Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
China Post offices are located all around the city.
Sending packages abroad by post is generally fairly successful and takes one to two
weeks. Receiving anything from abroad via China Post, however, is almost invariably un-
reliable. At the very least you'll get that care pack of chocolate bars six months after it was
sent. Never have packages sent to your home address if it's coming by post. Have it sent to
an office if possible. The address can be in English or Pinyin only, but it's highly recom-
mended that you have it in Chinese too. An easy way to do this is to save the address in
both English and Chinese and email it to family and friends for them to print out and simply
stick on to the envelope or package.
If you are sending international packages, don't seal them up before you get to the post
office. The post office staff double as customs officers so they'll rifle through your things
looking for contraband. If you have any obviously off-limits things—such as a stack of pir-
ated CDs or DVDs—they will not allow you to include them. Often anything over the value
of RMB1,500 will also be refused.
There are various ways to contact China Post, including the 11185 hotline or via Beijing-
specific sites such as
www.bipto.com.cn
(international) and
www.bjpost.com.cn
;
however,
you may find more luck by simply walking into a branch.
