Int’l Shipping 101: Placing Gifts Under the Tree from Beijing

For many of us living in Beijing, the holidays can be tough. Accustomed to spending this time with friends and family, being in a place devoid of that familiar warmth leaves us pining for the days of pinched cheeks and roast dinners. Even for those who regularly lamented the stressful balancing act of hosting extended family from both sides of the aisle, these once unpleasant realities seemingly melt away, replaced by all together wistful nostalgia.

If that weren’t bad enough, there’s the whole tradition of gathering around the Christmas tree to open presents that you’re now absent from. And whether you’ve read the opening of this post and thought to yourself, “Yeah, I totally miss Christmas,” or, “Nope! Good riddance family! I like my small Beijing festivities,” one thing we can all agree on is that the feeling of watching someone open a present you picked out just for them is incomparable. 

Well, fear not my fellow expats! I’m here to tell you that there’s still a way to share in the joy of watching your loved one’s face light up at the sight of that thoughtful gift they’ve always wanted!

We’ve put together a helpful little guide on how to send packages internationally, so that your nieces, nephews, siblings, and parents can still get that delightful Chinese tchotchke from Nanluoguxiang or charming scarf you picked up at the Silk Market.

Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Transport Options

First and foremost, it’s important to be aware of the various shipping options and their corresponding time tables. These fall into three categories; Air, SAL, and Surface. 

Air is exactly what it sounds like, shipping by air. This is the fastest of the options with a usual delivery time of seven to 15 days. As one might expect however, this is also the most expensive.

SAL, which stands for Surface Air Lifted, is the second fastest option, and utilizes air transport when leaving the country, but relies on sea and land transport once the package has reached its destination country. It’s cheaper than the air-only option, but bumps your arrival time up to 15 to 20 days.

Surface is undoubtedly the cheapest option, however given that your package will be stowed away on boats and trucks for the entirety of its journey, you can expect your package to arrive in a seemingly inefficient 40 to 70 days. Moreover, given the vulnerability of this method, your precious cargo will be subjected to rough-and-tumble couriers, high pressure, punishing humidity, and even curious vermin that may tear into the gift before your recipient has a chance to.

Thank You for Your Service

Now that you know how long your package will take to arrive, the next question is which service to use.

China Post Mail (CPM) is the national service of China, and is considered by many to be the most cost-efficient and streamlined method for shipping packages. CPM offers both air and surface options, so you can chose the one that fits your schedule and wallet. In terms of specifications, they can send small parcels, which cap out at 4.4 lbs (2 kg) or large parcels, which go up to 66 lbs (30 kg). You can expect to pay RMB 180.50 to ship a 4.4 lb package to the U.S. by air, which breaks down to RMB 5 for the first 50 grams, and RMB .09 for each additional gram.

If you prefer a private service, EUB (You Bao/ePacket) is the go-to choice for online merchants. However they do impose a 4.4 lb (2 kg) limit on all parcels, with a maximum length, width, and height of 35 in. The upside to this option is their standard seven to 10 business day arrival time. Additionally, the most expensive option to ship from Beijing to the U.S. is a mere RMB 167, which is a small price to pay to let someone know you were thinking of them. This figure breaks down to be RMB 11.80 for the first 60 grams, plus RMB .08 for every additional gram.

The third option is Express Mail Service (EMS), which is a globally recognized service that stitches together post offices across the world. They guarantee a seven day timetable, however they also tend to be one of the most expensive, with a 4.4 lb package costing RMB 630. This figure reflects a scale of RMB 240 for the first 500 grams with RMB 75 added for every 500 grams thereafter.

Now that you’re equipped with all the necessary info to get a package out of the country, it’s time to actually ship the thing! While this guide is a useful primer on which option is best for your situation, it’s still advisable to bring a Chinese friend along (if possible), so they can help ensure that your package safely arrives where it’s supposed to, and when it’s supposed to.

Last, but certainly not least, once your package arrives, make sure you set up a Skype date, so you can “be there” when the Christmas magic unfolds.

Happy shopping! And even happier shipping!

Photos: Pixabay, Sporedicina.com, unsplash, giphy