Everything you need to know about China’s international border crossings.

China shares international borders with 14 different countries, as well as 2 borders with the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

I wasn’t able to find a comprehensive resource on the internet that covers all of China’s international borders, so I figured I’d write one up myself.

Let’s go over all of China’s different border crossings:

International China Border Crossings

China – Afghanistan

Extremely remote, this high-altitude border crossing over the Wakhjir Pass into Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor is currently closed to everybody.

China – Bhutan

There are no border crossings between China and Bhutan.

China – India

There are no border crossings between China and India that are open to foreigners. Relations between these two countries aren’t great, so don’t count on this changing anytime soon.

China – Kazakhstan

The most popular crossing between China and Kazakhstan is the border crossing at Khorgas. Note that this is a border crossing with  China’s Xinjiang province, which means it’s likely that authorities will search your electronics for ‘sensitive’ media.

It’s possible to cross the Khorgas border by bus or train.

China – Kyrgyzstan

There are two main border crossings between China and Kyrgyzstan. The most popular one is the Irkeshtam border crossing, between connecting the cities of Kashgar and Osh.

There is also the Tourngat border crossing, but it requires pre-arranged transportation on the Chinese side of the border. In most cases, the Irkeshtam border crossing is an easier and cheaper option.

Crossing the Irkeshtam Pass from China to Kyrgyzstan
Crossing the Irkeshtam Pass from China to Kyrgyzstan

China – Laos

There’s a fairly straightforward border crossing between China and Laos, known as the Boten Border Crossing. This border is useful for those who want to travel between Xishuangbanna in Yunnan and Luang Prabang in Laos.

For more info on the border crossing, check out this article.

China – Mongolia

The most popular border crossing between China and Mongolia is the one from Zamin Uud to Erlian. It’s typically used by people travelling between Beijing and Ulaanbataar overland.

I’ve crossed this border myself, and have written up a guide to travelling between Beijing and Ulaanbataar using this crossing.

The China-Mongolia Border Crossing at Erlian
The China-Mongolia Border Crossing at Erlian

China – Myanmar

There is a crossing between China and Myanmar at Muse, but it’s not currently open to foreigners due to conflict on the Myanmar side of the border.

This will hopefully change in the future, but for now, your best bet to get from China to Myanmar is via Laos and Thailand.

China – Nepal

The Kyirong border crossing between Tibet and Nepal is now open! It was closed when I visited Tibet in 2017, which sucked as I had to fly from Kathmandu to Lhasa.

You still do need to have a Tibet tour arranged to cross this border, but now that it’s open it makes for a great way to travel between the Indian Subcontinent and China.

For more info on the latest status of this border crossing, check out this article.

China – North Korea

There are a few different border crossings between China and North Korea. You need to have arranged a tour to North Korea and have all the required permits before attempting any of these crossings.

The most popular crossing is via the Sino-Korean Friendship Bridge from Dandong in China to Sinuiju in North Korea. This crossing also has a railway, and there are four weekly trains from Beijing to Pyongyang that foreigners are allowed to use.

Here is some more info on the China – North Korea border crossings.

China – Pakistan

The border crossing between China and Pakistan is the world’s highest international border crossing. It’s located at the top of Khunjerab Pass, 4,693 meters above sea level. The border is only open from April to October of each year.

Check out my guide to the Khunjerab Pass border crossing for more information.

Crossing the Khunjerab Pass into China from Pakistan
Crossing the Khunjerab Pass into China from Pakistan

China – Russia

There are 26 border crossings between China and Russia, and at least three of them are open to foreigners.

If travelling the Trans-Siberian Railway between Russia and China, the main crossing is the one at Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia province.

Harbin to Vladivostok can be done by either bus or train via the Sufienhe border crossing.

China – Tajikistan

There’s a single border crossing between China and Tajikistan over the Qolma Pass – from Tashkurgan in China to Murghab in Tajikistan.

At the moment, the only way to cross the pass is by hiring a vehicle, hitchhiking, or cycling. There is no public transportation.

You’ll also need to make sure that you have a GBAO permit along with your Tajikistan visa. You’ll be entering directly into Tajikistan’s GBAO region so this is a requirement. You can get the permit for an additional $20 when applying for your e-visa.

For more info on crossing the Qolma Pass, check out this guide from Caravanistan.

China – Vietnam

There are a number of border crossings between China and Vietnam, but the most popular one for foreign travellers is the Friendship Pass crossing between Nanning and Hanoi.

You can cross this border by bus or train, but the bus is a cheaper and faster option.

Special Administrative Region Border Crossings

China’s special administrative regions have full passport control for foreign citizens, and it basically feels like you’re crossing into another country (although your passport won’t be stamped).

China – Hong Kong

There are a couple of border crossings between Shenzen and Hong Kong. Luohu is the main crossing and is connected by the metro on either side. Futian, Shekou, Shenzhenwan, and Huanggang are the other border crossings. Take whichever is most convenient for you.

Here’s a useful guide with more info on travelling between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

China – Macau

Hong Kong to Macau is very straightforward with the recent construction of the Hong Kong – Zhuhai – Macau Bridge. You can also take a high-speed ferry from Hong Kong to Macau if seasickness doesn’t bother you.

There is also a land border crossing between Zhuhai and Macau if you want to bypass Hong Kong.

The Grand Lisboa Casino in Macau - a quick border crossing away from China!
The Grand Lisboa Casino in Macau – a quick border crossing away from China!

China Border Crossings Wrap-up

I hope this post has helped you find the information you were looking for about China’s border crossings! Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

In the meantime, why not check out my other posts about China:

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