Import restrictions for China 🇨🇳

Updated: July 2026

Customs rules can change. Before sending a parcel or travelling, check the current requirements on the customs authority's website. This material is for reference only and is not legal advice.

General information

These rules are useful both for people carrying items across the border themselves and for those sending a parcel with a fellow traveller. For people who are not Chinese residents, the value of goods remaining in China may not exceed the equivalent of CNY 2,000 — otherwise they must be declared (for Chinese residents the limit is CNY 5,000).

If the limit is exceeded, a duty of 20% of the excess amount is charged. For example, for baggage worth CNY 2,500 the duty will be CNY 100 (20% of 500).

✅ Allowed with restrictions

💰 Cash

Foreign currency is not limited by amount, but when bringing in currency worth over USD 5,000 it must be declared (keep the declaration so you can take the remainder back out). The import and export of yuan is limited to CNY 20,000 — the excess may not be imported. Gold and silver weighing over 50 g must also be declared.

🚬 Tobacco and alcohol

Duty-free (persons aged 16 and over) you may import:

• up to 1.5 L of alcohol of 12% or higher;
• tobacco — one option: 400 cigarettes, or 100 cigars, or 500 g of tobacco.

💻 Personal items

Personal items (perfume, electronics) are imported duty-free — usually one device of each type (phone, laptop, camera). New electronics in packaging (for example, as a gift) must be declared and taxed. Gold or silver jewellery weighing more than 50 g must be declared.

Recording media (flash drives, discs) may be checked for the absence of pornographic and politically sensitive material.

🍕 Food

Finished (processed) food for personal use may be imported. However, fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy products, eggs and seeds may not be imported.

💊 Medicines

Medicines for personal use are allowed in reasonable quantities (roughly a supply of about 7 days for the length of stay). For a larger amount, the medicines must be declared, and you must have a prescription or a doctor's certificate issued in the name of the person carrying the medicine; a special permit is required for controlled substances.

Important: CBD and any cannabis-based products (including hemp) are strictly prohibited in China — regardless of their legality in your country.

🐶 Pets

Only cats and dogs may be imported — no more than 1 pet (one cat or one dog) per person. The animal must have a microchip, a valid veterinary passport with a rabies vaccination record (given no later than 30 days before entry) and a health certificate/quarantine certificate from an official veterinarian of the exporting country.

On arrival, the animal goes through a 30-day quarantine at an accredited facility.

🌸 Plants

Importing most plants, their seeds and fruit requires mandatory declaration; fresh fruit and seeds are generally prohibited.

❌ Prohibited without special permits:

• weapons, ammunition and items imitating them;
• media with pornographic or politically sensitive material;
• narcotic substances (China has extremely severe penalties, up to the death penalty), CBD and cannabis products;
• toxic substances;
• counterfeit currency, etc.

This service provides information for reference purposes only, is not a customs authority, and does not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Responsibility for complying with customs rules and for the contents of the goods being moved lies with the person importing or exporting them. Before moving goods, check the current requirements in official sources.

Sources:

General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)