Airport · Arrival & Departure
From immigration on arrival to tax refund and customs on departure — one place for both ends of your China trip.
- International arrivals land at T3-E. After immigration at T3-E, you'll ride the APM to T3-C for baggage claim and customs.
- Typical time from plane to arrivals-hall exit: 30–45 min off-peak, up to 60 min during morning/evening peaks.
- Look for Foreigners / International Visitors signage once you reach the immigration hall.
- International flights operate from the east/south concourses. Follow the overhead arrivals signs to Immigration.
- Everything is walkable — no APM or shuttle needed.
- Typical plane-to-exit time: 25–40 min. PKX is newer and usually faster than PEK.
- T2 is the larger hub (Star Alliance / Oneworld). T1 serves SkyTeam and others.
- If you land at S1 or S2 satellite, the APM is mandatory — it's a short 2-seat ride under the taxiway.
- Typical plane-to-exit time: 35–50 min, up to 75 min during evening peaks.
- SHA is Shanghai's smaller, closer-to-city airport. Only T1 handles international / regional flights.
- If you booked through to T2 by mistake (domestic-only), a free shuttle bus takes ~10–15 min.
- Typical plane-to-exit time: 20–35 min. One of the fastest arrival experiences in China.
- International flights at CAN may use T1, T2, or the newly opened T3 (October 2025) depending on the airline — always confirm via your booking before arrival.
- Inter-terminal shuttles and an APM connect T1, T2, and T3 if you need to transfer between terminals.
- Typical plane-to-exit time: 30–45 min.
- Chengdu has two airports — international flights land at TFU (Tianfu), not CTU (Shuangliu, domestic).
- TFU is ~50 km southeast of the city. Build in extra time for the transfer.
- Typical plane-to-exit time: 25–40 min.
OK to bring: sealed packaged snacks, instant coffee, tea, chocolate, sealed biscuits, dried nuts (commercial packaging).
Not allowed:
- Fresh fruits & vegetables
- Raw or cooked meat, sausages, ham (including vacuum-packed)
- Dairy products from countries with animal disease restrictions
- Seeds, plants, soil
- Unprocessed eggs & egg products
Everyday OTC meds (ibuprofen, paracetamol, allergy pills, etc.) — fine for personal use, keep in original packaging.
Some cold medicines, sleep aids, ADHD medication, strong painkillers, and psychotropic / narcotic medicines may be restricted or require documentation.
- Keep medicines in their original packaging
- Bring only the quantity needed for your trip
- Carry a prescription or doctor's note for anything non-standard
No declaration needed if you carry:
- Less than USD 5,000 (or equivalent foreign currency)
- Less than RMB 20,000 in Chinese yuan
Declare at Red Channel if you exceed either threshold. This is a routine form — nothing to worry about.
Gold, silver, and precious metals over 50 g also need declaring.
Totally fine: phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, e-readers, headphones, power banks under 100 Wh.
Requires pre-registration or paperwork:
- Drones — register with the CAAC at uas.caac.gov.cn at least 10 days before your trip
- Walkie-talkies / handheld radios
- Satellite phones
- Encryption devices (specialist only)
Duty-free allowance for non-residents:
- Up to 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500 g loose tobacco
- Up to 1.5 L of alcohol above 12% ABV
- Reasonable personal-use perfume
Bringing more? Use the Red Channel and declare — a duty may apply.
If you're bringing antiques in: no restriction for personal use. Keep the receipt and any provenance documents.
If you're taking them out of China (purchased during your trip): Chinese cultural relics produced before 1949 may require a red-wax-sealed export certificate from the Cultural Relics Bureau. Reputable shops handle this for you.
Ordinary souvenirs, tea, calligraphy, and modern artworks are fine.
A few books or magazines for personal reading — no problem.
Large quantities of printed material, or material that could be considered politically sensitive, may be subject to inspection at customs.
- If anything you have is on the "restricted" list, walk to the Red Channel and show it. Declaring is routine and always easier than being asked about it.
- Keep receipts for high-value electronics (laptop, camera) you brought into China — helpful on the way out.
- The Green Channel is for "nothing to declare." Walking through doesn't mean no inspection — spot-checks are normal.
