How to Ship Packages in China (2026): SF Express, ZTO & International Shipping for Foreigners
Last verified: April 2026
China’s express delivery industry is the world’s largest courier network — processing over 130 billion parcels annually across companies like SF Express (顺丰), ZTO (中通), YTO (圆通), and STO (申通) — with same-city deliveries typically arriving within 4–6 hours, domestic shipments in 1–3 days, and international shipping available through SF Express, EMS, DHL, and FedEx at costs ranging from ¥150–500 per kilogram depending on destination. According to China’s State Post Bureau, the country processed over 130 billion express delivery parcels in 2025, making it the world’s largest express delivery market by volume. According to SF Express’s international shipping guide, foreigners can ship packages internationally using their passport for customs documentation, with door-to-door pickup available through the SF Express WeChat mini-program or by calling 95338. If you live in China or ship souvenirs home, this guide covers every scenario — with the Chinese-only interfaces decoded for English-speaking users.
In this guide
The Chinese Courier Landscape
China has more than 15 major courier companies. For practical purposes, you only need to know five:
→ SF Express (顺丰, Shùnfēng): Premium speed and handling. Next-day to most cities. Base price ¥12–23 for 1 kg. The default choice for anything valuable or urgent.
→ JD Express (京东快递): JD.com’s own courier, comparable to SF in quality for parcels ordered through JD. Available for peer-to-peer shipping in tier-1 cities, pricing similar to SF.
→ ZTO / YTO / STO (中通/圆通/申通): Budget tier. Slower (2–4 days) and more variable quality, but 30–50% cheaper than SF. Most Taobao sellers ship via one of these.
→ EMS (中国邮政): China Post’s express arm. Domestic is slower than private couriers, but EMS is the go-to for international shipping to more countries than any other carrier.
→ DHL / FedEx / UPS: International express. Fastest to Europe, North America, Australia. Highest cost. Must drop off at a service center or schedule pickup via their China apps.
The entire industry is driven by the WeChat mini-program ecosystem and Alipay. You almost never visit a physical courier office in modern China — everything from booking to payment to tracking happens through apps. Real-name registration (ID verification of the sender) is mandatory under the 2015 Postal Industry Real-Name Registration Regulations, so your passport becomes relevant the first time you ship with each company.
SF Express (顺丰): The Default Choice
SF Express is the most foreigner-friendly courier in China. Its app and WeChat mini-program both support English, its customer service (95338) has an English option, and its delivery service level is consistently the best in the country. Think of it as the FedEx of China.
How to send a package via SF Express (step by step):
→ Step 1: Open WeChat. Search “顺丰速运” (SF Express) in the top search bar. Tap the official account/mini-program.
→ Step 2: Switch to English. Tap the Settings icon (usually top-right), language → English.
→ Step 3: Tap “Send Package” (寄快递). A form appears with sender and recipient fields.
→ Step 4: Fill sender info. Your name (pinyin or Chinese), phone, full address. The address can be in Chinese or English; Chinese is more reliable. Use our address helper to convert.
→ Step 5: Fill recipient info. Same fields for the destination.
→ Step 6: Describe the contents. Required — you must list item type (e.g., “clothes,” “documents,” “electronics”), weight, and estimated value. Be accurate; false declarations are fined.
→ Step 7: Choose pickup time. Usually 1–3 hour windows. A courier will arrive at your door.
→ Step 8: Pay via WeChat Pay. Exact price is calculated after pickup (they weigh the package). Your payment method is pre-authorized.
→ Step 9: Show ID to the courier. Passport for foreigners. The courier scans it for real-name registration.
Typical SF domestic prices (2026):
→ Same city (Shanghai → Shanghai): ¥12–18 for 1 kg, delivery in 4–6 hours (same-day “闪送” option for ¥15–50 delivers in 1–3 hours).
→ Same province (Shanghai → Hangzhou, etc.): ¥14–18 for 1 kg, next-day morning delivery.
→ Cross-country (Shanghai → Beijing, Shanghai → Chengdu): ¥20–30 for 1 kg, next-day or 2-day delivery.
→ Remote areas (Tibet, Xinjiang): ¥30–60 for 1 kg, 3–5 day delivery.
→ Heavier packages: Add ¥8–15 per additional kilogram.
→ Same-city “闪送” (flash delivery): ¥15–50 depending on distance and weight, delivers in 1–3 hours.
ZTO / YTO / STO (Cheaper Budget Couriers)
These three — ZTO (中通), YTO (圆通), and STO (申通) — run at about 60–70% of SF’s price for domestic shipping, at the cost of speed and reliability. If your package is non-urgent and not valuable, they’re a reasonable choice. Most Taobao and Pinduoduo sellers default to one of these three because they’re cheapest.
