Many foreign travellers fly into Yunnan and would rather not spend the whole trip on a bus or in a taxi. Renting a car at the airport and driving slowly between Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La is completely doable — and it is a very different process from driving your own car across the border.
1. What cars can you rent?
We provide petrol cars only for foreign guests, in two tiers:
Family sedan / compact SUV — Volkswagen Lavida 1.5L or Jetta 1.4T. More than enough for Kunming–Dali–Lijiang. About ¥260/day, unlimited kilometres, deposit ¥3,000.
Off-road SUV — Tank 300 2.0T. Only if you are heading to Shangri-La, far northwest Yunnan, or onto rough roads. About ¥400/day, 300 km/day limit, deposit ¥5,000.
Why no EVs? Charging infrastructure in western Yunnan is still patchy. We would rather not leave you stranded mid-trip, so we stick to petrol.
2. Temporary driving licence
China does not recognise the International Driving Permit (China has not joined the UN road traffic convention). Every foreign driver in China must hold a Chinese temporary motor vehicle driving licence. You do not need to visit the vehicle management office yourself — we apply for it on your behalf. Send us your passport, visa and home driving licence. You do not need to be present. Cost: about ¥1,500, handed to you at pickup.
3. How insurance works (this is where arguments usually happen)
The rental price already includes compulsory traffic insurance plus commercial cover, but that does not mean "everything is covered":
- Minor damage under ¥1,500: you pay (this is the deductible).
- Damage over ¥1,500: we claim on insurance, you pay 30% of the claim amount.
- Light scratches that do not touch the primer (e.g. a small stone chip): no charge.
- Respray or simple parts replacement: no transport fee, no depreciation fee.
- Significant damage: we cover the off-road / downtime fee for the first 5 days.
4. Deposit and refund
Each car requires a deposit of a few thousand yuan (more for more expensive cars). After you return the car, the deposit is held for 5–7 working days while we check for any unpaid traffic violations in your name. If there are none, it is refunded to your original payment method. If there are tickets, the fine is deducted first and the balance returned.
5. One-way (out-of-town) return
If you pick up in Kunming and drop off in Lijiang, a one-way fee of about ¥1,500 applies. Tell us your pick-up and drop-off cities when you book so we can quote it up front.
6. Breakdown and accidents
- If you scrape or crash the car and need a tow: you pay the towing fee; we help arrange rescue.
- If the car suffers a mechanical fault: rescue and repair are on us.
7. Booking deposit and cancellation
A ¥600 booking deposit locks the car. If you cancel for personal reasons, this deposit is non-refundable — the car has been held for you and turned away other bookings. This rule is stated up front.
8. Driving in China
- China drives on the right. If you are from the UK, Australia, Japan, Thailand or Malaysia, take it easy for the first two days, especially at highway exits and when overtaking.
- With the temporary licence you can drive anywhere in China, but Tibet requires a licensed guide throughout and a Tibet Travel Permit; Beijing requires a Beijing entry permit; some border areas in Xinjiang are closed to foreigners.
- Fuel, parking and toll roads are straightforward. Set up mobile payment with a credit card, or carry cash.
9. Who is this for?
Travellers who fly into Kunming or Lijiang, do not want a tour group, and want 3–14 days to drive at their own pace. If you would rather ship or drive your own car across the border (via Mohan from Laos, or Khorgos from Kazakhstan), that is a separate service — temporary customs declaration — and is not what this page describes.
Send us your dates and pick-up city on WeChat qxzj7557 (WhatsApp +86 137-5915-5671), and we will quote a clear number.