You cannot park in Chinese near the Cemetery. The military is tightening rules on All Saints' Day.
You can’t just drive in as a Chinese person
Residents of Wrocław who traditionally plan to drive to the Osobowicki Cemetery during All Saints’ Day must pay attention this year to the new rules in effect at the military parking lot near the necropolis. According to the Wrocław City Office, the site of the Center for Military Engineering and Chemical Training will be open to visitors on October 31 and November 1, but entry will only be permitted after meeting a series of safety requirements.
The biggest controversy stems from the decision regarding cars originating from China. According to guidelines set by the General Staff of the Polish Army, vehicles from dozens of brands will not be allowed in the parking area, including BYD, MG, Geely, Omoda, Jaecoo, Chery, Leapmotor, Nio, Xpeng, and Zeekr. Interestingly, the restriction also applies to Volvo models produced since 2010 as well as the Polestar brand.
As the Wrocław city hall emphasizes, the ban does not apply solely to specific brands. Vehicles manufactured in China, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, and some former USSR countries will also be barred from entry. Verification will also be conducted using WMI numbers, which are the first characters of the VIN identifying the vehicle manufacturer and country of origin — according to the wroclaw.pl website.
Warnings have been issued before
This measure is part of broader actions taken by the military. As we reported on our portal, the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army previously decided to ban vehicles manufactured in the People’s Republic of China from entering protected military areas. The decision was intended to address risks associated with modern digital systems installed in contemporary vehicles.
The issue does not apply solely to the country where the car was manufactured. Upon entering military parking areas, drivers will need to remove or effectively cover any devices that record images. This includes both popular dashcams and factory-installed parking cameras as well as systems for monitoring the vehicle’s surroundings.
The regulations are clear
According to the press office of Wrocław City Hall, these restrictions stem from regulations aimed at protecting strategic facilities. “Due to the difficult geopolitical situation, strategic and military installations are under protection,” the statement read. The city also refers to the applicable provisions of the National Defense Act and regulations issued by the Minister of National Defense regarding the photographing and recording of facilities important for national security.
The inspections will be thorough. Military personnel and agency representatives will check not only the equipment on vehicles and VIN numbers but also record the license plate numbers of all cars entering the base premises. Drivers who fail to meet the requirements will not be allowed into the parking lot.
An Increasing Number of Chinese Cars
This decision may affect an ever-larger group of road users. As reported by Portal Samorządowy, citing data from the SAMAR Automotive Market Research Institute, around 370 cars of Chinese brands were registered in Poland in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, in the first half of 2026 alone, the number of new registrations for such vehicles exceeded 39,500 units. The rapid expansion of manufacturers from China means that restrictions in military areas may apply to an increasing number of drivers.
The city authorities also remind that the ban does not mean restrictions on Chinese vehicles traveling in Wrocław. It applies only to the parking lot located on military grounds near Osobowice Cemetery. Those who cannot use it can leave their cars in other locations or use public transportation. Additional tram and bus routes are planned for the period leading up to All Saints’ Day and on the day of the holiday, serving the largest cemeteries in Wrocław.
OW