China Post (中国邮政) is the official postal service of the People's Republic of China. It ranks among the largest postal operators globally, handling billions of mail items and parcels every year. The service covers both domestic and international deliveries.
The network includes numerous post offices and processing centers across urban and rural China. For international shipments, China Post provides several service options: Air Mail for standard letters and small parcels, EMS for express delivery, SAL as a mid-speed option balancing cost and time, and Surface Mail for economical shipping of non-urgent items.
Each shipment receives a unique tracking number, usually starting with letters such as RB, RC, or LM, containing 13 characters for international parcels, and ending with "CN" to indicate origin. This tracking system allows customers to follow their packages throughout the delivery process.
China Post partners with postal services worldwide and is a member of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). This ensures smooth international operations and consistent tracking updates across borders.
Delivery times depend on the chosen service and destination. EMS typically delivers within 5 to 10 business days, Air Mail takes around 10 to 20 days, while Surface Mail can require 30 to 60 days. Customs clearance and local postal conditions may affect these times.
Tracking statuses include key updates like "Posted," "Departed from originating country," "Arrived at destination country," "Customs clearance," "Out for delivery," and "Delivered." Updates may appear in English and Chinese.
If a package is held in customs, additional documents or import fees might be necessary. In such cases, contacting the local postal or customs office with the tracking number helps resolve issues.