How much alcohol under the general allowance can I bring into China?
- Official classification
- Alcoholic beverages (combined volume and value cap)
Restricted
You can bring alcohol under the general allowance into China only within the stated limits.
Extra conditions apply
What you need to know
- 1.5 liter (50.72 US fl oz)
- Channels: Carried with the traveler
- Extra conditions apply
On the plane
Airline differences
| Airline | Difference from the baseline |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) | Stricter than the standard rule |
Important
This allowance applies per person, not per family or group.
Official sources
- 进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法（国务院关税税则委员会公告2024年第11号附件），第十一条 中华人民共和国财政部 关税司（国务院关税税则委员会）
Questions about Alcohol (combined volume and value cap) in China
- How much alcohol under the general allowance can I bring into China?
- China allows 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages (combined volume and value cap) per traveller. Above that the goods are treated as an import and duty becomes payable. The allowance is per traveller and cannot be pooled between people.
- Do I have to declare alcohol under the general allowance at China customs?
- Only above the allowance. Up to 1.5 liters of alcoholic beverages (combined volume and value cap) there is nothing to declare; beyond it you take the goods through the red channel and pay the duty.
- What happens if I do not declare alcohol under the general allowance in China?
- Under 《进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法》第十一条（税委会公告2024年第11号公布，自2024年12月1日施行）, if you declare the excess yourself: a flat-rate charge is applied to the excess. If the goods are found without being declared, the normal duty becomes payable on the excess; an administrative fine is imposed. Under 《中华人民共和国海关行政处罚实施条例》第十九条第二项、第四项（国务院令第420号）: an administrative fine is imposed.
- Do duty-free purchases count toward the China allowance for alcohol under the general allowance?
- No. China grants an arrival duty-free quota separately from what you carry in, which is why two different numbers circulate for this allowance.
- Can I post or ship alcohol under the general allowance to China instead of carrying it?
- Not under this allowance. It covers goods a traveller carries; a parcel is an import and is assessed under the postal rules instead. Baggage sent before or after you travels under the same allowance.
- Is there a minimum age for the alcohol under the general allowance allowance in China?
- Yes — 18 years. A traveller under that age gets no allowance for alcohol under the general allowance at all, not a smaller one.
- Can I take alcohol under the general allowance out of China?
- China publishes no separate rule for taking alcohol under the general allowance out; the destination's rules are what will apply.
- Does the China limit for alcohol under the general allowance apply per person or per family?
- Per person. Each traveller carries their own allowance and it cannot be pooled with anyone else's.
- Where does this rule come from?
- General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) states it in 进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法（国务院关税税则委员会公告2024年第11号附件），第十一条. CarryRules last confirmed that sentence at the source on 2026-09-19. The sentence it rests on reads: “对进境居民旅客携带在境外获取总值五千元人民币以内的行李物品，进境非居民旅客携带拟留在境内的总值两千元人民币以内的行李物品，海关予以免税放行。烟草制品、酒精饮料还需符合本办法所附《进境行李物品免税限量表》规定的限量标准。进境旅客，12度以上的酒精饮料1.5升。其中，自香港特别行政区、澳门特别行政区进境的旅客，12度以上的酒精饮料0.75升。”
- How does China compare with other countries on alcohol under the general allowance?
- Of the 20 countries covered here, 1 prohibit alcohol under the general allowance, 13 limit it and 6 let it through. China is among the ones that set a limit.
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法（国务院关税税则委员会公告2024年第11号附件），第十一条 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法（国务院关税税则委员会公告2024年第11号附件），第十一条 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — ข้อควรทราบสำหรับการนำของติดตัวเข้าทางอากาศยานสำหรับผู้โดยสาร · verified 2026-09-20
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — china age limits · verified 2026-09-20
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法（国务院关税税则委员会公告2024年第11号附件），第十一条 · verified 2026-09-19
Source: General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (海关总署, GACC) — 进境物品关税、增值税、消费税征收办法（国务院关税税则委员会公告2024年第11号附件），第十一条 · verified 2026-09-19