Rental costs, permit rules for cars, and where Chinese road reality differs from German expectations.
Bottom line: E-bikes in Yangshuo cost about 30-60 RMB a day and need no licence, and since Germany drives on the right there is no side-of-road adjustment. For a rental car, however, you do need a Chinese temporary driving permit — a German licence alone is not accepted.
German visitors arrive with two advantages and one trap. The advantages: both countries drive on the right, and German cyclists are usually comfortable on a bike. The trap is assuming that a German licence or IDP covers a rental car, which it does not.
| Item | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| E-bike rental | 30-60 RMB per day | Discounts for multi-day hire |
| Pedal bike | 20-40 RMB per day | Good option for confident cyclists |
| Deposit | Cash or passport | Confirm which the shop requires |
| Helmet | Usually included | Ask if not offered |
Range is comfortably sufficient for the standard countryside loops. A full day around the Yulong River and Ten Mile Gallery is roughly 20-40 km, well within what a rented e-bike handles.
This is where expectations most often break down. Tourist e-bikes are rented without a licence. A car is a different matter entirely: you need a Chinese temporary driving permit obtained locally with your passport, visa, German licence, and a certified translation. An International Driving Permit does not substitute for it. If driving is part of your plan, see the self-drive guide before booking anything.
Route detail lives in the cycling routes guide, and hire specifics in the e-bike rental guide.
Written by the TripWayes editorial team, based on the questions we most often receive from visitors from this country. This is a planning guide, not a traveler review, and it contains no user-generated ratings. Last updated: 2026-10-16
For the low-speed electric bicycles rented to tourists, rental shops do not ask for a licence — that is the standard arrangement. Faster electric motorcycles fall into a different class, so confirm what you are renting before riding.
Yes. China does not recognise a German licence or an International Driving Permit on its own; you need a Chinese temporary driving permit issued locally. Arrange it before booking a rental car.
No. The Yulong River area is flat with gentle gradients, and an e-bike removes what little effort there is. German visitors have no left/right adjustment to make, since both countries drive on the right.
The gap between formal rules and actual practice. Lane discipline is loose, scooters appear from both sides, and horns are used as signals rather than complaints. Riding predictably matters more than being technically in the right.