Personal belongings will be admitted duty free, including food, two bottles of liquor and two cartons of cigarettes. Wristwatches, radios, tape recorders, cameras, movie cameras, and similar items may be brought in for personal use but cannot be sold or transferred to others and must be brought out of China.

Gifts for relatives or friends in China, or articles carried on behalf of other, must also be declared.

Visitors can bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currency and Chinese renminbi traveler’s checks, and the unspent portion can be taken out.

Bringing in the following articles is prohibited:

1. Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds

2. Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts

3. Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash

4. Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc. which are detrimental to China’s politics, economy, culture, and ethics

5. Poisonous drugs, habit-forming drugs, opium, morphine, heroin, etc.

6. Animals, plants and products thereof infected with or carrying germs and insect pests

7. Unsanitary foodstuffs and germ-carrying food-stuffs from infected areas

8. Other articles the import of which is prohibited by state regulations

Exit: On leaving China, tourists must again submit the baggage declaration form for customs inspection (the second copy). Travelers by ship are exempted.

Items purchased in China with RMB converted from foreign currencies may be taken out or mailed out of the country after receipts are presented for customs inspection. In cities where a Customs Office does not exit, this can be arranged through the local Friendship Store.

Taking out the following articles is prohibited:

1. Arms, ammunition, and explosives of all kinds

2. Radio transmitters-receivers and principal parts

3. Renminbi (Chinese currency) in cash and negotiable securities in RMB

4. Unratified foreign currency, foreign notes or drafts

5. Manuscripts, printed matter, films, photographs, gramophone records, cinematographic films, loaded recording tapes and videotapes, etc. which are detrimental to China’s national security

6. Rare and precious copies of books about Chinese revolution, history, culture and art that are not for sale

7. Valuable animals, plants, and seeds

8. Precious metals, pearls, and jewels (things declared to the customs are exempted)

9. Other articles the export of which is prohibited by state regulations

(china.org.cn)