How: Follow "Taxi" signs at arrivals. Join the official queue — never follow touts inside the terminal.
Pay: Metered. Cash or Alipay/WeChat scan at the end.
Tip: Show the driver your hotel address in Chinese. Screenshot works.
How: Open DiDi → set pickup to airport → choose "Express" or "Premier".
Pay: Price locked in-app. No cash needed.
Tip: In-app translation lets you chat with the driver. Meet at the designated ride-hailing pickup zone.
How: Follow "Metro" or "Railway" signs. Scan Alipay at the gate — no ticket needed.
Pay: ¥3–50 depending on distance. Alipay / WeChat scan-and-go.
Tip: Avoid rush hour (7:30–9:30 AM, 5:30–7:30 PM) with luggage.
| Airport | Taxi to City | Best Public Transit | Time | Cost | Last Train |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEK Beijing Capital |
40–60 min ¥100–150 |
Capital Airport Express → Dongzhimen (Line 2/13) |
25 min | ¥25 | ~23:10 First ~06:21 |
| PKX Beijing Daxing |
50–80 min ¥150–200 |
Daxing Airport Express → Caoqiao (Line 10) or Jing-Xiong Railway |
19 min 28 min |
¥35 ¥40–75 |
22:30 First 06:00 |
| PVG Shanghai Pudong |
50–80 min ¥150–250 |
Maglev → Longyang Rd + Line 2 or Line 2 direct (slow) |
8 min + transfer 75–90 min |
¥50 ¥7 |
Maglev ~22:00 Line 2: 22:00 |
| SHA Shanghai Hongqiao |
25–40 min ¥60–100 |
Line 2 or Line 10 → People's Square / Nanjing Rd |
~35 min | ¥4–6 | ~23:00 First 05:30 |
| CAN Guangzhou Baiyun |
60–90 min ¥120–180 |
Line 3 (North Extension) → Tiyu Xilu (CBD) |
~50 min | ¥7 | 23:00 First 06:10 |
| TFU Chengdu Tianfu |
60–75 min ¥100–150 |
Line 18 Express → Century City / South Stn |
33 min express 45 min local |
¥10 | 23:20 First 06:30 |
Option 1: Taxi — always available 24/7 at the official queue. Expect a ¥1–2 surcharge per km after 23:00.
Option 2: DiDi — works 24/7 but wait times may be longer. Use "Premier" for faster pickup.
Option 3: Airport hotel — most major airports have transit hotels inside or near the terminal. Book on Trip.com.
1 How does Tax Refund work? ▸
Foreign tourists staying ≤ 183 days in mainland China can claim an 11% VAT refund on most purchases. A 2% service fee is deducted, so you effectively get ~9% back. All refunds are paid in CNY.
- Eligible
- Passport holders staying ≤ 183 days
- Refund rate
- 11% VAT → 9% net after 2% service fee
- Minimum spend
- ¥200 per store per day (updated April 2025, was ¥500)
- Time limit
- Purchase → departure within 90 days
2 What can be refunded? ▸
- Clothing & shoes
- Cosmetics & skincare
- Electronics (phone, camera, drone)
- Luxury goods (bags, watches)
- Jewelry & accessories
- Crafts & specialty products
- Food, drinks, fruit
- Tobacco & alcohol
- Cars & motorcycles
- Items you've already used
3 At the store — how to buy & confirm refund eligibility ▸
Look for the "退税商店 / Tax Free" logo at the store entrance or cashier — about 50+ stores at Beijing alone, thousands nationwide. Not sure? Ask before paying: "退税可以吗?" (tuì shuì kě yǐ ma? — "Can I claim tax refund?")
At checkout — 5 quick checks:
- Confirm with the cashier the store can issue a refund form (some large chains have only specific registers that can — ask)
- Show your passport — the original, not a photo or copy (they need your full name + passport number on the form)
- Make sure your total spend ≥ ¥200 at this single store, same day (multiple receipts from the same store on the same day usually combine — ask if unsure)
- Walk away with the "Application Form of Departure Tax Refund (退税申请单)" — this is a separate document from your purchase receipt. Both are required at the airport.
