Information concerning regulations and procedures governing items that may be brought into China is available through the Chinese Embassy and consulates in the world. Students may bring into China only a limited number of items which are considered necessary for study and daily life. Some foreign citizens residing in China have been required to pay customs duty on certain high value items when they depart China, if procedures were not followed when the items were originally brought into China. Additional information concerning Chinese customs regulations is contained in the Department of State brochure, "Tips for Travelers to the People's Republic of China," which is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20420.

Before entering China, travelers must fill in a Customs Luggage Declaration Form describing in detail the entire luggage and valuables bringing in with them. One form per family is sufficient.

All articles listed on the Form must be declared at place of entry, and taken out of China when the traveler leaves.

The Form must be retained by the traveler and submitted to the Customs when he leaves the country. Customs clearance shall be based on inspection of the original declaration made at the time of entry.

Unaccompanied baggage should be declared to the Customs as regards quantity and port of arrival, and must be transported into China within six months from the day when traveler enters China.

Those who bring with them articles subject to tax must pay duty in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Customs.

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 6000 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 or tapes “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. Antique are not permitted to take out of China unless certificates for export of cultural relics from the Chinese Authorities are presented to the customs.

What may NOT be taken to China in detail

1. Arms, imitation arms, ammunition and explosives of all kinds
2. Counterfeit currency and securities
3. Printed matter, films, photos, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and video-tapes, compact discs (video & audio), storage media for computers and other articles which are detrimental to the political, economic, cultural and ethic of China
4. Deadly poisons of all kinds
5. Opium, heroin, morphine, marihuana and other narcotic drugs or hallucinatory drugs
6. Infected animals, plants and products; injurious insects and other harmful organisms
7. Foodstuffs, medicines and other articles coming from epidemic-stricken areas or those easy to spread diseases’s.
Dual Nationality

China does not recognize dual nationality. Some U.S. citizens who are also Chinese nationals have experienced difficulty entering and departing China on U.S. passports, and some U.S. passports have been seized by Chinese authorities. Dual nationals may be subject to Chinese laws which impose special obligations. In some cases, such dual nationals are required to use Chinese documentation to enter China. Note that the United States requires that all U.S. citizens enter and depart the U.S. on U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter and depart China using a U.S. passport and a valid People’s Republic of China visa retain the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.- People’s Republic of China Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited should a dual national enter China on a Chinese or other non-U.S. passport.

China does not recognize the U.S. citizenship of children born in China, one of whose parents is a People’s Republic of China national. Such children are required to enter and depart China on People’s Republic of China travel documents. Children born in the United States to People’s Republic of China national parents who are neither lawful permanent residents nor U.S. citizens, are not recognized as U.S. citizens under Chinese nationality law. Although Chinese consulates have frequently issued visas to such individuals in error, they are treated solely as People’s Republic of China nationals by Chinese authorities when in China. Specific questions on dual nationality may be directed to the Office of Overseas Citizens Services, Department of State, Room 4811A, Washington. D.C. 20520 or to the U.S. Embassy or one of the U.S. consulates general in China.

Entry

Valid visas are required, and those who arrive in China without a visa may be fined at the port of entry and may not be allowed to enter China. The Chinese government does not permit foreigners to visit some areas of China. Reconfirmation of departure reservations is essential. Travelers have been stranded when outgoing flights are overbooked and reservations have not been reconfirmed. For information about entry requirements and restricted areas, travelers may consult the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. For more information regarding visas, contact the Visa Section of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China at (202) 328-2517 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

On arrival in China, travelers must fill in Entry Registration Cards, and present passports, visas and quarantine certificates for inspection. All luggage, goods and packages must be checked by the quarantine inspectors before being allowed to enter China.

Entry of travelers with VD, leprosy or infectious pulmonary tuberculosis is prohibited.

Those who wish to bring into China old and waste materials, food, micro-organisms, biological products, portions of human body, blood or its products, or animals that may spread infectious diseases among humans must declare them in full detail. Travelers from areas with epidemic yellow fever must show valid certificates of inoculation against this disease before being allowed to enter China.

Entry is forbidden to articles prescribed as dangerous, poisonous or harmful by Chinese law. Those who have such articles must declare them to the frontier inspection station. When arriving at hotels, travelers should check in according to the local regulations.

Exit

On departure, travelers must fill in Exit Registration Cards and have their passports and visas checked. Articles registered on the Customs Luggage Declaration Form should all be brought out of China. If any item is missing, a certificate by the relevant department is required (for instance, a certificate from the police is required if something has been stolen); otherwise, the traveler must pay import duty according to the Customs regulations.

Visitors who want to change CNY (Chinese Yuan) back to foreign currency at the airport before leaving China will be required to show the exchange slip provided when they exchanged foreign currency into CNY on arrival or at banks.