Question:

Generally, if you are white and stride confidently, they will not stop u in Beijing airport.  However in the event that you are, be prepared to surrender contraband which ranges from anything like foreign brand hairspray to expensive food.  Food is not banned as far as I am aware from the customs declarations, all of which I dutifully fill and hand in.  Quite right – they sometimes don’t even bother to collect mine, but I make it a point to hand it in ! Best of luck in your trip

: : : : : : Maybe not an yogurt but any of the other western made junk-food snacks are : available overthere ,too. : Actually I found local yogurt very good. : Cheese would be good choice,but chinese normally don’t go for it a lot, : unless they are muslim. : Good luck. : Frank.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Generally, if you are white and stride confidently, they will not stop u in Beijing airport.  However in the event that you are, be prepared to surrender contraband which ranges from anything like foreign brand hairspray to expensive food.  Food is not banned as far as I am aware from the customs declarations, all of which I dutifully fill and hand in.  Quite right – they sometimes don’t even bother to collect mine, but I make it a point to hand it in ! Best of luck in your trip : : : : : : Maybe not an yogurt but any of the other western made junk-food snacks are : available overthere ,too. : Actually I found local yogurt very good. : Cheese would be good choice,but chinese normally don’t go for it a lot, : unless they are muslim. : Good luck. : Frank.

Sorry, but I’ve entered China at least once per month for the past 4 years and they’ve never confiscated anything.  We routinely have visitors (for business) from the U.S. who say, on their 4th morning in China, "I’d sell my mother for a poptart" or some such thing.  These guys do bring in stuff like that. In general, I agree w/ Frank that the yogurt is good.  The rest of the stuff is not.  The good food is real food.  They haven’t figured how to make the junk good yet. jeff

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I’m traveling to Beijing and would like to take some snacks. Is anything in particular not allowed. I’m assuming fresh meat, and fish are not allowed. What about fresh fruit, yogurt, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, M&Ms? I want to experience Beijing foods too but some of these items are gifts for friend living there. Any problems with customs? Thanks–Elinda

Response:

Maybe not an yogurt but any of the other western made junk-food snacks are available overthere ,too. Actually I found local yogurt very good. Cheese would be good choice,but chinese normally don’t go for it a lot, unless they are muslim. Good luck. Frank.

Response:

I’m traveling to Beijing and would like to take some snacks. Is anything in particular not allowed. I’m assuming fresh meat, and fish are not allowed. What about fresh fruit, yogurt, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, M&Ms? I want to experience Beijing foods too but some of these items are gifts for friend living there. Any problems with customs? Thanks–Elinda

I have not heard about any problems with snack foods.  Be prepared for a surprise.  They make M&M’s in China.  They have the world’s best yogurt in Beijing.  Ditto fruit, dried fruit and nuts.  Cheese is not a big hit with Chinese, however.  You will find the Hard Rock Cafe, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried, etc. etc.  You also find a rising problem among the Chinese in coronary heart disease (I wonder why?). For a really great gift, bring in fish oil capsules (they are priced 300% higher in Beijing than in the states.  Ditto shark cartilage.  Also bulk oat bran.   Enjoy your trip and dress warm! Paul Kronfield Houston, Texas, USA

Response:

I’m traveling to Beijing and would like to take some snacks. Is anything in particular not allowed. I’m assuming fresh meat, and fish are not allowed. What about fresh fruit, yogurt, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, M&Ms? I want to experience Beijing foods too but some of these items are gifts for friend living there. Any problems with customs?

Beijing has most of the things you mention.  Trying to import fresh fruit *could* get you into some trouble & is not recommended, even though customs might not even open your bags.  M&M’s are plentiful;  don’t bother to bring any.   Yogurt is available at lots of street stands and in stores, though not quite the same as Dannon, etc..  Peanuts are common, as are pistachios (expensive), cashews, and some other nuts.  Domestic cheese is available at the Friendship Store, but in one variety only;  imported cheese is expensive;  this is probably the best thing to bring on your list (assuming it’s for somebody who actually likes it, since many Chinese definitely do not). Good luck, Mark

Response:

I’m traveling to Beijing and would like to take some snacks. Is anything in particular not allowed. I’m assuming fresh meat, and fish are not allowed. What about fresh fruit, yogurt, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, M&Ms? I want to experience Beijing foods too but some of these items are gifts for friend living there. Any problems with customs?

