Antiquities 🇨🇳 China
Export of cultural relics strictly controlled
Can I bring Antiquities into China?
Export of cultural relics strictly controlled
Full details
China strictly controls the export of cultural relics under the Cultural Relics Protection Law. Items predating 1949 generally cannot be exported without State Administration of Cultural Heritage approval. Customs actively inspects for cultural property.
Active — Customs actively enforces this rule.
Leaving China with antiquities
China's Law on Protection of Cultural Relics (2002, revised 2017) prohibits export of Grade 1, 2, or 3 nationally protected relics and any item over 100 years old. Items 50–100 years old require a cultural relic exit inspection certificate (wenwu churujing shenhe) from NCHA (National Cultural Heritage Administration). Criminal Law Article 151 imposes 5–15 years imprisonment or life imprisonment for serious smuggling of cultural relics. China is a UNESCO 1970 and UNIDROIT 1995 Convention signatory.
Do not attempt to export items that could be considered cultural relics without SACH approval.
- SACH export approval for pre-1949 items
Cultural Relics Protection Law
This page covers destination customs rules in China. Whether you can carry antiquities through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Antiquities rules in other countries
Antiquities
🇮🇹 Italy
Export of cultural property strictly controlled
Antiquities
🇪🇬 Egypt
Strict export ban on all antiquities
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🇯🇵 Japan
Important Cultural Properties restricted
Antiquities
🇺🇸 United States
Antiquities may require documentation or declaration
Antiquities
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Antiquities may require documentation or declaration
Antiquities
🇨🇦 Canada
Antiquities may require documentation or declaration