- Keep goods unopened in original packaging — they need to be physically presented at airport customs
- The Application Form (退税申请单)
- The original purchase receipt(s)
- Your passport (you'll show it again at the airport)
4 Instant Refund (即买即退) vs Departure Refund ▸
2025 update: Instant Refund expanded to nearly all major provinces in April 2025 — Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Hangzhou, and ~15+ more.
| Instant Refund (即买即退) | Departure Refund | |
|---|---|---|
| When you get money | At the store, same day | At the airport, on departure day |
| How much upfront | Full refund (CNY cash) | Full refund at airport |
| Pre-authorization | Required (credit card hold) | Not required |
| Where it works | Participating "instant refund" stores only | All tax-refund stores |
| Airport step | Still required — customs must verify goods, or your card hold gets charged | Full process at airport |
5 Where's the refund counter at my airport? ▸
T3 出发大厅 E 区办票岛 (Departures Hall E zone, check-in islands)
After security, T3 airside — Bank of China / Global Blue counter
Order matters: Customs stamp first, refund counter second. Going to the refund counter first means waiting in two lines.
Allow 40–60 minutes for the whole process — go before check-in if customs needs to see your goods.
D 值机岛南端 4F (D check-in island, south end, 4th floor) — before security
After international security & immigration, near duty-free stores
Order matters: Customs stamp first, refund counter second.
Allow 40–60 minutes for the whole process — PKX recommends extra buffer if you have valuables that customs may inspect.
Before security at your departure terminal (T1, T2, or S1 satellite)
T1: near gate 19 (airside) · 24/7 · Tel +86-21-6833-7509
T2: near gate D83 (airside) · 24/7 · Tel +86-21-6833-0115
S1 satellite: 3F, near gate G135 · First flight → Last flight · Tel +86-21-6835-6850
Order matters: Customs stamp first, refund counter second.
Allow 40–60 minutes. If you're at S1 satellite, factor in the inter-terminal APM time on top.
T1 — before security
Opposite gate T09 (airside, after security)
Order matters: Customs stamp first, refund counter second.
Allow 40–60 minutes. SHA is smaller than PVG — usually faster overall.
T1 — before security
3F international zone, after security, at the East Concourse entrance
Order matters: Customs stamp first, refund counter second.
Allow 40–60 minutes for the whole process.
Tax refund service is available, but the exact counter location varies. After clearing immigration, follow the "Tax Refund / 退税" signs, or ask any info desk in the international departure area. Allow extra time.
Order matters: Customs stamp first, refund counter second.
Allow 40–60 minutes. Because TFU info is less centralized, add a 15–20 min buffer for finding the counter.
6 Cash or card refund? ▸
| Refund amount | Method | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ ¥20,000 | Cash (CNY) OR transfer to Alipay / WeChat Pay (PEK supports; other airports rolling out) | Cash limit raised from ¥10,000 in April 2025 |
| > ¥20,000 | Mandatory bank card transfer | International card refunds take 5–15 business days |
7 Common mistakes ▸
- Buying more than 90 days before your departure date
- Opening / using the product before leaving
- Checking in your luggage before customs verification — they need to see the goods
- Going to the refund counter before customs (wrong order)
- Buying at a store that doesn't display the 退税 logo
- Forgetting to do the airport customs step after an Instant Refund — your card pre-authorization gets charged
- Using an international card for refunds > ¥20,000 (lose ~2% on FX vs Chinese card)
You can carry cash out, but declare at customs if you exceed these:
- Carrying out > ¥20,000 RMB → declare
- Carrying out > USD 5,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) → declare
- National-grade cultural relics (precious antiques — usually pre-1949 artwork, marked with red seals)
- Endangered wildlife & products (ivory, hawksbill, tiger bone, etc.) — international CITES rules also apply
- Protected biological species & genetic resources
- General antiques — need a "Cultural Relic Export Permit" issued by an authorized appraisal office
- Gold, silver, precious metals — beyond personal-use quantities
- Endangered traditional medicine ingredients (e.g. deer antler, musk)
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上海市黄浦区中山东一路外滩附近
Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near The Bund, Huangpu District
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Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District
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