Send a parcel to China

China is well known for the number of items it exports, but it is now the second biggest importer of goods too. We have seen China rise up the charts when it comes to being one of the most popular destinations our customers are sending parcels to.

This is driven by eCommerce, with Chinese consumers looking to the UK as a trusted supplier of quality goods, as well as businesses and individuals sending to major cities such as Bejing, Guangzhou, Shenzen and more. 

To help you send parcels to China as easily as possible, we've put together the following helpful information: 

Cheap postage to China

If you need to send a parcel to China from the UK and you’re looking for cheap postage to China, then get a quote with Parcel Monkey.

We offer a cheaper alternative to sending parcels through the Post Office and can even provide Parcelforce services at a heavily reduced rate. Book Parcelforce to China with Parcel Monkey and you’ll pay less than you would at the Post Office or directly with the courier. Our Parcelforce services to China include Parcelforce Global Priority and a range of economy services.  

To find cheap postage to China, simply enter the weight and dimensions of your packaged item into our courier quote form and compare quotes from multiple couriers. With Parcel Monkey you'll save time and be able to book tracked postage to China at affordable rates.

How long does it take to send a parcel to China? 

You can send a parcel to China from the UK in as little as 2-3 working days if you book an express courier service, however, you’ll be able to reduce the cost of shipping to China considerably if you can allow a couple more days or book one of our excellent value economy services.

Shipping to China – customs advice

When you send a parcel to China from the UK, it will have to pass through customs and will require a customs declaration. However, we take all the necessary information from you during the booking process and will provide the relevant documents to print and attach to your parcel prior to shipping.

Customs duties will also apply, and these are calculated by China customs based on the value of the item you’re sending. Always remember to provide a valid contact number for the recipient, as they are responsible for ensuring any duties are paid. Customs will contact them when the parcel arrives.

China restricted and prohibited items

Before you send a parcel to China, make sure your goods are not prohibited or restricted. The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) is the best source of information for this, as restrictions are subject to change, but prohibited items include:

• Weapons, mock weapons or explosives.
• Counterfeit currency.
• Printed materials, films, photos, records, motion pictures, audiotapes, computer storage media and other articles which are harmful to China's political, economic, cultural and moral development.
• Opiates and other narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs.
• Animals and/or plants and their products carrying dangerous viruses, bacteria or pests.
• Food, medicine and other articles which are harmful to the health of humans and animals, from epidemic areas and/or can spread diseases.
   

Restricted items include, but are not limited to, money, alcohol, tobacco, animal and/or plants, including their specimens, seeds and propagation materials and precious metals. Personal belongings can usually be imported without issue, as long as the shipment is accompanied by a detailed customs declaration. 

In addition, any shipments made up of wood, cane, bamboo and rattan, including items packaged in wooden crates or pallets, will be inspected by customs. Wooden items need to be fumigated or require a Phytosanitary Certificate. If it is a processed wooden item in the package then it does not require this certificate, but the recipient must provide a statement of how the wood was processed. 

Please also check the Parcel Monkey restricted items list before you ship to China. This is a list of restrictions provided to us by our couriers and should be used in conjunction with country-specific restrictions.

Please note that there are separate import restrictions to send a parcel to Hong Kong.

Sending a gift to China

Gifts under 1000 Yuan (approx. 113 GBP) are exempt from duties and taxes provided they are shipped from one individual to another and declared as a ‘gift’. You are required to provide a copy of the receiver’s passport for customs in China.

TIP: When addressing your parcel to send to China, you should provide the delivery address in English for the shipping labels. You can add the address in marker pen written on the box in Chinese if you wish. 

Exporting to China from the UK 

China is the largest country in the world by population, offering endless opportunities for business and online retailers looking to export goods to China from the UK. 

Although China is a long-haul destination in terms of shipping, it's within easy reach with Parcel Monkey's discounted courier services. We'll help you ship to China for less and with our shopping cart integrations for Shopify, eBay and Amazon, it couldn't be easier. 

If you're considering exporting to China, take a look at the website for the Department of International Trade. It offers lots of useful advice on exporting to China, including exporting to China if there's no Brexit deal, preparing to import and specific advice for retail and consumer products. 

More Information 

How to package your item

How to weigh and measure your parcel 

Send a parcel to Asia 

eBay Shipping 

Customs Advice