Hitchhiking means traveling by getting rides in other people’s vehicles. Abroad, it’s a common mode of transportation and even has its own unique road culture. In China, ever since Gu Yue’s documentary "Hitchhiking to Berlin" gained popularity in the travel community, more and more people have chosen this way to travel. Many people have dreams and aspirations about hitchhiking, but also feel fear and uncertainty, not knowing how to take that brave first step. Budget travel is nothing to be ashamed of — it broadens your horizons, builds your skills, helps you make friends, and saves money. Why not give it a try?
There are many things to pay attention to when hitchhiking, and doing your homework in advance will give you more confidence to achieve your hitchhiking journey.
Learn the essential lessons of hitchhiking first
Since you’ll be hitching rides with passing drivers, it’s important to familiarize yourself with vehicle license plates from all over the country. This knowledge will come in very handy during your hitchhiking journey, helping you quickly identify potential rides. For example, if you’re trying to hitch from Beijing to Guangzhou, it’s best to flag down cars with license plates from south of Beijing, as these vehicles are likely heading home in that direction and may give you a ride along the way. If the car has a Beijing or other northern plate, you can’t be sure where it’s headed — it might turn off at the next exit. That’s definitely advice from experience!
Since you’ll be hitching rides with passing drivers, it’s important to familiarize yourself with vehicle license plates from all over the country. This knowledge will come in very handy during your hitchhiking journey, helping you quickly identify potential rides. For example, if you’re trying to hitch from Beijing to Guangzhou, it’s best to flag down cars with license plates from south of Beijing, as these vehicles are likely heading home in that direction and may give you a ride along the way. If the car has a Beijing or other northern plate, you can’t be sure where it’s headed — it might turn off at the next exit. That’s definitely advice from experience!
Mindset for hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is a somewhat random form of travel — you can’t expect to arrive at your destination right on schedule. Therefore, overly tight itineraries aren’t suitable for hitchhiking. Moreover, getting a ride is already a low-probability event. Even the most experienced hitchhikers only slightly increase those odds. Hitchhiking is about persisting despite repeated rejections before finally succeeding. In short, your trip needs to be flexible, and you need to push your own boundaries.
Choosing your gear
The most difficult part of hitchhiking is building mutual trust between people!
Your appearance is the only way a driver can get to know you before you even speak. So, your outward look should clearly show that you’re a traveler, helping earn the driver’s trust. And a large part of your outward appearance is determined by your travel gear.
Recommended gear includes a large-capacity backpack (40L or more) and a small chest pack or waist bag. This combination is both distinctive and highly practical. Use the backpack for clothes and other less frequently used items, and the chest/waist pack for valuables or essentials. Once you get a ride, you can stow the backpack in the trunk and keep the chest/waist pack with you.
A magic scarf is another recommended item — it’s cheap but effectively contributes to your traveler image, while also offering wind and dust protection.
Bring plenty of instant noodles and other filling snacks. The timing and location of rides are hard to control, so be prepared to handle meals on your own!
Choosing your route
First, you need to decide on your route, essential cities to visit, alternative options, and key transportation hub cities.
For example, during the recent Qingming Festival holiday, the Hangzhou-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen hitchhiking route. Choosing to hitch entirely on highways requires stops in Wuyuan and Jingdezhen for at least a day. The preferred route is Hangzhou-Quzhou-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen, with an alternative being Hangzhou-Lin’an-Huangshan-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen. On the Hangzhou-Quzhou-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen route, Quzhou serves as a transportation hub because most vehicles leaving southwestern Zhejiang pass through Quzhou, and many stop at Quzhou service areas. You can first hitch to Quzhou, then greatly increase your chances of getting a ride to Wuyuan.
Choosing your gear
The most difficult part of hitchhiking is building mutual trust between people!
Your appearance is the only way a driver can get to know you before you even speak. So, your outward look should clearly show that you’re a traveler, helping earn the driver’s trust. And a large part of your outward appearance is determined by your travel gear.
Recommended gear includes a large-capacity backpack (40L or more) and a small chest pack or waist bag. This combination is both distinctive and highly practical. Use the backpack for clothes and other less frequently used items, and the chest/waist pack for valuables or essentials. Once you get a ride, you can stow the backpack in the trunk and keep the chest/waist pack with you.
