Gold Allowance for Travellers to China (2026)
Mainland China lets residents bring in RMB 5,000 of goods bought abroad duty-free (RMB 8,000 including arrival duty-free shop purchases, and RMB 12,000 or RMB 15,000 for adults arriving from Hong Kong or Macao); non-residents get RMB 2,000 for goods that will stay in China. Gold above the allowance is taxed at a combined 13% (20% for diamond jewellery), an indivisible item in full, and gold over 50 g must be declared on arrival. Leaving, up to 50 g needs no declaration; above 50 g you must declare it and show a People's Bank of China permit, your entry declaration or the Chinese seller's special invoice, or it cannot leave.
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Estimate only: customs taxes the value above your allowance at its own dutiable values, and an indivisible item that takes you over is taxed in full. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Gold Allowance in China
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Resident returning from abroad | RMB 5,000 of goods | RMB 8,000 in total including purchases at an arrival duty-free shop. Goods for reasonable personal use only. |
| Resident aged 18+ arriving from Hong Kong or Macao | RMB 12,000 of goods | RMB 15,000 in total including arrival duty-free shop purchases. In force at all ports since 1 August 2024. |
| Non-resident visitor | RMB 2,000 of goods that will stay in China | Your own jewellery that leaves with you is not part of this, but declare gold over 50 g. |
| Frequent short-trip travellers and under-18s | Only articles needed for the journey | Gold bought abroad is taxable. |
| Gold and gold products over 50 g | Must be declared | Gold is a restricted item. More than reasonable personal quantities is treated as an import of goods. |
| Gold taken out | 50 g without declaring | Above 50 g: declare, with a PBOC permit, your entry declaration (up to the weight declared) or a special invoice from the Chinese seller. |
Tax on gold above the allowance
Residents of mainland China can bring in RMB 5,000 of goods acquired abroad duty-free. Including purchases at an arrival duty-free shop the total is RMB 8,000. Residents aged 18 or over arriving from Hong Kong or Macao get RMB 12,000, or RMB 15,000 with arrival duty-free shop purchases. Non-residents can bring in RMB 2,000 of goods that will stay in China. Frequent short-trip travellers and under-18s get duty-free treatment only for articles needed on the journey.
Only the value above the allowance is taxed, but an indivisible single item, such as a gold bangle, is taxed in full. Personal articles pay one combined rate covering customs duty, VAT and consumption tax: 13% for gold, silver and platinum articles, 20% for diamonds and diamond jewellery, and 50% for other precious jewellery and gemstones such as pearls. The rates were carried over unchanged when the Customs Tariff Law took effect at the end of 2024. Gold beyond a reasonable quantity for personal use is treated as an import of goods.
Declaring gold in China
Gold and gold products are goods the state restricts on entry and exit. Customs says amounts over 50 g must be declared. Under the baggage rules in force since 1 April 2025 (GAC Decree No. 276), travellers must declare in writing goods above the duty-free amount, restricted items, goods for sale and cash above the limit, and must use the red channel if they have anything to declare or are unsure. If you have not finished the declaration before inspection starts, the item counts as undeclared. Hiding or under-declaring restricted goods is smuggling and can be prosecuted as a crime.
Cash over RMB 20,000, or foreign cash over US$5,000, must also be declared. Visitors bringing in their own gold jewellery should declare it and keep the declaration, because it is the proof that lets the same gold leave again.
Taking gold out of China
Beijing Customs said in May 2026 that travellers may take out gold jewellery and products of 50 g or less without declaring. Above 50 g you must declare the gold and meet one of three conditions, or it will not be released: a People's Bank of China permit to take gold out; the original customs declaration from your arrival, with no more gold leaving than you declared; or, for gold bought in China, the special invoice issued by the seller. Capital Airport Customs stopped a passenger in the green channel with 710 g of gold that the passenger said was bought in China.
Overseas visitors can claim departure tax refunds at registered shops. Since April 2025 the minimum purchase is RMB 200 and cash refunds can be up to RMB 20,000. Ask the shop whether gold jewellery qualifies, and keep the invoice either way.
China to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the US
Hong Kong charges no duty on gold, so the main limit on a Hong Kong shopping trip is the mainland allowance on return: RMB 12,000 for adults, RMB 15,000 with arrival duty-free purchases, and a declaration for gold over 50 g. Gold bought in mainland China and taken abroad needs the special invoice once it is over 50 g. Japan requires every traveller to declare gold and charges 10% consumption tax on bars. South Korea, Singapore and the US have their own allowances. See the UAE if you are buying in Dubai.
Recent changes
1 July 2024 (six ports) and 1 August 2024 (all other ports): the allowance for residents arriving from Hong Kong and Macao rose to RMB 12,000, or RMB 15,000 with arrival duty-free shops. December 2024: new rules for taxing inbound articles under the Customs Tariff Law kept the RMB 5,000 and RMB 2,000 allowances and the rates, and raised the limit for parcels to RMB 2,000. 1 April 2025: new GAC baggage supervision rules (Decree No. 276) took effect. April 2025: departure tax refunds were widened. May 2026: Beijing Customs restated the 50 g exit rule after airport seizures.
Gold price in China today
Live rates →| 24K (999) | ¥830.46 / gram | ¥8,305 / 10 g |
|---|---|---|
| 22K (916) | ¥761.46 / gram | ¥7,615 / 10 g |
| 18K (750) | ¥623.47 / gram | ¥6,235 / 10 g |
Bringing Gold to China: FAQ
How much is 10 grams of 22K gold worth in China today?
About ¥7,615 at the international price converted to CNY (Oct 30, 2026, 21:55 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
How much gold can I bring into China duty-free?
Residents get RMB 5,000 of goods bought abroad (RMB 8,000 with arrival duty-free shop purchases), or RMB 12,000 (RMB 15,000) for adults arriving from Hong Kong or Macao. Non-residents get RMB 2,000 for goods that will stay in China. Gold above that is taxed at 13%.
Do I need to declare gold in China?
Yes, if it is over 50 g, on arrival and on departure. Also declare if your goods exceed the duty-free amount. Use the red channel.
How much gold can I take out of China?
Up to 50 g without declaring. Above 50 g you must declare it and show a People's Bank of China permit, your arrival declaration for gold you brought in, or the special invoice from the Chinese shop that sold it.
How much gold can I bring from Hong Kong to mainland China?
Hong Kong sets no limit. Mainland residents aged 18 or over get RMB 12,000 duty-free, or RMB 15,000 including arrival duty-free shops; above that gold is taxed at 13% and gold over 50 g must be declared. Frequent travellers get no allowance for gold.
What is the tax rate on gold jewellery brought into China?
The combined rate for personal articles is 13% for gold, silver and platinum items, 20% for diamond jewellery and 50% for other precious jewellery and gemstones.
Does gold count towards China's cash declaration?
No. The cash declaration covers RMB over 20,000 and foreign cash over US$5,000. Gold is declared as a restricted item when it is over 50 g.
Gold Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: Beijing Daily: Beijing Customs on taking gold out, 50 g rule (May 2026) · GAC Decree No. 276: baggage supervision measures from 1 April 2025 · Chongqing Government: duty-free allowances for personal articles (2026) · Ministry of Finance (PRC) Announcement No. 7 of 2024: Hong Kong and Macao allowance · Tariff Commission Announcement 2019: tax rates on inbound articles (reproduced) · China Daily: declare gold over 50 g on entry (2024) · Shanghai Government: customs clearance guide, cash limits. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: gold price in China · gold price by weight.