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China

Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements

Sending to China

If you are sending to China, in addition to the full Goods Declaration and HS Tariff code mandate, the China Postal Authority are now also requesting that senders include the Receiver (mobile) phone number in the customs declaration form. 
To prepare your electronic customs declaration form, please visit Prepare your customs declaration form (CN23) 

Prohibitions

The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.

To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our Prohibited and Restricted item list and packaging guide (1.1MB).

  • Arms, ammunition, explosives and parts thereof
  • Addictive narcotics
  • Animals
  • Articles which involve State secrets
  • Chinese securities
  • Coins banknotes, currency notes
  • Deadly poisons of all kinds
  • Endangered/rare animals and plants (including specimens thereof) and their seeds or reproducing materials
  • Films, cinematographic, photographs, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, compact discs (video and audio) that are politically, economically, culturally or morally detrimental to the People’s Republic of China
  • Foodstuff, medicines and other articles coming from epidemic-stricken areas and harmful to man and livestock or those capable of spreading diseases
  • Jewels or other valuable articles
  • Manuscripts that are politically, economically, culturally or morally detrimental to the People’s Republic of China
  • Medication - including Panadol, paracetamol, ibuprofen and prescription drugs
  • Plants or plant products with microbes or insects
  • Platinum, gold and silver
  • Publications that are politically, economically, culturally or morally detrimental to the People’s Republic of China
  • Precious stones, whether manufactured or not
  • Printed matter that are politically, economically, culturally or morally detrimental to the People’s Republic of China
  • Radio-telegraphic receivers and transmitters and parts for such apparatus
  • Raw or cooked meat and its by-products
  • Securities of any kind payable to bearer
  • Travellers cheques counterfeit
  • Valuable cultural relics and other relics prohibited as exports
  • Weapons

For more detail on items that are prohibited or restricted, please visit China Customs.

Transporting food of any kind, cash and perfumes are prohibited under International Courier.

Packaging

China prohibits items in opaque, sealed containers.

Batteries

All types of batteries and devices containing them (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, wireless headphones and equivalent, power banks, tablets, etc.) are prohibited from being sent via International Courier.

Medications

All types of medications are prohibited from being sent via International Courier:

  • Non doctor prescribed e.g. Panadol
  • Pharmacy only e.g. labelled with pharmacy and recipient name
  • Doctor prescribed e.g. asthma puffer, insulin tablets/needle, heart medications
  • Controlled/illegal e.g. Morphine, Methadone, Hemp Seed Oil, Cannabinoids

Import restrictions

If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.

We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:

  • Costly traditional Chinese medicinal materials and ready-made medicines
  • Endangered and rare animals and plants and their seeds or reproducing materials
  • Foreign currencies and negotiable securities
  • Precious metals such as gold and silver and articles made thereof
  • Radio transmitter-receivers (objects used for secret communication)
  • Renminbi (national currency)
  • Tobacco
  • Weapons and parts of weapons
  • Personal postal articles mailed shall be limited to the value of RMB 1000 and duty-free allowances of RMB or ECI at one time. Customs shall levy import duties on the portion of articles whose value exceeds the above-mentioned duty-free limit.

Please note the following restrictions for International Standard articles being carried by the EMS network:

  • Ammunition
  • Animals
  • Antiques
  • Asbestos
  • Bees
  • Biological substances
  • Bullion
  • Coins
  • Counterfeit
  • Currency
  • Fur
  • Human ashes
  • Human remains
  • Ivory
  • Jewellery
  • Leeches
  • Live
  • Narcotics
  • Perfumery
  • Perfume
  • Perishable
  • Pornography
  • Precious metals
  • Precious stones
  • Silkworms
  • Watches (only if over $150.00)
  • Weapons

Okay to send? Send responsibly.

As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.

Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.

It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.

Special documentation

In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.

The last part of the address must be People’s Republic of China.

Delivery locations & exclusions

Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.

Delivery locations & exclusions data (Personal)

  • International Express and International Standard (both carried via the EMS network) - Parcels delivers to all destinations
    Parcels does not deliver to a Post Office Box but does deliver to Poste Restante (counter mail delivery).
  • International Registered Post
    China pays compensation only in case of total loss, total theft or destruction of the article. Prohibitions for International Registered Post - Letters includes; coins, bank notes, securities of any kind payable to the bearer, travellers’ cheques, platinum, gold or silver whether manufactured or not, precious stones, jewels or other valuable articles.
  • China Customs will assess all inbound items for duties and taxes
    If the value of the taxes applied is less than 50RMB, the item will be released without charges. Please check with the Chinese consulate for further information.
  • International Courier
    Check our International Courier page for more details.

    Shipments must be lodged at the counter at a participating Post Office (PDF 832kB) by the cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. Please fill out the online CN23 customs form prior to visiting the outlet.

    International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.

    Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):
    • Guangzhou (510005 to 510189, 510360 to 510600, 510645 to 510760, 510898) Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to 510665.
    • Shanghai (200010 to 201908)
    • Beijing (100000 to 102629)
    • Shenzhen (518001 to 518063, 518068 to 518100, 518125 to 518199) Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to 518038.
    • Tianjin (300000 to 300252)
    • Dongguan (523001 to 523087, 523265 to 523289, 523373 to 523429)
    • Hangzhou (310000 to 311254)
    • Wuhan (430000 to 430080)
    • Nanjing (210000 to 210059, 211100 to 211178) Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to 210053, 211110 or 211123.

* For more information from the overseas carrier, check the China Post Group website.

Make sure it's safe to send

Some items are considered dangerous and unsuitable for sending from Australia, even if they’re not prohibited by the destination country.

Download guide (PDF 1.1MB)