Once in Yunnan, the real adventure began with their rented BYD hybrid, which refused to start due to a 14-minute software update in the parking lot. After a quick snack break of mustard-flavored Pringles, the car finally came to life, and they were off. The road trip quickly revealed the joys and challenges of driving in China: the navigation system stayed in Chinese, leading to a few moments of confusion with a hotel parking attendant, but the locals were unfailingly kind. The highlight of the day was a chance encounter with a mobile coffee truck perched on a mountain road, run by a charismatic entrepreneur who served local Yunnan coffee and milk. The traveler was so captivated by the owner's personality that he turned his chair away from the stunning mountain view to chat. Along the way, they also discovered a makeshift RV park, bought a car seat for their toddler, and failed to figure out how to charge the BYD (the smaller charger only worked after 9:30 p.m.). The day ended in Yuhu Village, where they checked into a charming courtyard accommodation with a fancy toilet and a free plate of pasta. The traveler also sampled a local delicacy: roasted pine cones, which were a mixed bag of tasty inner seeds and ash-covered shells. The driving experience itself was a revelation: quiet, orderly, and free of aggressive drivers, but filled with nervous, non-committal lane changes that kept everyone alert. The family wrapped up with a $3 bowl of clay pot rice, reflecting on a successful first day of road tripping in China.
JetLag Warriors hit the road in Yunnan for a first-time driving adventure that was anything but smooth. From a malfunctioning BYD that needed a software update in the parking lot to navigating Chinese-only maps and getting a temporary driving permit with a translation hiccup, every step was a story. But the real magic came from spontaneous detours: a coffee truck with a mountain view run by a charismatic entrepreneur, a friendly parking attendant who carried their baby, and a first-time taste of roasted pine cones. The roads were quiet, the drivers nervous but courteous, and the scenery absolutely stunning. This wasn't just a road trip; it was a raw, authentic slice of China.
JetLag Warriors drive 2000km through Yunnan in a BYD hybrid, navigating permits, software updates, and mountain roads while discovering local food and hidden RV
First Time Driving in Yunnan China BYD Road Trip Adventure
1:26 Go to the Shanghai DMV early (9:00 AM) and bring a government-approved translation of your foreign license. The whole process takes less than 2 hours, including the required safety video.
15:02 Get an eSIM with an embedded VPN, like HolaFly, to maintain internet access in remote areas and bypass China's restrictions on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
19:25 BYD hybrids have two types of chargers. The smaller one only works after 9:30 PM. If you can't charge, the gas engine is always available, so don't panic.
7:35 Be prepared for Chinese-only navigation systems in rental cars. Use Amap instead of Google Maps, and download a translation app or learn basic phrases to input destinations.
17:05 Most rental cars in China don't come with a child car seat. Plan to buy one from a local baby store, which you can easily find near e-charging stations.
44:44 Expect some nervous drivers on the road. They are not aggressive, but they change lanes hesitantly. Stay alert and maintain a safe following distance.
43:22 Street food is incredibly cheap and safe in Yunnan. Try the clay pot rice, which costs about $3 and is both clean and delicious, especially the crispy burned rice at the bottom.
1:26 Go to the Shanghai DMV early (9:00 AM) and bring a government-approved translation of your foreign license. The whole process takes less than 2 hours, including the required safety video.
15:02 Get an eSIM with an embedded VPN, like HolaFly, to maintain internet access in remote areas and bypass China's restrictions on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
19:25 BYD hybrids have two types of chargers. The smaller one only works after 9:30 PM. If you can't charge, the gas engine is always available, so don't panic.
7:35 Be prepared for Chinese-only navigation systems in rental cars. Use Amap instead of Google Maps, and download a translation app or learn basic phrases to input destinations.
17:05 Most rental cars in China don't come with a child car seat. Plan to buy one from a local baby store, which you can easily find near e-charging stations.
44:44 Expect some nervous drivers on the road. They are not aggressive, but they change lanes hesitantly. Stay alert and maintain a safe following distance.
43:22 Street food is incredibly cheap and safe in Yunnan. Try the clay pot rice, which costs about $3 and is both clean and delicious, especially the crispy burned rice at the bottom.
1:26 Getting the temporary driving permit
5:31 BYD car software update
18:01 Charging fail and local help
21:20 Mountain coffee truck encounter
38:22 Trying roasted pine cones
43:22 Driving insights and clay pot rice
45:55 Final thoughts on day one
0:00 First time driving in CHINA (2000km road trip!)
1:19 How to get temporary Chinese driving permit
4:07 $34 per day BYD Chinese hybrid
8:49 $47 per day Chinese accommodation
12:26 Yak yogurt & milk at Baisha Ancient Town
20:36 China's friendliest coffee seller
27:39 MUST SEE: Wenhai Village
32:08 Arrival at Yuwu Village
37:04 Eating pinecones
43:18 What it's like to drive in CHINA
jetlag warriorstravel vlogyunnan chinahow to drive in chinacan foreigner drive in chinarenting a car in chinadriving in chinayunnan roadtripyunnan china itineraryfirst time driving in chinachinese evis chinese ev goodfirst time driving a bydchinese carsbyd vs. teslabyd or teslabyd cargetting a chinese temporary driving permitis driving in china safechina trip 2026china travel tipsthings to do in lijiang yunnanlijiang yunnanWhat was the temporary driving permit like?
It looked like a normal driving permit, but mine said 'temporary' and had a different color. The whole process took less than 2 hours, including fixing my translation mistake.
What was the safety video you had to watch like?
It was a horrific video of car crashes to scare you into driving safe. It was definitely effective!
How did you get a car seat for your toddler?
We had to buy a rear-facing car seat from a baby store because the rental didn't provide one. It was a surprise, but we got it sorted.
What did the roasted pine cone taste like?
The inside part was actually yummy, like sweet sunflower seeds, but the outer shell was full of ash and many were empty. It was a fun experience though!