Don’t take yogurt, China produces some of the best yogurt I ever tasted. Besides, you’ll have troble to keep it fresh. Fresh fruit you can easily buy at the market. As for problems with customs, keep a low profile and don’t mention that the food you bring along are gifts. It’s your food for long train journeys you are bringing with you, or your special diet. I do not think that you’ll have a problem. Have a good trip Peter

Response:

I’m traveling to Beijing and would like to take some snacks. Is anything in particular not allowed. I’m assuming fresh meat, and fish are not allowed. What about fresh fruit, yogurt, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, M&Ms? I want to experience Beijing foods too but some of these items are gifts for friend living there. Any problems with customs?

I would not worry at all about entering China – the customs is a joke. They have all these rules, and make you fill out a list itemising your luggage (on the flight in), then don’t bother to enforce this. The forms tell you that magazines, books, videos, etc are not allowed as well as food, more than one camera, etc, but… When I arrived at Beijing Capital airport in July, health department was collecting health cards (you sign it to say you’re healthy) without reading them! After passport control ("frontier barrier") there were 2 customs queues. One had staff busy X-raying everyones luggage, the other had the staff sitting around reading newspapers. Naturally I took this latter one, walked right through, and out into the street. I still have my uncollected documentation! However most people off my flight, being typically British, took the "active" queue. Not one customs officer was bothered that I had 3 newspapers in my hand! Nobody tried to collect my exit customs forms when I left China, either. So just stuff your baggage full of illegal goods, and brush past any customs officer who might try to stop you. — Colin A R Beveridge Department of Electrical Engineering The University of Edinburgh King’s Buildings Mayfield Rd Edinburgh EH9 3JL United Kingdom (Int +44) 131 650 5665 (enquiries)

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m traveling to Beijing and would like to take some snacks. Is anything in particular not allowed. I’m assuming fresh meat, and fish are not allowed. What about fresh fruit, yogurt, dried fruit, nuts, cheese, M&Ms? I want to experience Beijing foods too but some of these items are gifts for friend living there. Any problems with customs? I would not worry at all about entering China – the customs is a joke. They have all these rules, and make you fill out a list itemising your luggage (on the flight in), then don’t bother to enforce this. The forms tell you that magazines, books, videos, etc are not allowed as well as food, more than one camera, etc, but… When I arrived at Beijing Capital airport in July, health department was collecting health cards (you sign it to say you’re healthy) without reading them! After passport control ("frontier barrier") there were 2 customs queues. One had staff busy X-raying everyones luggage, the other had the staff sitting around reading newspapers. Naturally I took this latter one, walked right through, and out into the street. I still have my uncollected documentation! However most people off my flight, being typically British, took the "active" queue. Not one customs officer was bothered that I had 3 newspapers in my hand! Nobody tried to collect my exit customs forms when I left China, either. So just stuff your baggage full of illegal goods, and brush past any customs officer who might try to stop you. — Colin A R Beveridge Department of Electrical Engineering The University of Edinburgh King’s Buildings Mayfield Rd Edinburgh EH9 3JL United Kingdom (Int +44) 131 650 5665 (enquiries)

Thanks for the post, Colin.  You may, or may not be aware that China has internet, and I suspect more than a few customs officials are going to be reading translations of your insights and your name.  They are installing computers at all the border posts also, and it would not surprise me if your name is entered in their database. As for the ease of customs – I know of multitudes of cases where videos have been confiscated – regardless of their content.  The last time I entered, the astute customs official at the Guangzhou boat dock found a fax machine in my aluminum haliburton suitcase, ignoring my four other suitcases.  I was amazed at her insight.  And my suitcases had not been xrayed. To those contemplating travel in China, take the customs regulations seriously.  The Chinese do. Paul Kronfield Houston, Texas, USA homepage: http://www.neosoft.com/users/g/geoprobe/geoprobe.html

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