To send a package from China, first decide whether it stays within mainland China or goes abroad. Use a post office or an official carrier channel, bring your passport or another accepted identity document, prepare complete sender and recipient details, and keep the parcel open for acceptance inspection. For an international shipment, describe the contents, quantity, and value truthfully and complete the customs declaration required by the chosen service.［1］［2］

Key Takeaways

Separate domestic and international shipping before choosing a service.

Confirm the destination and item are accepted by the actual carrier.

Bring valid ID and complete addresses in the format the carrier requests.

Do not permanently seal the parcel before required inspection.

Declare contents, quantity, and value accurately; never disguise a restricted item.

Check the receipt and tracking number before leaving.

A VPN cannot bypass real-name acceptance, inspection, customs, or destination rules.

Will you send a package from China domestically or internationally?

Domestic delivery usually needs a mainland destination, contact details, accepted identification, item inspection, packaging, and payment. An outbound international parcel adds destination-country rules, transport restrictions, customs information, and possible duties or return procedures. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan routes can have their own postal and customs treatment; ask the carrier which route applies rather than assuming “domestic.”

Route	Confirm before packing	Additional evidence
Mainland domestic	Service area, item acceptance, address, phone	Valid ID and shipment receipt
Outbound international	Country service, item and transport restrictions	Customs declaration and value
Special destination or remote area	Route classification and surcharge	Carrier-specific forms
Commercial quantity or resale goods	Whether personal parcel service applies	Formal customs or goods procedure

The customs guidance distinguishes personal postal articles from commercial mail and applies quantity, value, prohibited-item, and inspection rules.［2］ Do not split a commercial shipment into personal parcels to avoid the proper process.

What should you prepare?

Bring your passport or another identity document accepted by the carrier. Shanghai's official delivery guide says a sender using a local post office should bring valid ID, have the items inspected before sealing, provide sender and recipient details, and pay postage.［1］

Prepare the recipient's full name, country or province, city, district, street, building, unit, postal code where used, and reachable phone number. For Chinese forms, preserve the address order and characters supplied by the recipient; the Chinese address guide explains how to avoid rearranging fields.

Create a plain-language inventory before visiting the counter. Record each item's common name, material or purpose where relevant, quantity, and actual value. Bring purchase evidence only when useful or requested. Do not expose unrelated passport pages, contacts, or account data.

How do you check whether an item can be sent?

Ask three separate questions: does the carrier accept it, can it travel by the selected mode, and can it enter the destination? A shop employee's informal answer does not override carrier, aviation, customs, quarantine, or destination law.

EMS publishes prohibited categories including weapons, flammable or explosive materials, corrosives, radioactive and poisonous substances, cash and certain documents, narcotics, and other non-compliant articles.［3］ This is not a complete promise for every product or route. Batteries, liquids, powders, food, medicine, plants, animal products, valuables, and culturally protected items can need closer review even when their everyday description sounds harmless.

Do not hide an item inside another object, use a vague description such as “gift” instead of identifying the contents, or reduce the declared value to obtain a cheaper service. If staff cannot confirm acceptance, keep the item and ask the carrier's official specialist channel.

How do you send the package step by step?

Decide whether the route is mainland domestic or outbound international.
Choose a post office or verified official carrier outlet, website, mini program, or pickup channel.
Confirm service to the destination and ask about the specific contents before final packing.
Prepare valid ID, complete sender and recipient details, and an item inventory.
Use protective inner packaging, but leave the parcel accessible for required inspection.
Present the contents honestly and follow staff instructions for accepted final packaging.
For an outbound parcel, complete the customs description, quantity, and value accurately.
Review service level, charge, estimated range, compensation conditions, and return handling before paying.
Check the printed or electronic receipt, destination, phone number, and tracking number.
Photograph or save the receipt privately, then use the tracking number only in the official channel.

An estimated delivery time is not a guarantee. Weather, capacity, remote-area handling, security screening, customs, recipient action, and destination delivery can all change it.

What happens during inspection and customs declaration?

Acceptance inspection lets the carrier verify that the visible contents match what is being accepted. Arrive before the parcel is permanently taped shut. Staff may require different packaging, decline an article, or route it to a specialist service. Cooperate with inspection without handing over unrelated personal files or unlocked devices.

For outbound mail, customs can inspect articles and apply duties or other treatment under the rules.［2］ The declaration should use specific truthful names, quantities, and values. “Clothes, two used cotton shirts, actual value …” is more useful than “personal things.” Keep copies of the declaration and receipt.

Troubleshooting decision tree

Problem	Check first	Safe next action
Carrier rejects the item	Exact item and reason	Ask for written category or official specialist guidance
Address does not validate	Recipient's original address and phone	Confirm with recipient; do not invent missing fields
ID is not accepted	Outlet and document type	Ask which valid document or staffed outlet is supported
Price is higher than expected	Weight, dimensions, service, surcharge	Request the itemized quote before paying
Customs form is unclear	Destination and item inventory	Ask official counter staff; do not guess or conceal
Receipt has wrong details	Destination, phone, tracking	Correct it before the parcel leaves acceptance control

Once the shipment has a valid tracking number, status and receiving questions belong in the package tracking guide. Treat unsolicited payment links or messages claiming a parcel problem with caution; see the package scam guide.

Summary

Classify the route before selecting the service.
Confirm the item and destination with the real carrier.
Bring accepted ID, accurate addresses, and a truthful inventory.
Keep the parcel available for inspection and complete customs fields honestly.
Review the charge and receipt, then retain the tracking number.
Do not rely on fixed price, delivery-time, or customs promises.

FAQ

Can a tourist send a package from a Chinese post office?

Yes, subject to the outlet's current service and acceptance rules. Official Shanghai guidance tells senders to bring a passport or other valid ID and present items for inspection before sealing.［1］

Should I seal the box before visiting the counter?

Use protective inner packing, but do not permanently seal it before any required inspection. Follow the accepting staff's final packing instructions.

Do I need my passport?

Bring your passport or another valid identity document accepted by that service. Confirm the exact document before arranging pickup.

What must go on an international customs declaration?

Use truthful, specific content names, quantities, and actual values, plus any other fields the official form requires.

Can I mail food, medicine, batteries, or liquids?

Do not assume so. Acceptance depends on the exact item, quantity, route, transport mode, carrier, customs, quarantine, and destination rules.

Is the quoted delivery time guaranteed?

No. Treat it as an estimate unless the carrier's written service terms explicitly state otherwise.

What if the address form rejects the recipient's address?

Compare it with the recipient's original Chinese address, confirm the district, building, unit, postal code, and phone, and ask the official outlet rather than inventing data.

Does this guide explain how to track the parcel?

Only up to verifying the receipt and tracking number. Use the separate tracking guide for scans, delays, delivery, and receiving.

Disclaimer: This guide provides general visitor information, not legal, customs, tax, quarantine, aviation, or carrier advice. Acceptance, price, transit, inspection, duty, clearance, return, and delivery are controlled by the carrier and relevant authorities for the actual route and item.

Sources

Shanghai Municipal Government, Guide to Using Delivery Services — https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/en-Individuals-DailyLife-Homeliving/20260813/cbbbbc32668144818eb7b4a6cf39716c.html
State Council, Customs Guidance for Postal Articles — https://english.www.gov.cn/services/visitChina/202008/04/content_WS5f2905dec6d029c1c26372f0.html
China Post EMS, Prohibited Articles — https://b.ems.com.cn/ban?language=en

Sources checked 30 August 2026.

How to Send a Package from China as an International Visitor