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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: What should I expect going through customs when I land in China?
My flight for China leaves bright and early Sunday morning and it just popped into my head, what should I know about customs in China? The first part of my flight arrives in Peking. Two hours later I depart for Harbin. Anything I should be aware of? Thanks.
12 years 25 weeks ago in Transport & Travel - China
They'll give you an entry card on the plane fill it out on the plane and give it to immigrations when they check your passport and visa. For actual customers, grab your bags and don't worry. There might be a little girl who wants to match your baggage claim tag (the little sticker they give you when you check you bag) with you bag. As far as actually customs, half the time there is not anyone there. Just don't be stupid and try to smuggle something in that you know will cause you to disappear in a Chinese prision.
I thought it would be a great idea to pack my case full of food including cooking sauces, uncle bens micro rice, crisps, meat pies, bacon, sausage, black pudding, meat bones/pouches/treats for my chinese dog etc. This was on the basis that I had always collected my luggage no problem and skipped through customs. Guess what I got caught!. I came out of the WC after the flight only to see a beautiful black lab sniffing all the cases. I wondered where my case was and then saw it had been hand picked out and waiting for me to collect. I said the customs guy yip it is mine and got it searched. I told him everything for was for my dog and for some bizzare reason left with all my grub. I dont think however I will be doing that again!
I find that Chinese customs are one of the friendliest in the world, unlike the customs in the UK or USA who are just on a massive power trip and treat everyone like criminals for wanting to go their country. I've never had a problem going through Chinese customs, despite having loads of food in my luggage. It's always very straight forward and quick. You just had them your arrivals card and passport with visa, they do a quick check, return your documents and usually give you a smile and send your way.
Once you land, you will immediately be hearded into an electrified, barbwire enclosure by armed guards who were denied their morning coffee. From there you will be forced to wear heavy dark clothing before they send you on your way to a 10'x10' interrogation room where several men with overly large guns and enhanced spittle production will yell at you incoherrently for approximately one hour.
Then you will be wisked off to the tourture chamber where a very old man weilding sponges, jumper cables and a shower fetish will randomly cause you immense amounts of pain for no apparent reason.
Once you have completed that process you will be escorted into a smoke filled room and forced to sit on a very unsanitary landmine until you sign a confession that states you are responsible for all the worlds problems as well as the nasty aftertaste of cheap red wine.
Then, you will watch helplessly as everything in your luggage is inspected, tried on and confiscated if it doesn't make their butt look big. Anything left over will be shredded and then inspected again.
After you have stuffed your shredded belongings back into your imperialist oppressor brand suitcase, you will then have your entry visa deined. Here you will be required to pay huge bribes in order to not be immediately executed for being a salivating traitorous dog.
Once all bribes have been paid and your valid visa re-validated, your passport will be stamped and your face will be seared with a hot brand in the shape of Lithuania.
Then you will be allowed to re-dress back into your normal clothes and allowed to proceed into China.
Enjoy your stay.
HugAPanda:
"Then, you will watch helplessly as everything in your luggage is inspected, tried on and confiscated " Well in that case, I better pack some crotchless panties and pretty flowered push up bras with padding just so I can giggle when they are trying on my stuff!! :P Or should I go the leather/chain-piece route?
Xpat.John:
That would provide you entertainment until you are informed (quite painfully) that humor is frowned upon and have your efforts rewarded with a 1 year sentence in a stinky tofu factory. (And personally, I would bring a stock of panda costumes. That would be worth the stinky tofu gulag.)
HugAPanda:
Ohh don't tempt me! I could save myself the 1000 yuan and have my picture taken with one of them on my lap instead of the real one at the research base \o/