Yes. Foreigners who have a driving license issued by their home
countries can apply for a temporary driving license and drive in
China without having to take related tests, according to a clause
in a regulation issued by the Ministry of Public Security.
The regulation, which deals with the management of automobiles
and foreigners that come to China for a short stay, stipulates that
the valid period for the temporary driving license should not
exceed the period marked in the entry and exit certificates, and
the temporary license can be valid for three months at most. The
valid period cannot be extended. In addition, the temporary driving
license should be used together with the driving license issued at
his or her home country and foreigners should always take these two
licenses with them, in case traffic police ask them to show these
licenses at any time.
Although foreigners who have obtained their driving license at
home can get their temporary driving license in China without
having to take related tests, they need to attend lessons to study
Chinese road safety regulations, before they can drive in China.
And they can only drive small cars or automatic-gear cars.
If foreigners will stay for a relatively long time in China,
they can consider obtaining an official driving license in China.
To do so, they should take their foreign driving licenses and valid
ID cards to the automobile management bureau, fill up the
automobile driving license application form, take the related
physical examination, and attend a traffic regulation test. Once
they have completed all these procedures and passed related tests
and exams, they can get the official driving license issued by the
Chinese government.
(China.org.cn February 28, 2007)