In-trip recovery
In short
From a rule issued jointly by the postal, public security and state security authorities. Its appendix is a guidance catalogue of nineteen classes of items that may not enter the delivery channel, and the classes a visitor actually runs into are named in it: lighters and other flammable gases, aerosol cans, alcohol and solvents, matches and solid fuel, controlled knives and stun devices, and ivory, tiger bone and rhinoceros horn. The counter is required to inspect on the spot whether what you are sending is a prohibited item and whether its name, nature and quantity match the waybill (第八条), and the company has to display the provisions and the catalogue at its premises (第六条). If a prohibited item surfaces after the parcel has been accepted, the company must halt despatch and report immediately to the local postal administration department, then report by category under the eleven limbs of 第十一条.
Back to the checklist hubApplies to
Providing and using delivery services within China, and the supervision of that activity, which is the scope 第二条第一款 of the provisions sets for itself.
Check before you rely on it
Two things this page does not claim. The provisions are silent on how a refused article gets back to its sender and on whether the carriage is refunded, so neither is stated. And they establish no identity check on the sender: the implementing measures on real-name acceptance of mail and express items were not opened in this pass, so this site publishes no rule about identity registration at a Chinese courier counter.
Information checked:
This page is the domestic channel. If the parcel is leaving the country, a second set of rules applies on top of these, and the provisions say so themselves.
The published sequence
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
Read this before you argue at the counter
Each of these is in the text of the provisions or their appendix, not in a branch manager's discretion.
The appendix
Quoted as the class headings read on the two first-party pages, in the original numbering. The catalogue is the appendix 第三条 points to for the specifics, and 第十三条 leaves it open to adjustment in due course — so it is shown with its source and date rather than as a standing list.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
Official source: State Council Gazette (www.gov.cn/gongbao/), issue 2017年第20号 — 邮政局 公安部 安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 禁止寄递物品管理规定 — the same text in the State Council Gazette, 2017年第20号, carrying the document number 国邮发〔2016〕107号 (source 2016-11-07; read October 16, 2026)
The ones travellers actually hit
These are the items security takes off people at a station or an airport, which is usually the moment somebody asks whether it can be posted instead. The catalogue names them, so the answer is no.
1．易燃气体：如氢气、甲烷、乙烷、丁烷、天然气、液化石油气、乙烯、丙烯、乙炔、打火机等。
打火机 — a lighter — is named in the catalogue itself, under class 四.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
3．易爆或者窒息、助燃气体：如压缩氧气、氮气、氦气、氖气、气雾剂等。
气雾剂 covers the aerosol cans people try to post after security takes them away.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
如汽油、柴油、煤油、桐油、丙酮、乙醚、油漆、生漆、苯、酒精、松香油等。
Class 五 is flammable liquids, and 酒精 — alcohol — is in the list of examples.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
1．易燃固体：如红磷、硫磺、铝粉、闪光粉、固体酒精、火柴、活性炭等。
火柴 — matches — and 固体酒精, solid fuel, sit in class 六.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
1．管制刀具：如匕首、三棱刮刀、带有自锁装置的弹簧刀（跳刀）、其他相类似的单刃、双刃、三棱尖刀等。
Class 二 also lists 『2．其他：如弩、催泪器、催泪枪、电击器等。』 — crossbows, tear-gas devices and stun devices.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
如象牙、虎骨、犀牛角及其制品等。
Class 十七 is endangered wildlife and products made from it, and these three are its named examples.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
The published facts
Each line links the official page and the day we read it. Sources read 2026-10-16.
