How does the Postal Service work in China?
Letter, postcards, parcels...general information
If it's a postcard or a light letter you don't need to worry. Stamps are available in post offices - of which there are quite a few, especially in big cities - and nearly always in hotel receptions. Then it can take between 7 and 15 days for a letter to reach its destination.
Sending a parcel is a whole different ball game. There are different ways to send them and so different (estimated) delivery delays, ranging from several days to a few weeks.
Postage on letters and packages depends on the size, weight, method of transport, and any special options (tracking, insurance, etc.). General light letters and postcards cost 4.50-6.00 yuan ($0.73-0.90) to send. You can also use couriers (DHL, Fedex, TNT, UPS) to send packages. The service they offer is quicker, but also more expensive, than China's official postal service, China Post.
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Some practical advice
- Post Office employees rarely speak any other language than Chinese. If you have problems or questions, I advise you to speak to your hotel's reception or a local contact.
- Chinese stamps don't always stick very well, so to avoid any problems take a glue stick with you.
- Although the postal service works quite well, some letters can get lost or take their time arriving. To avoid unpleasant surprises, it's better not to put all your eggs in one basket - in other words don't post everything from the same place. In the same vein, try to send things from big cities rather than from little towns in the country.
