China Airport Customs Clearance Guide: PEK, PVG, CAN & PKX
Step-by-step terminal guides for PVG, PEK, CAN, and PKX. Check CT pre-screening rules, carousel locations, and Red Channel customs counters.
Voluntarily declaring at the Red Channel protects you from criminal accusations. Declaring genuine prescription medicines cannot be classified as smuggling under GACC rules.
Checked bags are scanned by CT machines before reaching carousels. If your suitcase arrives with a yellow electronic seal, proceed directly to the customs desk. Never tamper with the seal.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport
上海浦东国际机场 T2航站楼 • Terminal 2 (International Arrivals)
High-tech automated 'Pre-inspection Before Arrival' (先期机检). Checked baggage is scanned via high-speed CT before reaching the luggage carousel. Bags containing suspicious powders, bulk pills, or undeclared biologics receive an electronic tamper-evident yellow seal and lock band.
Passenger Arrival & Border Clearance Path:
Deplane & Health Quarantine Screening
2F International Arrival ConcourseFollow international arrival signs down the skybridge. Pass through automated thermal imaging fever scanners and body temperature gates. No special drug check occurs at this first gate.
Immigration & Border Inspection (NIA)
Immigration Inspection HallClear National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) passport control. Foreign travelers scan fingerprints at automated biometric kiosks before queued border officer booths.
Baggage Claim & Pre-Screen Seal Inspection
1F Baggage Reclaim Hall (Carousels 21-36)Proceed downstairs to the baggage carousels. When retrieving checked luggage, inspect your suitcase handles. If your bag has a yellow electronic Customs Lock (海关电子锁) or yellow warning tape, it has been flagged by CT scanner for mandatory physical inspection.
Dual-Channel Customs Inspection (Red vs Green)
Customs Exit Portal, 1F International ArrivalWalk towards the exit. The corridor splits clearly: Right lane is Red Channel (申报通道 - Goods to Declare); Center/Left lanes are Green Channel (无申报通道 - Nothing to Declare).
Generate official bilingual declaration slip to hand to duty customs officers.
Red Channel Declaration Desk Procedure
Customs Duty Officer Station (Manned 24/7)Approach the manned customs desk. Hand over your passport, physical doctor prescription, and your completed bilingual declaration form. Place bags on the inspection conveyor when directed.
If you voluntarily declare medication exceeding the 7-15 day threshold, customs will generally offer an official Customs Temporary Custody Slip (海关暂存凭单). Excess medication is held securely at the airport depot for up to 90 days and can be retrieved when exiting the country, or returned via air freight. No criminal penalty applies to bona fide voluntary declarations of non-banned substances.
Download China Medication Customs Checklist (PDF)
Get our offline 1-page compliance cheat-sheet with Red/Green channel decision trees, bilingual doctor note templates, and emergency English hotlines.
- Offline printable 1-page PDF checklist
- Red vs Green Channel decision tree
- Official bilingual declaration phrases & hotlines