12/05/2026
Exploring China by motorhome – it sounds crazy, but it’s now possible
Exploring China independently by camper? What may sound like a bold and unusual idea has now become a reality: Travelers can now request and book motorhomes in the People’s Republic of China via Campcruisers. To the best of current knowledge, Campcruisers is probably the only Western booking platform offering access to this kind of travel experience.
The idea did not come out of a strategy workshop, but from genuine curiosity. During a quiet moment, Campcruisers founder Daniel Bosch asked himself whether China might actually be an exciting destination for camper travel. That question quickly turned into serious research. During that process, he came across Crisscrosschina.com, a blog that ultimately proved to be virtually the only truly relevant source on camping and camper travel in China. Daniel left a message – and it did not take long for a reply to come back.
Behind Crisscrosschina are Petri and Lanny, a Finnish-Chinese couple who lived in China for many years and explored the country extensively on their own. After an initial meeting, it quickly became clear that the idea had real potential. Soon after, the decision was made to move forward together. Petri and Lanny then got in touch with China’s largest motorhome rental company, which operates around 2,000 vehicles nationwide, and worked out the terms for a cooperation.
There is no doubt that China is a fascinating camper destination. At the same time, it is equally clear that traveling through China by motorhome is very different from a classic European road trip. The camping infrastructure is different, many processes are unfamiliar to European travelers, and several practical issues need to be considered. Anyone wishing to drive in China needs a Chinese driver’s license. This can generally be obtained if you already hold a European license – but you need to know how the process works. Connectivity is another important topic: anyone who wants to stay reachable on the road should ideally get a SIM card immediately upon arrival at the airport, because obtaining one later can be far less straightforward. On top of that, language barriers can make both travel planning and vehicle pick-up considerably more challenging.
This is exactly where the cooperation between Campcruisers and Crisscrosschina comes in. The goal is to make motorhome travel in China as simple, transparent and comfortable as possible for international guests. Interested travelers can submit an inquiry for their preferred camper via Campcruisers. Crisscrosschina then coordinates with the provider in China, checks availability and pricing, and creates a reliable basis before anything is actually booked. That not only provides clarity for customers, but also simplifies the process for the Chinese partner.
Lanny Muurimaaki explains the approach as follows:
“It is the simplest way. On the one hand, interested travelers have clarity. On the other hand, this helps us avoid situations in which our partner in China would have to transfer money back to Europe – a process that involves additional effort and avoidable extra costs.”
A particularly important part of the offer is the optional support service that Crisscrosschina provides around the trip. Campcruisers is not simply arranging vehicles; together with its local partner, it is also offering the kind of support travelers genuinely need for a destination like China. This includes pre-trip advice as well as language support during vehicle pick-up and return. In addition, travelers can book support during the trip itself for a moderate extra charge – by phone or via WeChat, daily between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. China time. In a country where language, signage, procedures and digital services often feel unfamiliar to European travelers, that support is a real added value.
As Petri puts it:
“China is a fantastic country to explore by camper. It’s just not that easy if you don’t speak the local language. That’s why we provide advice in advance and assist with language support during vehicle pick-up and return. For a moderate additional fee, we also offer support during the trip itself via phone or WeChat between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. China time.”
There is also another attractive option: travelers who would love to explore China by motorhome but do not want to drive themselves can book a driver as well. Naturally, this makes the trip more expensive than simply renting the vehicle – not least because the driver also needs accommodation during the journey. At the same time, it is an excellent solution for anyone who does not feel comfortable driving a camper through a Chinese megacity or navigating rush-hour traffic on their own. This way, travelers can still enjoy the freedom and individuality of a camper journey while relying on local support for the more demanding parts of the route.
At the moment, four different models from the renowned manufacturer Maxus are available. The first rental station is located in Shanghai, with five more major Chinese cities with international airports expected to follow soon. Pricing is comparable to motorhome rental prices in Europe, and the vehicles are very well equipped, leaving little to be desired.
With this new offer, Campcruisers is opening the door to a destination that until now was hardly on the radar for camper travel. Anyone who wants to experience China not just as a visitor, but in a far more independent and personal way, now has a truly exceptional new opportunity – including the support needed to make such an adventure work smoothly.
