China’s postal service is cheap and efficient, but reliability varies. The national service is run by China Post. There are dozens of offices, typically open from 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and on Saturday mornings. Almost none offer English-speaking service. Some smaller offices may not accept international shipments and some may limit the size of parcels that they will accept. Sending shipments worth more than ¥1,500 is usually prohibited. Make sure your packages are unsealed, as inspection is mandatory. Shipments of DVDs, CDs, and some electronic goods such as hard drives are also either barred or strictly limited.

However, sending mail is fairly cheap, costing as little as ¥5 for a letter to other Asian countries, and ¥6 or ¥7 to much of the rest of the world. Typically, letters will take a week to two weeks to arrive. Packages cost more, at around ¥85 for a 1kg package sent economy class.

Shipment by both air and boat are possible, with vastly different prices and travel times; two days at the fastest, two to three months at the slowest. If you are having trouble sending a package, need English assistance, or your item is large or oddly shaped, your best bet is to try the central post office at Yabao Lu on Jianguomenwai (010 6512 8114).

When having a package sent to you, it’s best to list the address in Chinese, though packages in Pinyin stand a decent chance of making their way safely. You may need to go to a local post office to retrieve your post. Make sure you bring your passport and any notification cards.