Country Guide

China customs import limits

Official duty-free allowances for alcohol, tobacco, cash, medicines, and other goods when entering China. See what you can bring before you fly.

Cash declaration threshold

This is one of the most important declaration rules travelers check before entering China.

Category Cash
All travelers Declaration rules
Cash and monetary instruments Declaration from CNY 5,000
Declaration required
Cash, monetary instruments, and equivalent value checks can apply above the threshold shown for CNY.

More China customs limits

Exact thresholds for all categories are available in the app. Download CustomsLimit to check your full trip before you fly.

Spirits (over 22% alcohol) ••• liters
Duty-free limit
Spirits & liqueurs (up to 22%) ••• liters
Duty-free limit
Still wine ••• liters
Duty-free limit
Beer ••• liters
Duty-free limit
Tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipe) ••• pieces / grams
Duty-free limit
Medicines (uncontrolled / OTC) Personal use only — conditions apply
Restricted
Controlled substances / narcotics Authorization required
Restricted
Meat, dairy & animal products See app for conditions
Restricted / Prohibited
General food items ••• kg limit
Duty-free limit
Live plants & plant products Phytosanitary cert. may apply
Restricted
Cultural artifacts & antiques Authorization may be required
Restricted

Exact limits, declaration thresholds, age restrictions, and combined rules for all categories are available free in the CustomsLimit app for China and 59 other countries.

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Know before you go

Surprising restriction for China

Medicines for personal use allowed in reasonable quantities. Must be for personal use only. Carry prescription if possible. Narcotic and psychotropic drugs (opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana, and other addictive drugs) are prohibited without prior authorization and may result in criminal liability.

The CustomsLimit app shows the full traveler context for China before you travel.

About China customs

China's customs rules are administered by General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China. Traveler allowances and restrictions can vary based on where you are arriving from, your age, and the type of goods you carry.

Traveler rules can change based on route, age, item type, and whether goods are for personal use. CustomsLimit helps you check the full country guide for China before travel.

China customs — frequently asked questions

How much cash can I carry into China without declaring it?
China applies the declaration rule shown above for cash and equivalent monetary instruments. Travelers carrying more than the threshold must declare it before continuing through customs.
What is the duty-free alcohol allowance for China?
China has country-specific alcohol limits that can change based on the type of alcohol and the traveler route. The page above shows one example, while the CustomsLimit app shows the full alcohol breakdown for China.
Do I need to declare cash when entering China?
Foreign currency in cash worth USD 5,000 or more (or equivalent) must be declared when entering China. Chinese currency (RMB/CNY): CNY 20,000 or more must be declared; amounts over CNY 20,000 are prohibited from being brought in or taken out. Passengers intending to take foreign currency out must fill two declaration forms on entry — one copy is returned for exit use. The CustomsLimit app shows the declaration rule in the context of the rest of your trip.

Check all China limits free in the app

CustomsLimit covers China and 59 other countries with exact thresholds, combined limits, age restrictions, and declaration rules. Free to download.

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