According to the legislation, foreign driver's license and international driving permit are not accepted for driving in China. To drive in China legally, a China driver's license or permit is an essential.

Basic Conditions for Motor Vehicle Driver’s License Application

Age Restrictions
a. Small-size vehicles, small-size vehicle with auto transmission, light motorcycles: minimum age 18, maximum age 70.
b. Low speed freight vehicles, three-wheel vehicles, three-wheel motorcycles, two- wheel motorcycle and other utility vehicles: minimum age 18, maximum age 60
c. Buses, mid-size passenger vehicles, large freight vehicles, trolleys or tramcar: minimum age 21, maximum age 50
d. Tractor: minimum age 24, maximum age 50
e. Large-size passenger vehicles: minimum age 26, maximum age 50

Health restrictions
a. Minimum height
Large-size passenger vehicles, tractor, buses, large freight vehicles, trolleys: 155cm
Mid-size passenger vehicles: 150cm
b. Vision restriction
Large-size passenger vehicles, tractor, buses, mid-size passenger vehicles, large freight vehicles, trolleys or tramcar: natural or corrected vision minimum 5.0 logarithms
Other types of vehicles: natural or corrected vision minimum 4.9 logarithms
c. Color recognition: No red / green color blindness
d. Hearing: Two ears must be able to determine the direction of sounds from 50 meters away
e. Upper limbs: Two hands with thumbs and at least three other fingers. Upper limbs and hands can motion normally.
f. Lower limbs: Normal range of motion. To apply to drive a manual transmission vehicle, lower limbs cannot be more than 5 centimeters different in length. To apply to drive an auto transmission vehicle, right lower limb must be in good condition.
g. Torso and neck: Normal range of motion must be not obstructed

Those with the following conditions are not permitted to obtain a driver’s license:
a. Heart disease, epilepsy, Menieres, hysteria, vertigo, mental illness, mental retardation, as well as diseases associated with the nervous system and other illnesses or diseases that may hinder safe driving
b. Users of addictive drugs or addictive medicines that affect one’s mental state
c. Those whose driving license has been revoked within three years of the date of application
d. Those whose driving license was revoked for fleeing the scene of a traffic accident
e. Those whose driving license was canceled by force of law within three years of the date of application