Summer Arrival: Despite Expensive Tickets, Many International Students and Chinese Nationals Choose to Return Home.
However, social media is buzzing with reports of intensified customs inspections!
Numerous individuals have shared their nerve-wracking border crossing experiences.
Some online users have expressed their recent encounters while returning home, witnessing each piece of luggage being thoroughly inspected at security checkpoints. They shared incidents where their personal supply of health supplements exceeded the permitted limit, resulting in warnings and documentation of their details. The netizen mentioned that such occurrences had never been encountered in the past.
It’s not just limited to returning to China from the US, but also applies to other countries’ immigration checkpoints. Many individuals have experienced their luggage being directly sealed by customs authorities.
Is Chinese Customs Becoming Unusually Strict for Incoming Travelers?
Some netizens have also expressed that they did not encounter any staff members or functioning security screening machines upon their return.
It appears that strict inspections are implemented selectively. However, after more than three years of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of students returning home for family visits and summer vacations. It is crucial for everyone to take customs inspections seriously.
What can you bring and what can’t you bring?
Helping others by bringing items or buying gifts for others may seem reasonable and justified.
However, when it comes to the law, there are strict regulations that we must adhere to.
Chinese Consulate General in New York issued a reminder in 2019, stating that both Chinese and American customs have regulations regarding the transportation of cash and gifts when entering or exiting the countries. It is advised that individuals who plan to return to China should familiarize themselves with these regulations in order to avoid unnecessary troubles and financial losses.
Not only that, the following items are prohibited from entering China: “List of Prohibited Items for Importation by Chinese Customs.”
1. Various weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
2. Counterfeit currency and forged securities.
3. Any items that are harmful to China’s politics, economy, culture, and morality.
4. Various highly toxic poisons.
5. Opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana, and other addictive narcotics, psychotropic substances, etc.
6. Animals, plants, and their products carrying dangerous pathogens, pests, and other organisms.
7. Food, medicines, or other items that are detrimental to human and animal health, originate from epidemic areas, or can spread diseases.
8. Chinese currency, except as regulated by currency agreements. RMB foreign exchange coupons are handled according to relevant regulations.
9. Knives such as fruit knives, razors, and large scissors (with metal tips and blades longer than 4 inches).
10. Animal remains and specimens.
11. Fruits, as well as eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes.
12. Eggs, hides, bristles, hooves, bones, and meat products (raw meat, sausages, ham, bacon, etc.).
13. Blood and blood products.
14. Aquatic products, milk and dairy products, and animal blood and its products.
15. Soil.
Note: Including various weapons, simulated weapons, ammunition, and explosives; counterfeit currency and forged securities; printed materials, films, photographs, records, films, tapes, laser discs, computer storage media, and other items that are harmful to China’s politics, economy, and culture; various highly toxic poisons; opium, morphine, heroin, marijuana, and other addictive narcotics and psychotropic substances; animals, plants, and their products carrying dangerous pathogens, pests, and other harmful organisms; food, medicines, and other items that are harmful to human and animal health, originate from epidemic areas, or can spread diseases.
Don’t be nervous if your luggage is locked by customs; it’s just a routine inspection. If your items comply with the requirements, you will pass through customs smoothly. However, it is important for individuals to remember to “actively contact customs; otherwise, bringing items directly through customs may trigger an alarm.”
Therefore, everyone should not assume that they won’t be checked just because others haven’t been checked. Before preparing your belongings for returning to the country, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the relevant regulations for entry. Avoid bringing items that are not allowed to prevent unnecessary trouble.
