Hey everyone, Jack from Zerrand here. I help people bring shopping from Hong Kong to the mainland pretty much daily, so I’ve seen it all – people crying because customs took three extra Apple Watches, or throwing away a whole bag of mangoes.
Good news first: since July 2024 the personal duty-free allowance is RMB 12,000 per trip (plus another RMB 3,000 if you buy at the arrival duty-free shop). That hasn’t changed in 2025.
Here are the 20 rules that actually matter in 2025 (straight from China Customs + what officers at the border really enforce):
- Mobile phone – only 1 per person for personal use
- Laptop / tablet – 1 unit
- Camera / video camera – 1 unit
- Wristwatch – maximum 2 pieces
- Gold & silver jewellery – total value ≤ RMB 5,000
- Cigarettes – 400 sticks OR 100 cigars OR 500 g loose tobacco
- Alcohol – 2 bottles, each ≤ 750 ml
- Fresh fruit & vegetables – completely banned
- All meat products (ham, sausage, jerky, bird’s nest, etc.) – banned
- Medicine – reasonable personal amount + doctor’s prescription (photo/scan is enough)
- Cash – ≤ RMB 20,000 or foreign currency equivalent to USD 5,000
- Antiques / cultural relics – must be declared, most can’t leave HK anyway
- Pets – health certificate + rabies vaccination + quarantine paperwork (huge hassle)
- Power banks / lithium batteries – carry-on only, each ≤ 100 Wh
- Lighters & matches – 1-2 ordinary gas lighters OK, no gasoline Zippo
- Cosmetics & skincare – total volume ≤ 1,000 ml (about 10–12 regular bottles)
- Books & magazines – no politically sensitive content
- Tea – reasonable personal amount, not boxes and boxes
- Musical instruments – 1 piece, declare it
- Everything else – no drones (some models), no large e-cigarette liquid, no counterfeit goods, etc.
Most common mistakes I see:
- Baby formula / milk powder – 6–8 cans for a family is almost always fine in 2025 (not on the 20 taxable items list anymore). 20 cans = obvious reselling = tax or confiscation.
- Chocolate, biscuits, snacks – no problem if it looks like personal use.
- Apple products – strictly 1 phone + 1 laptop per person. Second device = 20 % tax on the spot.
Carrying too much or just want zero stress? Book a Zerrand runner – we split the goods between several people, make multiple trips if needed, and walk the green channel like pros. Super affordable and 100 % safe.
More useful posts: → Hong Kong milk powder & medicine runner prices → Fastest times at Shenzhen Bay Port → Hong Kong airport duty-free pickup service
Save this page, share it with your group chat, and happy shopping! Any questions just drop a comment – I answer fast.
(See you at the border!) Jack @ Zerrand
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