A magic scarf is another recommended item — it’s cheap but effectively contributes to your traveler image, while also offering wind and dust protection.
Bring plenty of instant noodles and other filling snacks. The timing and location of rides are hard to control, so be prepared to handle meals on your own!
Choosing your route
First, you need to decide on your route, essential cities to visit, alternative options, and key transportation hub cities.
For example, during the recent Qingming Festival holiday, the Hangzhou-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen hitchhiking route. Choosing to hitch entirely on highways requires stops in Wuyuan and Jingdezhen for at least a day. The preferred route is Hangzhou-Quzhou-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen, with an alternative being Hangzhou-Lin’an-Huangshan-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen. On the Hangzhou-Quzhou-Wuyuan-Jingdezhen route, Quzhou serves as a transportation hub because most vehicles leaving southwestern Zhejiang pass through Quzhou, and many stop at Quzhou service areas. You can first hitch to Quzhou, then greatly increase your chances of getting a ride to Wuyuan.
Hitchhiking locations
Choosing your hitchhiking spot is crucial — it directly impacts your success rate and how long it takes. Ideal hitchhiking spots share the following traits: single-lane traffic, heavy vehicle flow, and slow speeds or brief stops. Suitable locations include highway rest areas, 100–200 meters before highway toll booths, 100 meters before or after national road toll stations, gas stations along highways, national roads, or provincial roads, and restaurants along these routes. Difficulty generally increases with each option.
If you want to hitch on a highway, choose areas with slower traffic or where vehicles stop, such as highway entrance toll booths or rest areas. On national roads, there are more options — major intersections, narrow stretches of road, and gas stations are good spots. Avoid crowded places, as they often attract unlicensed taxis. (Note: 1. Any location in city centers is unsuitable for hitchhiking. 2. Don’t stand too close to toll booths to avoid causing congestion. 3. Never hitch near curves, slopes, or narrow road sections to prevent accidents.)
How to hitchhike
Before trying to hitch a ride, make sure your luggage is ready. It’s best to use a backpack or travel bag — this makes you look like a traveler rather than a scammer, increasing your chances of getting picked up. If you’re feeling creative, make a small sign with a thick marker, writing your next destination in big letters. Keep it reasonably close — around 100 km on flat roads, or adjust according to mountainous routes.
Actually, the hardest part is putting out your hand to stop a car. At first, you might be scared, thinking it’s embarrassing if no one stops. But the more you do it, the easier it gets — practice really does make perfect. From my experience, on average, one out of every ten cars will stop to ask about you. As long as the driver who stops is going in the same direction, your chances are already pretty high. Just honestly explain your travel plans and identity to gain their trust quickly. You could say: “Hello driver, excuse me, do you pass by [location]? I’m traveling to [destination], could you give me a ride for part of the way?”
First conversation
When a vehicle slows down and stops for you, use concise, clear words and a sincere tone to ask for what you need and communicate your message. Here, I’ll share my method as a starting point. I hope everyone can brainstorm and find what works best for them.
For example, if a car slows down ahead, I jog lightly toward it, gently knock on the door, and loudly ask: “Driver, are you heading toward Hangzhou?” If the driver says they’re going elsewhere but can only go as far as Quzhou, I follow up: “Would it be okay to give us a ride? We’re hitchhiking to Hangzhou. If possible, could you drop me off at the Quzhou service area?”
This method works almost every time — as long as the car stops for you, your chances of success are high.
On the hitchhiking journey
Once you’ve gotten a ride, you’ve already passed the hardest part. You can chat with the driver about your travel plans and why you chose to hitchhike. They might give you useful tips and drop you off at a spot where it’s easy to catch another ride. If the driver is in a good mood, they might even invite you for a meal. Remember to be honest about who you are — your sincerity goes a long way. If you have small gifts or postcards, giving one to the driver is a nice gesture of thanks.
Step-by-step guide: for example, chat with drivers about their hometowns or their kids’ studies. It’s best to ask drivers about the route — you’ll get great help. Avoid sleeping, or even just lying quietly. But don’t be too stiff either — stay natural and polite. Most importantly, sincerely thank the driver when you get out, and take a photo together if you can.
