How to do a China haul
This is a planning checklist, not a shopping list. We deliberately give no duty rates, exchange rates or prices: they change and the sources we found disagree. Where a number matters, the step tells you which official source to check.
1. Decide which kind of haul you are doing
- In person: you travel, shop, and bring things home in luggage or ship them.
- Online, direct: you order from a marketplace that ships internationally.
- Online, via an agent: a shopping agent buys from domestic Chinese marketplaces for you, stores and consolidates parcels, then ships them. See the agent status table; agents open and close quickly, so check before you pay one.
2. Check your own country's rules first
- Find your customs authority's page on personal imports and duty-free allowances. Write down the allowance and what must be declared.
- Look up restricted or regulated items in your country: some electronics with radios, food, plant and animal products, and medicines or herbal products often have rules.
- Keep the rules open in a tab while you shop. They, not a video, decide what is safe to buy.
3. Buy things that will actually work for you
- Electronics: check plug type and voltage, whether the device supports your region's mobile bands, and whether warranty and repair cover you outside China. Imported units may ship with a Chinese-market firmware or no local warranty.
- Clothing and shoes: Chinese size charts often run smaller than US or EU sizes. Measure against the seller's size table, not the letter on the tag.
- Brand-name goods: buy from the brand's own store or an authorized seller. A price far below the normal market price on a famous brand is a warning sign, and counterfeits can be seized at the border.
4. Keep records
Keep receipts or order screenshots, and note the price and currency of each item. If customs asks about value, documents are what you have.
5. Bring it home
- Luggage: power banks and spare lithium batteries generally must go in the cabin, not checked baggage. Check your airline's current rule.
- Parcels and agents: compare the total landed cost (item, any agent service fee, international shipping, import tax). A "0% service fee" is not the same as a low total. Agent fee schedules can change, so read the current one before paying.
- Declare what you must. Failing to declare is usually far more expensive than the duty.
6. Common ways a haul goes wrong
- Paying a shopping agent that then closes or freezes withdrawals. Several agents have shut down; keep balances small and pay per order where you can.
- Counterfeit goods seized at the border, or accounts closed by payment providers.
- Assuming a viral price still applies: trend-driven demand can change availability and prices quickly.
- Ignoring return costs. Returning to a Chinese seller from abroad is usually impractical.
Questions
Is a China haul legal?
Buying ordinary goods in China and bringing them home is normal. What can be illegal is importing counterfeit goods, or items above your country's duty-free allowance without declaring them. Rules are set by your own customs authority.
Do I have to pay import duty on a haul?
It depends on your country, the value and type of goods, and how they arrive (in your luggage or by post). We do not publish rates because they change and sources disagree; check your customs authority's official page before you buy.
Can I put power banks and lithium batteries in my checked suitcase?
Airlines and aviation authorities generally require spare lithium batteries and power banks to travel in the cabin, not in checked luggage. Confirm the current rule with your airline and the airports you use.