The place to ask China-related questions!
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Shenzhen Chengdu Xi'an Hangzhou Qingdao Dalian Suzhou Nanjing More Cities>>

Categories

Close
Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.
X

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

Sign up with Google Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Email Already have an account? .
Posts: 20

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Q: Bringing my Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Wii U into China

Hello everyone.

 

I will be flying into HK mid August to teach English for a year in Shenzhen.  I want to bring my Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Wii U from Canada.

 

It will be packed into my luggage, just the consoles and cords.  No boxes or anything.  The games will be removed from their cases and put into a CD binder.  (Around 80 game discs) 

 

Total value of the consoles is about $1000USD for all 3 retail.  The games (who knows...they are just discs with out cases)

 

What kind of resistance will I get at the airport if any?

 

In my mind these are clearly for personal use but customs may think differently....

 

Should I take the Green Line or the Red Line?

 

If anyone has any experience with this your input would be greatly appreciated Smile

 

Thanks so much!

8 years 35 weeks ago in  Transport & Travel - China

 
Highest Voted
Posts: 3025

Emperor

3
3
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

China uses 220 volts, 50 cycles.  If transformers used to charge consoles  accept 120/240 volts input you have no problems.  If not, Radio Sack (or Canadian equivalent) sell 120 to 240 volt trasformer for about  30 USd).

 

In over 16 years of entering China,  never had my bags checked, only X rayed.  Always used Green line.  When I moved here, brought in 3 computers inside one suitcase.

TheShadowBroker:

Thanks for the response I really appreciate it.  

 

PS3 / PS4 have switching power supplies...Xbox 360 & Xbox One, amazingly, don't.  I am just going to purchase a travel step up/down voltage converter.

 

Otherwise I shall go through the green line and hope for the best.  THANKS!

8 years 34 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Answers (8)
Comments (2)
Posts: 1845

Shifu

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Flying into HK you should have no problem. Consoles are legal in HK. The crossing into China's mainland should be ok too. The law has been relaxed on consoles now. You don't need to declare anything.

Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 7178

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

What you should be aware of is what games are banned in China.  The ban on consoles was lifted in 2013 apparently, but many actual games are still banned.

 

The problem won't be at the airport, it will be crossing into China, where they scan your luggage. One console, can't see a problem. But three?  And 80 games?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_gaming_in_China#Changes_to_Video_Gam...

 

I suspect you might have an issue with your consoles connecting to the web. Can you set up a VPN on a games console?

 

TheShadowBroker:

Yes I will hook up to a VPN once I settled. I have VyprVpn account on my phone and laptop already. I will buy a router and share the connection. Xbox Live China I here sucks big time..

8 years 34 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 860

Shifu

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Not a bit excessive? Heading next week myself. I think just the ps4 by itself will be fine. I might take Xbox next time I fly over. Not sure why you would need all 3. Customs probably would wonder the same thing

Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1198

Shifu

0
2
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
2

Flown into China a few times now. I've never had anyone bother looking at my bags. Xbox, PS2, Wii... Have you thought about trying to have sex with girls? Just a thought.

Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 9631

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

does Canada use 120 or 240v ? that would be your only concern

Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 3025

Emperor

3
3
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

China uses 220 volts, 50 cycles.  If transformers used to charge consoles  accept 120/240 volts input you have no problems.  If not, Radio Sack (or Canadian equivalent) sell 120 to 240 volt trasformer for about  30 USd).

 

In over 16 years of entering China,  never had my bags checked, only X rayed.  Always used Green line.  When I moved here, brought in 3 computers inside one suitcase.

TheShadowBroker:

Thanks for the response I really appreciate it.  

 

PS3 / PS4 have switching power supplies...Xbox 360 & Xbox One, amazingly, don't.  I am just going to purchase a travel step up/down voltage converter.

 

Otherwise I shall go through the green line and hope for the best.  THANKS!

8 years 34 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 3025

Emperor

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

China uses 220 volts, 50 cycles.  If transformers used to charge consoles  accept 120/240 volts input you have no problems.  If not, Radio Sack (or Canadian equivalent) sell 120 to 240 volt trasformer for about  30 USd).

 

In over 16 years of entering China,  never had my bags checked, only X rayed.  Always used Green line.  When I moved here, brought in 3 computers inside one suitcase.

Report Abuse
8 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2878

Shifu

1
1
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Yeah you'll be fine. Those things were never illegal in the sense of being contraband like drugs. They just werent officially marketed until last couple years.

 

But even back a few years ago you could buy them from specialty stores in nice shopping malls. They'd just be units imported in small batches from other countries.

 

Whenever you bring something across a border just make sure it's not in sealed packaging or anything. Bringing one of each is better than bringing 3 of 1.

Report Abuse
8 years 34 weeks ago
 
Know the answer ?
Please or register to post answer.

Report Abuse

Security Code: * Enter the text diplayed in the box below
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br> <p> <u>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Textual smileys will be replaced with graphical ones.

More information about formatting options

Forward Question

Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77