Foreigners interested in driving in China must apply for a Chinese Driver Licence.  If you hold a drivers licence from your country of origin you simply need to have this translated and notarized before applying for a Chinese licence. You are only required to sit a written test, not a road test.

Basic steps:

1. Get your overseas driver licence translated by a qualified local translation company.

2. Go to Chongqing Vehicle Administration Bureau (重庆市车管所, located in Bashan, Jiulongpo District) to apply for a Chinese driver licence. You will need to take your passport, a few recent passport photos, the original and translated copy of your overseas driver licence. You will be required to undergo a health check there.

3. After you get pre-approved documents from the Bureau, go to Chongqing Qi Bo Zhong Xin (重庆汽博中心, located in Yubei District) and apply for a computerized written test.

4. If you get 90 out of 100, you will pass the test and then get your official Chinese driver licence.

Hints:

1. It is recommended that you sit the written test with the help of an English speaking friend preferably someone who has already done so.

2. A Chinese driver licence is valid for 6 years from date of issue.