第二条第一款: 『在中华人民共和国境内提供和使用寄递服务活动，以及相关监督管理工作适用本规定。』 These provisions govern providing and using delivery services within China, and the supervision of that activity. A parcel crossing the border runs into a separate instrument as well.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第二条第二款 is the seam between this page and the customs one: 『法律、行政法规以及国务院和国务院有关部门对禁止进出境物品另有规定的，适用其规定。』 Where laws, administrative regulations or the State Council and its departments provide otherwise for articles prohibited from entering or leaving the country, those provisions apply. This is why something you may legally post across a Chinese city can still be stopped on its way out.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第三条: 『本规定所称禁止寄递物品（以下简称禁寄物品），主要包括：（一）危害国家安全、扰乱社会秩序、破坏社会稳定的各类物品；（二）危及寄递安全的爆炸性、易燃性、腐蚀性、毒害性、感染性、放射性等各类物品；（三）法律、行政法规以及国务院和国务院有关部门规定禁止寄递的其他物品。』 and then 『具体禁寄物品详见附录《禁止寄递物品指导目录》。』 The three heads are the definition; the appendix is where the detail lives.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第五条: 『用户交寄邮件、快件应当遵守法律、行政法规以及国务院和国务院有关部门关于禁寄物品的规定，不得交寄禁寄物品，不得在邮件、快件内夹带禁寄物品，不得将禁寄物品匿报或者谎报为其他物品交寄。』 Not consigning one, not slipping one inside, and not consigning one under a concealed or false description are separate prohibitions.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第八条: 『寄递企业应当严格执行收寄验视制度，依法当场验视用户交寄的物品是否属于禁寄物品，以及物品的名称、性质、数量等是否与寄递详情单所填写的内容一致，防止禁寄物品进入寄递渠道。』 What is inspected is the article — whether it is prohibited, and whether its name, nature and quantity match the waybill. The provision does not establish any check on who you are.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第九条: 『寄递企业应当建立健全安全检查制度，配备符合国家标准或者行业标准的安全检查设备，安排具备专业技术和技能的人员对邮件、快件进行安全检查。』 第七条 adds a training duty and the line that untrained staff may not be put on the job: 『未经安全教育和培训的从业人员不得上岗作业。』
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第六条: 『寄递企业应当在其营业场所公示并以其他方式向社会公布本规定及相关指导目录。』 The company is to display these provisions and the relevant guidance catalogue at its business premises and publicise them by other means. 第十条 separately requires a disposal plan for prohibited items, kept current and filed with the postal administration department.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第十一条 opens with 『寄递企业完成收寄后发现禁寄物品或者疑似禁寄物品的，应当停止发运，立即报告事发地邮政管理部门，并按下列规定处理：』 — halt despatch, report immediately to the postal administration department of the place concerned, then follow the eleven limbs. 第十一条第（八）项 is the one that reaches the customs side: 『发现各类禁止进出境物品的，应当及时报告海关、国家安全、出入境检验检疫等部门；』
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第十二条: 『邮政管理部门接到寄递企业发现禁寄物品的报告后，应当按规定向上级部门报告，并视情况联合公安、国家安全、卫生防疫、海关、检验检疫、新闻出版、工商行政管理、安全生产监督管理、野生动物行政主管等部门相互配合、依法处置。』 It reports upward and, as the situation requires, handles the matter jointly with the named departments.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第十六条: 『用户违反本规定，在邮件、快件内夹带禁寄物品，将禁寄物品匿报或者谎报为其他物品交寄，造成人身伤害或者财产损失的，依法承担赔偿责任；构成犯罪的，依法追究刑事责任；尚不构成犯罪的，依照《中华人民共和国治安管理处罚法》及有关法律、行政法规的规定处罚。』 Civil liability where injury or loss results, criminal liability where it amounts to a crime, and public-security penalties where it does not. 第十五条 does the same for a company that accepts a prohibited item unlawfully.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第十三条: 『禁寄物品指导目录由国务院邮政管理部门会同有关部门确定、公布，并适时调整。』 The catalogue quoted on this page is the nineteen-class appendix carried by both first-party pages read in this pass. Whether it has since been adjusted is set out in the could-not-confirm block below.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
第十七条 is identical on both first-party pages: 『本规定自发布之日起施行。国家邮政局2007年11月6日发布的《禁寄物品指导目录及处理办法（试行）》（国邮发〔2007〕152号）同时废止。』 The provisions take effect on the date of promulgation, and the 2007 trial catalogue and handling measures are repealed at the same time.
