Shipping Your Stuff Home: A Foreigner's Guide to Mailing Parcels from China

It happens to the best of us. You arrived in China with a single, sensibly-packed suitcase. Now, weeks later, surrounded by tailored clothes, intricate tea sets, and a mountain of souvenirs, you’re facing a serious logistics problem.

How do you get it all home?

Before you even think about paying the airlines' extortionate excess baggage fees, consider a much smarter option: mailing it. Shipping a parcel from China is easier and more affordable than you think—if you know the system.

The Contenders: Choosing Your Shipping Carrier

You have three main tiers of options, each with its own strengths.

1. China Post (中国邮政) - The Budget Champion

• Best For: Non-urgent, heavier items where cost is your primary concern. Think books, clothes, or durable souvenirs.
• The Service: China Post offers several international tiers. The most useful for travelers are:
  • Surface Mail (水陆路): The cheapest option by far. Your parcel travels by sea. It's reliable but incredibly slow. We're talking 2-3 months to North America or Europe.
  • SAL (Surface Air Lifted / 空运水陆路): A hybrid service. It travels by land in China and the destination country, but by air in between. It's a good compromise, often taking 1-2 months.
  • Air Mail (航空): The fastest Post Office option, usually taking 2-4 weeks. It's also the most expensive of the three.
• The Catch: You generally need to go to a physical post office branch, and the paperwork can be a bit more involved.

2. SF Express (顺丰速运) - The All-Rounder

• Best For: The best balance of speed, cost, and reliability. This is the go-to for more valuable items, important documents, or if you just want excellent tracking and peace of mind.
• The Service: SF Express is the FedEx/UPS of China, known for its incredible efficiency. They have an excellent English-language website and a user-friendly app/WeChat mini-program to schedule a pickup directly from your hotel or apartment.
• Pro-Tip: For shipping within Asia, SF is often as fast as the big international couriers but significantly cheaper. It's our top recommendation for most travelers.

3. DHL / FedEx / UPS - The Express Lane

• Best For: Absolutely critical, time-sensitive shipments where cost is no object. Think urgent business documents or a forgotten passport.
• The Service: You get what you pay for: blazing fast speed (often 3-5 business days to anywhere in the world), and impeccable tracking.
• The Catch: This is, by a huge margin, the most expensive option. A small box that costs 400 RMB to ship with SF Express could easily cost 1,200 RMB or more with DHL.

The Shipping Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

The magic word you need to know is 快递 (kuàidì), which means "courier" or "express delivery."

1. Pack Your Box (Or Don't): A pro-tip for China is to have your items ready but to leave the box unsealed. All couriers are required by law to inspect the contents before they accept the shipment. Many couriers will even bring a box and packing materials for you.

2. Schedule a Pickup: The easiest way is to use the SF Express app or its WeChat mini-program. Alternatively, you can ask your hotel concierge to help you call a kuàidì.

3. Fill Out the Customs Form (报关单 - bàoguān dān): This is the most important part of the process.

   • Contents: You must declare what is inside. Be truthful but general. Instead of "Antique Porcelain Tea Pot," write "Ceramic Crafts." Instead of "Designer Silk Dress," write "Clothing."
   • Value: This is a balancing act. You need to declare a value that is low enough to avoid triggering import taxes in your home country (check your country's de minimis value threshold), but not so low that it's unbelievable.
   • Mark as "Personal Items": On the form, you can usually select the shipment type. Always choose "Personal Items" or "Gift" if applicable.

4. Know the Prohibited Items: Every courier will ask you this. You cannot ship:

   • Liquids of any kind
   • Powders
   • Batteries (This is the big one. The courier will almost always ask if you have a 充电宝 - chōngdiànbǎo - power bank in the box.)
   • Magnets
   • Fresh food, plants, or seeds

5. Pay and Get Your Tracking Number: You can pay the courier on the spot, usually with Alipay or WeChat Pay. They will give you a receipt with the all-important tracking number, or 运单号 (yùndānhào). Snap a photo of this immediately.

Cost & Timeline: A Realistic Expectation

Prices are estimates and change constantly, but for a rough idea: shipping a 5kg (11lb) box from China to the USA:

• China Post (SAL): ~300-500 RMB; 30-60 days.
• SF Express: ~600-800 RMB; 7-14 days.
• DHL: ~1,200+ RMB; 3-5 days.

So go ahead and buy that extra painting or the cumbersome tea set. With a little planning, you can send your treasures home with ease, leaving your suitcase blissfully light.