Practical differences vs. SF:
→ Delivery speed: 2–4 days vs. SF’s 1–2 days. Remote areas can take 5–7 days.
→ Handling quality: More damaged and lost package complaints. Insurance is strongly recommended for anything over ¥500 value.
→ App interfaces: Chinese-only, no English. Use the in-app translator in WeChat or Google Lens.
→ Pickup service: Available via WeChat mini-program but less reliable — sometimes the courier cancels last minute.
→ Pricing: ¥8–12 per 1 kg domestic. Cross-country heavy packages (5 kg+) are especially cheap via these budget couriers.
For the cheapest option, use a Cainiao (菜鸟驿站) drop-off point. Cainiao is Alibaba’s logistics arm, and its drop-off stations are in every neighborhood (inside supermarkets, small shops, residential complexes). Pack your box, walk it to the station, scan a QR code, and pay ¥5–10 for same-province delivery. The courier picks up from the station, so you skip the home pickup step.
International Shipping from China
You have four realistic options for shipping from China to your home country:
→ SF International: 3–7 business days, ¥200–500 per kg depending on destination. Best for speed. Book through the SF Express WeChat mini-program; the international service is the same interface. Door-to-door.
→ EMS (China Post): 7–15 business days, ¥180–350 per kg. Best for heavier packages and countries SF doesn’t reach. Drop off at any China Post branch or book pickup via the EMS WeChat mini-program (EMS国际).
→ DHL / FedEx / UPS: 2–5 business days, ¥300–700 per kg. Best for valuable or time-critical items. Schedule pickup via their China apps or drop off at a service center.
→ Sea freight (air cargo agents): 30–60 days, ¥30–80 per kg (for 20 kg+ shipments). Best for moving furniture or large quantities. Book through a Taobao “国际海运” vendor or a third-party forwarder.
What to declare (and not declare). International packages must pass Chinese customs (outbound) and destination customs (inbound). You’ll fill in a customs form with item type, quantity, and declared value. Declaring lower values to reduce import duties is illegal and can result in the package being seized. Common destination duty rules of thumb:
→ USA: Personal goods under $800 are usually duty-free under Section 321 (de minimis).
→ UK: Personal gifts under £39 are exempt from import VAT; commercial goods are taxed at 20% VAT + duty.
→ Australia: Personal goods under A$1,000 are generally GST-free, but strict biosecurity rules apply (no food products, no organic materials).
→ EU: Since July 2021, all packages are subject to VAT. Mark as “gift” only if truly a gift; the IOSS / Import One-Stop Shop rules apply.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Chinese courier regulations prohibit or restrict shipping many common items. Violations result in the package being opened and destroyed at the origin sorting facility.
→ Absolutely prohibited: Liquid chemicals, flammable liquids, aerosol sprays, fireworks, weapons, counterfeit currency.
→ Restricted domestic (requires special handling): Lithium batteries (≤100 Wh with shipping label), cosmetics containing alcohol, fresh food (allowed by SF via special cold-chain service).
→ Restricted international: All batteries (including lithium in electronics), all liquids over 500 ml, traditional Chinese medicine (banned to US, EU, AU in most cases), seeds and plants, meat products, and any item the destination country prohibits.
→ Special case — electronics: Phones, laptops, tablets can be shipped but must have batteries removed or declared with wattage. SF International has a dedicated electronics-shipping service (电池专线) that handles this correctly.
For reference: China’s prohibited items list is standardized across couriers and published by the State Post Bureau.
Scheduling Pickup at Your Door
In China, couriers come to you — you rarely drop off in person. How it works:
→ Book via the app/mini-program. Choose a pickup time window (morning, afternoon, or a specific 1–2 hour block).
→ Prepare your package. Box it yourself or hand it over unboxed — SF couriers often bring boxes and tape for ¥5–10.
→ Be home at the window. The courier calls or WeChats when they’re 5–15 minutes out.
→ Show ID. Passport scan for first-time senders per courier.
→ Sign the waybill and watch the weigh-in. The price is recalculated based on actual weight.
→ Pay digitally. WeChat Pay or Alipay auto-deducts after the weigh-in.
Tips: pick afternoon windows (1–4 PM) for lowest no-show rates. For tall buildings without elevators, tip ¥10 (not expected but appreciated). Request a box in advance if you don’t have one.
