Import regulations by China customs
The following items may be imported into China by passengers staying less than 6 months without incurring customs duty:
400 cigarettes (600 cigarettes for stays of over six months); two bottles (up to 75cl) of alcoholic beverages (four bottles for stays of over six months); a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.
Chinese customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from China of items such as antiquities, banned publications, some religious literature, or vehicles not conforming to Chinese standards. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of China in Washington or one of China’s consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Export regulations by China customs
Prohibited items:
Arms and ammunition (prior approval may be obtained courtesy of the travel agency used), pornography (photographs in mainstream Western magazines may be regarded as pornographic), radio transmitters/receivers, exposed but undeveloped film, fruit and certain vegetables (tomatoes, aubergines and red peppers), political and religious pamphlets (a moderate quantity of religious material for personal use is acceptable). Any printed matter directed against the public order and the morality of China.
Customs Declaration
There are two channels, red and green, in China customs. Take the red one if you have something to declare, otherwise the green one. If you are uncertain which channel you should take, then take the red one.
If you take the red channel the customs officer will check to see whether you have to pay duty, deposit the items at Customs, or allow you to take them into China but take them out on your departure. If you take things such as computers, cameras, video cameras, gold and silver, printed or recorded materials, or anything more than you need during your travel in China, you have to fill in the "Customs Luggage Declaration Form". Similarly, if you are planning to leave any sort of significant item behind, you should also fill out the form.
A copy of the form must be retained by the traveler and be submitted to Customs when leaving the country. All the items declared on the form must be brought out of China or else import duty will be charged on them.
Visitors are allowed to carry into China a limited quantity of duty-free goods including:
2 liters of alcoholic beverages
400 cigarettes
50g (2 ounces) of gold or silver
US$ less than 5,000
Chinese RMB with a total value less than 20,000 yuan
Reasonable amount of perfume
1 still camera and reasonable amount of film
Prohibited imports include: fresh fruit, arms, ammunition and explosives, printed matter, films ortapes "detrimental to China", narcotic drugs, animals and plants.
Remember: All the receipts of the valuable articles, such as jewelry, jade, gold and silver ornaments, handicrafts, artifacts, paintings and calligraphy, you bought in China should be kept for the exit check. Antiques are not permitted to leave China without the proper "Certificates for the Export of Cultural Relics" from the Chinese Authorities.
Passenger's Personal Belongings:
Each passenger is allowed to carry a camera, a portable tape recorder, a small movie camera, a portable video-camera, and a portable word-processor. A passenger with personal articles exceeding the allowable must make declaration to the customs service. Passengers should bring their belongings with them when they depart China.
Gold, Silver, and Articles Made of these Metals:
Passengers with gold, silver, and articles made of these metals, each exceeding 50 grams should declare to customs when entering China, and should carry them out of the country. Gold, silver, and their products (including new arts and craft articles, such as inlays and containers) bought from shops should be released by customs after examination of Special Receipts issued by the People's Bank of China.
Foreign Currencies:
There is no limitation for the amount of foreign currencies, traveller's check, or credit card carried into China. Inbound passengers who are residents of China carrying more than US $2,000 cash or non-resident passengers with more than US $5,000 cash or an equivalent amount in other foreign currencies must declare to the customs. When the passenger leaves China, outbound customs will release unspent foreign currency after examination of the declaration form issued by the inbound customs. For outbound passengers with foreign currencies exceeding the amount alluded to above, the customs will need to examine the Foreign Currency Carriage Permit issued by the State Administration of Exchange Control.
Renminbi (RMB):
The limit of Renminbi (RMB) for inbound and outbound passengers is 6,000 yuan. Innound and outbound passengers with more than 6,000 yuan RMB will not be allowed to enter or leave the China.
Cultural Relics (Artworks of Deceased Artists):
Inbound passengers with cultural relics should declare to the customs upon entry, so that they can carry the items out of China during outbound inspection. Cultural Relics purchased during the visit should be accompanied with certificates issued by the Chinese administrative department. Carrying cultural relics out of the country with any official certificates is strictly against the law and violators will be prosecuted accordingly.
Raw and Processed Traditional Chinese Medicines:
The limit for outbound tourists on raw and processed traditional Chinese medicines is 300 yuan; and 150 yuan for tourists to Hong Kong and Macau. There is a 200 yuan limit on mailing traditional Chinese medication to foreign countries and 100 yuan to Hong Kong and Macau. Outbound tourists carrying a reasonable amount of raw and processed traditional medication for personal consumption will be allowed if accompanied with appropriate receipts and foreign currency exchange certificate.
Tourist Commodities:
There is no restriction to the amount, value and variety for overseas tourists carrying souvenirs and handcraft articles purchased with foreign currency in China with the exception items under duty and national regulations. These items will be released upon inspection of related receipts and foreign currency exchange certificates.
Rules for Duty of Luggage and Mail Articles:
To simplify customs procedure, Chinese Customs has instituted special tariff rules and rates for inbound passengers' luggage and inbound mail. A tariff rate ranges from 10% to 100% will be imposed on these articles. The CIF prices are approved, published and carried out according to the retail prices in the international market.
Articles Prohibited from Entry or Exit:
Weapons, imitation weapons, ammunition, and explosives
Counterfeit money and forged securities
Printed matters, negatives, records, films, audio and video recordings, laser optical video-discs, computer storage media and other articles containing materials deemed "harmful to China politically, economically, culturally, or ethically".
Poisons
Opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana, and other narcotics
Bateria, harmful insects, animals, plants (and their products), food, drugs, and other articles from epdemic- stricken areas if such areticles may be harmful to human beings and animals
Articles that may Not be Taken Out of China:
All prohibited articles mentioned above
Manuscripts, printed matters, negatives, photos, records, films, audios, and video recordings, laser optical video disc, computer storage media, and similar articles if they contain information regarded by the Chinese as "secrets"
Cultural relics and relics not permitted by the Chinese for export
Endangered spicies and protected animals and plants (including specimens), their seeds and breeding materials