All bicycles in Shanghai are required by law to be licensed.

To apply for a licence for a bicycle, applications can be made at any of Shanghai's Main District Police Stations.

A foreign national, irrespective of whether holding a residents' permit or not, cannot register the bicycle themselves, it must be registered using the ID Card of a Local Shanghai Citizen.

Application forms (which are in Chinese) must be completed and accompanied by 2 passport-size photographs. Once completed, you will be issued with a small licence number plate which must be attached to your bicycle at all times.

The cost for registering your bicycle is approximately 30 RMB and this licence is valid for one year. After four years of continuous registration, the bicycle licence number will change.

We hope that the information provided gives you an idea of what is involved and we do repeat that it is wise to discuss your own personal circumstances with the local District Police Station which can be found under our Police Stations listing.