Tracking, Issues, and Customer Service
Every shipment gets a tracking number (快递单号). Paste it into:
→ Cainiao (菜鸟) app: Universal tracker for almost all Chinese couriers — the easiest tool.
→ The specific courier’s app/mini-program: Most detailed real-time updates.
→ Global trackers (17track.net, parcelsapp.com): Useful for international shipments, following packages through two countries.
If a package is lost or damaged: SF Express supports English customer service at 95338 (press 2 for English). For international shipments, SF International has dedicated English support. Compensation is capped at 3x the shipping fee unless you purchased declared-value insurance (保价) at sending time — this costs 0.5–1% of declared value and is strongly recommended for anything over ¥500. Keep your waybill receipt and packaging until the package is safely received.
Cainiao Stations: Receiving Packages
While we’re mainly covering sending here, receiving packages uses a unique Chinese system worth knowing. Most urban residential complexes in tier-1 cities no longer deliver to individual apartment doors — packages are dropped at a neighborhood Cainiao Post station (菜鸟驿站) or a smart locker (快递柜, kuàidìguì). You receive a WeChat or SMS notification with a pickup code, and you walk to the station within 3–7 days to collect.
If you’d prefer door-to-door for valuable or fragile items, most apps offer a premium “送货上门” (deliver-to-door) toggle at checkout for ¥2–5 extra. See our Taobao/JD shopping guide for more on the receiving side.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I send a package in China as a foreigner?
The easiest way is SF Express (顺丰) through the SF Express WeChat mini-program: open WeChat, search “顺丰速运”, tap “寄快递” (send package), fill in sender/recipient info (your name and Chinese address, both in pinyin or Chinese), choose a pickup time window, and a courier arrives at your door within 1–2 hours. Payment is via WeChat Pay or Alipay. Domestic same-city delivery is ¥12–20, next-day to other cities is ¥15–25 per 1 kg. You’ll need to show ID (passport is accepted) when the courier arrives for real-name registration — this is a legal requirement since 2015. See our WeChat setup guide if you haven’t installed it yet.
Can I ship items from China to the US/UK/Australia?
Yes, through four main channels: (1) SF International — door-to-door express, 3–7 business days, ¥200–500 per kg, best for speed. (2) EMS (China Post) — 7–15 business days, ¥180–350 per kg, better for larger/heavier packages. (3) DHL/FedEx/UPS — premium express, 2–5 business days, ¥300–700 per kg, best for valuable or time-critical items. (4) Sea freight (for 20 kg+ shipments) — 30–60 days, much cheaper per kg but slow. For most personal items (clothes, books, small gifts), SF International or EMS is the right choice. You must declare contents accurately; batteries, liquids, and restricted items require special handling.
What is the cheapest way to send a package in China?
For domestic shipping, ZTO (中通), YTO (圆通), and STO (申通) are the three cheapest couriers — about ¥8–12 for a 1 kg package to anywhere in China, versus ¥12–20+ for SF Express. The tradeoff is speed and reliability: SF delivers next-day to most cities and has premium handling; ZTO/YTO/STO take 2–4 days and have more damaged/lost package complaints. For cheap bulk sending (e.g., if you’re running a small Taobao shop), use Cainiao Post (菜鸟驿站) drop-off stations, where packages cost ¥5–10 per item for same-province delivery.
Do I need my passport to ship a package in China?
Yes — all courier companies in China must verify the sender’s real-name ID under the 2015 Postal Industry Real-Name Registration Regulations. For foreigners, your passport is accepted. The courier will scan your ID the first time you ship with their company and tie it to your phone number; subsequent shipments using the same phone number usually don’t require re-scanning. For international outbound shipments, your passport information is also required for customs documentation, and the recipient’s full name, phone, and address are required in English.
How do I use SF Express without speaking Chinese?
The SF Express WeChat mini-program and app both support English interfaces — switch language in Settings. Alternatively, use the SF International English website (sf-international.com) or call their English-language customer service line at 95338 (press 2 for English). For pickup, you can type the address in English in the “remark” field; most couriers can navigate using the Chinese address system even if you’ve written the building name in pinyin. If you’re completely new to Chinese addresses, use our address helper to convert between formats. See also our translation app guide for real-time Chinese support.
Related tools: Use our address helper to format Chinese addresses, install the essential apps including WeChat + SF Express mini-program, set up Alipay for payments, and compare luggage storage if you need short-term bag drop-off instead of shipping.
Last updated: April 2026. Courier pricing and service levels change; always check the SF Express app for current rates. Customs regulations for international shipments depend on both origin and destination country rules. This guide is for informational purposes only.
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