Hitchhiking in China

Hitchhiking Globally

One of the patterns of movement adopted by people all over the world is the use of hitchhiking as a way of transcending spaces. Unlike other forms of traveling, hitchhiking presents an uncommon but interesting way of moving from one place to another.  As it is popularly done, travellers in this method, travel by asking individuals, mostly strangers, for a ride in their cars. The ride is usually free because many travellers mostly do not want to pay to travel. Therefore, they use this adventurous method to reach their intended destinations.

Hitchhiking in China

China being the most populated country in the world is booming in the area of tourism. Therefore, in the past few decades, hitchhiking has emerged as an alternative way of travel in China, due to the increasing numbers of people and the limited numbers of vehicles on the road. Just like backpacking, hitchhiking is a frequent method used by people especially those who are from the lower class, youths and adventurers to explore the taste of nature. In China, hitchhikers use different signals to communicate their need for a ride. These include physical gestures, displays and writing on placards.

Hitchhiking in China is done in two ways which are rural and urban hitchhiking. Generally, the drivers in urban highways do not usually ask for money and hitchhikers get vehicles easily due to the high numbers of cars passing the highways. However, this isn’t the same for the rural roads which require more demonstration and display of hand waving to get vehicles to take hitchhikers.

Unlike in Western countries, Hitchhiking is not really known by many people in China. Therefore hitchhikers’ famous Thumb gesture used in most countries to stop moving vehicles for free ride is not easily understood by many drivers and car owners. This is due to the difference in cultural orientation of Chinese.  For the Chinese, the commonest signal used by hitchhikers to stop vehicles is writing ‘free ride’ on a placard and outstretching of arm while gently waving the hand up and down.

This saves foreign adventurers the headache of having challenges with drivers and alerts the drivers of the situation of the hitchhikers. Hitchhiking in China is best done from a toll area, service station, mini parks or other places where traffic is stopped or slow. This makes it easy for cars to easily park and pick up hitchhikers. One important thing used by hitchhikers in China is the use of Mobile maps, paper map and GPS to locate station able spots to pick cars.

The Use of signals

The use of “sign system” is preferably in Chinese to show where hitchhikers want to go. Both hand and sign approaches are commonly used by locals in many areas of China. Hitchhikers do this by standing by the roadside and displaying sign indication of where they are going. This system allows drivers to save time as they can easily know if a hitchhiker destination is in line with their own.

Another system used by hitchhikers especially those who understood Chinese is the “talking” system where hitchhikers who are going to longer destinations ask drivers at stationary (gas stations, toll stations etc.) about where they are going or hand them small letters indicating where they are going. One of the advantages of using signs in China is to communicate effectively to drivers that one is a hitchhiker who only needed a ride and would not be paying for transportation.

Dressing

One of the things that make hitchhiking easy for hitchhiker’s in China is appearance. Appearance is important for hitchhikers, therefore, what is advisable for hitchhikers is to dress fairly smart and have a clean appearance. This makes drivers stop easily for hitchhikers. Moreover, appearing humble and conservative and males is another thing that aids easy movement for hitchhikers.

Advice for Foreigners

Generally, most people (car owners and drivers who pick people up on highways are extremely generous. On highways many drivers will let hitchhikers in their car without collecting pay, although some may prove strict once they know you cannot communicate in Chinese. As a foreigner, it is always good practice to let someone write a well-mannered letter in Chinese for you about who you are and where you planned to go.

To be safer, it is recommended to show more information explaining practical things about your doings, what hitchhiking is to the driver. Because Chinese are comical, writing about your travels, thoughts and hobbies to the driver opens you up to become familiar with you. You should note the first character of a vehicle’s number plate which indicates the home province of the car to select for stop. This makes it easy for hitchhikers to select the cars to stop for a ride.

Culture and Cities

Chinese are very friendly people with a wide range of cultural values that spread from their spiritual life to eating etiquettes, greeting, working space, market etc. These cultural norms define how they live their life and relate with one another. Food in China is in wide variety with a lot of quality dishes available. Studies confirmed most hitchhikers usually eat rice, vegetables and snacks during their travels.

With a lot of cultural life, cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Hong Kong are top destinations for hitchhikers because of their rich set up. Beijing for instance draws more than 100,000 backpackers yearly. Sleeping in cities for hitchhikers is easy as hitchhikers have no problem pitching a tent. There is usually no malice, therefore making hitchhikers encounter less challenge day and night.

There are usually service areas on many highways. These service areas have gas stations, big public toilets, shops, coffee shops for hitchhikers to use. Hitchhikers should worry less about where to stop as drivers usually drop people off at service areas.

Language

The use of English is rare both in rural and urban areas. Hitchhiker should therefore follow the pattern of backpacker by getting themselves a phrasebook, outside of China before they travel because getting this is easier outside of China. Alternatively, hitchhikers can use Google translator to copy down the meaning of some important words used by hitchhikers in China. Also, getting a pocket dictionary in China is also very important.

Security/Policing

China is generally a secure country for hitchhikers because there are hardly any scenarios of kidnapping or armed robbing. Also for policing, the police usually will like to help hitchhikers when they are in trouble. Sometimes, they assist hitchhikers to get vehicles. In case hitchhikers don’t get vehicles, they are taken to the stations to sleep for the day ahead of the following day.

Most times police will take photos with hitchhikers and get them free food and assistance. As a hitchhiker, it is good to approach police with firmness towards your goal.

Maps

As stated earlier, it is very important to have your map so you can explore your way around the wide and complex Chinese environment. Due to the terrain of some regions in China, it is advisable for hitchhikers to download maps of the location they intend to explore to avoid network issues, although there are usually services at supermarkets and toll stations.

Sometimes indications used for roads may not be accurate, so if you are not with a map, you might have issues. Examples of good maps for hitchhikers are the Tourist Atlas of China, Provinces of China. These are in English and Chinese. Every hitchhiker should ensure to get one in his/her home country or in big Chinese cities immediately when he/she arrives in China.

Public Transport and Expressway

Hitchhikers usually when in the cities, need public transport to get to the expressways. Interestingly, there are expressways running close to the city centre in every city. These are often around the toll areas which are brilliant for hitching from. The expressways in China are always new and fast. Hitchhikers should stick to highways if they want to explore wide and travel fast. In the case of difficulty navigating the roads, hitchhikers should find younger Chinese, to enquire on which bus number goes to somewhere.

Types of Drivers that Hitchhikers Need to Know

• The Kind Drivers

This set of drivers generally is chatty and feels so happy to pick up foreigners. They usually do a lot of things hitchhikers might not expect just to interest hitchhikers. They usually take hitchhikers, especially foreigners, to different places just to show them around China.

• Bureaucratic Drivers

This set of drivers asks baseless and interrogative questions when hitchhikers stop them for a ride. Most times as a hitchhiker, one must know to possess the instinct to know them and avoid them in some instances.

Knowing Where to be

Foreign hitchhikers cannot enter Tibet without a permit. So as a foreign hitchhiker, it is important to know that places such as Tibet, Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi amongst others are not allowed for foreigners. Some places also are being used for nuclear weapons production; therefore, hitchhikers should read and understand signs before entering many locations.