Official source: State Council Gazette (www.gov.cn/gongbao/), issue 2017年第20号 — 邮政局 公安部 安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 禁止寄递物品管理规定 — the same text in the State Council Gazette, 2017年第20号, carrying the document number 国邮发〔2016〕107号 (source 2016-11-07; read October 16, 2026)
The State Council Gazette copy carries 『国邮发〔2016〕107号』 on its own line, is signed 『2016年11月7日』, and names the issuing bodies in three lines as 『邮 政 局』『公 安 部』『安 全 部』. The State Post Bureau page carrying the same text carries no document number for this instrument — the only number in it is the repealed 国邮发〔2007〕152号 — and is labelled 2016-12-16. The two first-party readings are 39 days apart, 第十七条 ties commencement to the date of promulgation, and this site does not pick between them.
Official source: State Council Gazette (www.gov.cn/gongbao/), issue 2017年第20号 — 邮政局 公安部 安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 禁止寄递物品管理规定 — the same text in the State Council Gazette, 2017年第20号, carrying the document number 国邮发〔2016〕107号 (source 2016-11-07; read October 16, 2026)
Class 18 of the catalogue is 禁止进出境物品, glossed in the appendix itself as 『如有碍人畜健康的、来自疫区的以及其他能传播疾病的食品、药品或者其他物品；内容涉及国家秘密的文件、资料及其他物品。』 — examples, not the table. Class 19 then names the instruments outright: 『《危险化学品目录》《民用爆炸物品品名表》《易制爆危险化学品名录》《易制毒化学品的分类和品种目录》《中华人民共和国禁止进出境物品表》载明的物品和《人间传染的病原微生物名录》载明的第一、二类病原微生物等，以及法律、行政法规、国务院和国务院有关部门规定禁止寄递的其他物品。』 So articles on the customs prohibited table are prohibited in the domestic channel too.
Official source: State Post Bureau of China (www.spb.gov.cn), notices section — 国家邮政局 公安部 国家安全部关于发布《禁止寄递物品管理规定》的通告 — the notice promulgating the Provisions on the Administration of Items Prohibited from Postal and Courier Carriage, with the 十七条 rule and the 十九类 appendix 《禁止寄递物品指导目录》 (source 2016-12-16; read October 16, 2026)
In short
Whether the counter may open it, whether posting beats security, what happens after acceptance, what you get back, and which date the rule started.
It is required of them. 第八条 obliges a delivery company to inspect on the spot whether what you are consigning is a prohibited item and whether its name, nature and quantity match the waybill. 第九条 adds screening equipment to national or industry standard and staff qualified to operate it.
No. 打火机 appears by name in class 四 of the guidance catalogue, among flammable gases. Alcohol, matches, solid fuel and aerosol cans are likewise named in the examples under classes 五, 六 and 四, so the posting route is closed for the same items.
第十一条 requires the company to halt despatch and report immediately to the postal administration department of the place concerned, then to report by category under eleven limbs — police, state security, customs, environmental, health, publishing and wildlife authorities among them. 第十二条 has the postal administration department report upward and handle the matter jointly with those departments.
The provisions do not say. They take the company as far as halting despatch, reporting and handling under a filed disposal plan, and they are silent on returning the article to the sender or refunding the carriage. This site does not fill that in.
This site could not confirm that on a first-party page. The implementing measures on real-name acceptance of mail and express items were not opened in this pass. The two provisions in hand that touch identity are not it: 第八条 of these provisions inspects the article, not the person, and the customs express measures put an identity-document photocopy into the operator filing for a cross-border consignment. Neither is a domestic registration regime, and neither is presented as one here.
第十七条 says 『本规定自发布之日起施行。』 — on the date of promulgation. Two first-party pages then disagree about that date: the gazette copy carries the document number 国邮发〔2016〕107号 and is signed 2016年11月7日, while the State Post Bureau page carrying the same text is labelled 2016-12-16 and carries no document number for the instrument. This site states both and picks neither.
Could not confirm
The gaps are where you would most want an answer: what happens to the thing after it is refused, and whether the counter checks who you are. The provisions are silent on the first, and the instrument that would settle the second was not opened in this pass.
The customs side: who may run the cross-border channel, the prohibited and restricted tables, and the three-hour outbound declaration.
Open pageWhere most of these items are taken off people in the first place, plus the station consignment counter.
Open pageThe other place a lighter, an aerosol can or a bottle of alcohol gets stopped.
Open pageThe one item with its own rule, where posting it on is also not the workaround people hope for.
Open pageClass 十七 and the customs tables both reach into this. The permit question has its own page.
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