Riding isn’t really about how many rides you can get or how many miles you cover. It’s about the people you meet and the experiences you have along the way—these are what bring you truly unique feelings. Perhaps when you’re out on your own road trip in the future and come across someone who needs help, you’ll be more than happy to give them a lift. Countless different stories unfold on the road, and one unfamiliar face after another becomes part of your journey. It’s not the distant destination that matters—it’s the unforgettable scenery right by your side.
Choosing your hitchhiking spot is crucial — it directly impacts your success rate and how long it takes. Ideal hitchhiking spots share the following traits: single-lane traffic, heavy vehicle flow, and slow speeds or brief stops. Suitable locations include highway rest areas, 100–200 meters before highway toll booths, 100 meters before or after national road toll stations, gas stations along highways, national roads, or provincial roads, and restaurants along these routes. Difficulty generally increases with each option.
If you want to hitch on a highway, choose areas with slower traffic or where vehicles stop, such as highway entrance toll booths or rest areas. On national roads, there are more options — major intersections, narrow stretches of road, and gas stations are good spots. Avoid crowded places, as they often attract unlicensed taxis. (Note: 1. Any location in city centers is unsuitable for hitchhiking. 2. Don’t stand too close to toll booths to avoid causing congestion. 3. Never hitch near curves, slopes, or narrow road sections to prevent accidents.)
How to hitchhike
Before trying to hitch a ride, make sure your luggage is ready. It’s best to use a backpack or travel bag — this makes you look like a traveler rather than a scammer, increasing your chances of getting picked up. If you’re feeling creative, make a small sign with a thick marker, writing your next destination in big letters. Keep it reasonably close — around 100 km on flat roads, or adjust according to mountainous routes.
Actually, the hardest part is putting out your hand to stop a car. At first, you might be scared, thinking it’s embarrassing if no one stops. But the more you do it, the easier it gets — practice really does make perfect. From my experience, on average, one out of every ten cars will stop to ask about you. As long as the driver who stops is going in the same direction, your chances are already pretty high. Just honestly explain your travel plans and identity to gain their trust quickly. You could say: “Hello driver, excuse me, do you pass by [location]? I’m traveling to [destination], could you give me a ride for part of the way?”
First conversation
When a vehicle slows down and stops for you, use concise, clear words and a sincere tone to ask for what you need and communicate your message. Here, I’ll share my method as a starting point. I hope everyone can brainstorm and find what works best for them.
For example, if a car slows down ahead, I jog lightly toward it, gently knock on the door, and loudly ask: “Driver, are you heading toward Hangzhou?” If the driver says they’re going elsewhere but can only go as far as Quzhou, I follow up: “Would it be okay to give us a ride? We’re hitchhiking to Hangzhou. If possible, could you drop me off at the Quzhou service area?”
This method works almost every time — as long as the car stops for you, your chances of success are high.
On the hitchhiking journey
Once you’ve gotten a ride, you’ve already passed the hardest part. You can chat with the driver about your travel plans and why you chose to hitchhike. They might give you useful tips and drop you off at a spot where it’s easy to catch another ride. If the driver is in a good mood, they might even invite you for a meal. Remember to be honest about who you are — your sincerity goes a long way. If you have small gifts or postcards, giving one to the driver is a nice gesture of thanks.
Step-by-step guide: for example, chat with drivers about their hometowns or their kids’ studies. It’s best to ask drivers about the route — you’ll get great help. Avoid sleeping, or even just lying quietly. But don’t be too stiff either — stay natural and polite. Most importantly, sincerely thank the driver when you get out, and take a photo together if you can.
Riding isn’t really about how many rides you can get or how many miles you cover. It’s about the people you meet and the experiences you have along the way—these are what bring you truly unique feelings. Perhaps when you’re out on your own road trip in the future and come across someone who needs help, you’ll be more than happy to give them a lift. Countless different stories unfold on the road, and one unfamiliar face after another becomes part of your journey. It’s not the distant destination that matters—it’s the unforgettable scenery right by your side.