Clearing your belongings through customs in China

This is a good question.

Immigration Package for a company
There are people who come to china as part of an employment contract. In those cases, the relocation of belongings is a negotiated issue. The company will pay someone to box everything up, and use a freight forwarder to ship them to china for you. Typically, you can expect from 3,000 to 4,000 USd to ship a container to china, depending where you live. In the USA, the costs are lower, and you might well be able to get a 40'GP for around 2000 USd.  The freight forwarder will handle all customs and related issues.

Be mindful that you cannot take certain things such as food items, paints, plants, seed, animals, furs, dirt, and prohibited items such as hand grenades and guns using this method. One slip up, and you could get your good impounded for months.

Most expats arrive with luggage
However, most expats enter china with two suitcases and the clothes on their back. That is the way that I entered china, except the airlines lost my luggage and I arrived with a pair of flip-flops, a tee-shirt, a pair of jeans and a handbag with my personal papers. That was it. Ugh! It wasn't until I was paid that I was able to get a different Tee-shirt.

Overall, things are just that. Things.

When you move to a new area, then "move". on't look back. Make new friends, and live a new life in a new area, doing new things. You will be the far better person for it. Rather than lugging around  brick-a-brack from a previous life.

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What are the procedures to get your belongings cleared by customs once you have arrived in China? If you carry everything in a suitcase, it will be just like going through customs normally. If you ship them separately then it is rather easy. The Freight Forwarder that you select to move your things will handle all the paperwork and make all the arrangements for you.

Who do you have to contact and how do you get in touch with them? Again, this would be the freight forwarder that you select. Make sure that you have their contact number and tell them what you are doing. They will work with you and be very friendly and help you out immensely.

How do you go about from there? You can work with the freight forwarder. If you ship ExWorks or FOB then you will need someone to get your belongings. ExWorks might be a pallet or two of belongings, while FOB shipment would involve a shipping container. The Freight forwarder would get you in touch with the servadore. They will pick up, move and relocate your shipping container for you.

How long does this process usually take? Within a day once it passes customs. Customs usually takes under a week.

How do you then carry your belongings to your new home? Again you would need either friends to empty the shipping container, or utilize a servadore to move the container to your final destination. This agent can be arranged by the freight forwarder for you.

Are there any items that are restricted by customs in China? Yes. Food, seeds, plants, paint, chemicals, weapons, fireworks, live animals, and furs. Please be careful in what you ship and work with the freight forwarder if you have any questions.

How much does it cost to get your belongings cleared by customs in China? It depends on the items and the size. All of this will be prearranged by the freight forwarder for you.

Does the cost change depending on the amount or on certain specific items? Not that I know of.

Do you think it is better to seek the help of a contractor to get your belongings cleared in China? Absolutely. Use a Freight Forwarder. There are many good ones and they are indispensable.

When I was getting ready to move to China, I shipped a large box of things that I would need here.  Other than that just arrived with one suitcase and golf bag and a backpack.  Had no trouble entering.  It is more trouble returning to the US for visits than entering China.

...and most goods are so inexpensive here that it makes little sense to transport a lot. As @VANNROX said, no point in "lugging around  brick-a-brack from a previous life".

I sent my personal effects to a local chinese friend living in the city that I'll like to move to . The Chinese postal service delivered the items to the listed address door to door n everything arrived without a hitch