How to Send Christmas Gifts to China in 2023 (expats or locals)

Christmas is around the corner, if you’re looking to send a gift to somebody in China, it can feel a bit overwhelming. How can you send a Christmas gift to an expat who lives in China, a Chinese friend or even a Chinese business colleague…especially during a global pandemic? I’d like to walk you through a couple of my favorite options.

There are a number of different ways that you can send a Christmas gift to China from anywhere in the world.

Although it’s similar to sending a gift to China for Chinese New Year, Christmas is often easier to remember if you don’t live in China.

Some people wonder whether or not China celebrates Christmas, and the short answer is – maybe.

Sending a gift to people in China is a great way to build relationships and to let somebody know you’re thinking about them. Here are the best ways in my opinion to send a Christmas gift to China.

*Note* Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means that at no extra cost to you, I may be compensated if you choose to purchase an item listed below.

Use Your Local Postal Service to Send a Package to China

No matter which country you call home, using your local postal service is actually a pretty good option to consider for sending a Christmas gift to China.

It’s reliable but can end up being expensive if you don’t plan far in advance.

IMPORTANT: In order to send a gift via post, you’ll need to speak with the person to whom you’re sending the gift and ask them for their contact details (it ruins any surprise, I know, but you don’t have much choice).

Here’s what you’ll want:

• Address in Chinese and Pinyin: The Pinyin will be required for any customs forms, but if you want the package to actually be delivered quickly, you’ll also want the Chinese address taped somewhere on the box.
• Phone Number: Deliveries in China are rarely brought directly to the address. Often, all packages are brought to a central location and the delivery man calls the phone number to let you know where to pick it up. If there is no phone number on the package, it might not get delivered!

If you’re reading this in December and hoping to send a package to China, you’re going to have to pay a lot of money for expedited shipping.

In my experience, an international package usually takes between two weeks and a month to arrive in China (depending on customs).

It’s best to consider using a local postal service if you can plan at least a month ahead.

As a side note, if you’re looking for some good gift ideas, I’ve created a fun list of the best gifts for travelers that might be helpful.

Use an Online Gifting Service for China Gifts

Most people don’t know that there’s a way to get a quality gift delivered to China for Christmas that can be delivered in about 3 days.

The catch? It’s a bit more expensive.

But yes, it can still be delivered in spite of the pandemic!

Using a service like GiftBasketOverseas, you can choose a number of different options that include, but aren’t limited to: flowers, chocolates, high-quality liquor, baskets of food, etc.

Like I said earlier, the baskets can be a bit pricy, but you don’t have to worry about customs, you can do the whole transaction online in a few minutes, and it gets delivered to the door in a matter of days, not weeks.

If you’re buying a Christmas gift for a Chinese person, using GiftBasketOverseas works well because they offer gifts that most Chinese people either can’t get or can’t easily get.

This is attractive because it makes you look like a very good friend/colleague/loved one. 🙂

Visit GiftBasketOverseas to Learn More

(Use code CHINA18 for 18% off any order!)

Purchase Through a Chinese Shopping Portal

If you’re super-savvy, it’s possible to purchase items through Chinese shopping portals such as Taobao, JD.com, TMall and others.

Note: I didn’t say it was easy…but it is possible. (while it is possible to use Amazon in China for streaming, you can’t have items delivered)

By purchasing online through a Chinese portal, not only can you save money on shipping, it also gets delivered so much faster.

Granted, as somebody who has purchased quite a few items online here in China, there are some definite drawbacks, not the least of which is a selection that is mostly geared toward Chinese people, not foreigners.

Also, most of these websites don’t offer an English-language alternative, so you’ll need to be able to read Chinese.

Note: It is possible to purchase on some of these sites using an international credit card, but it’s not always simple to set up. 

Consider Gift Cards for Expat Friends in China

It’s not always the best idea, but gift cards can sometimes work as a Christmas gift for people in China.

This is especially true if the recipient is a foreigner.

As an expat in China, I can tell you that I’m never sad when somebody sends me a gift card to Amazon or Apple. I still buy books for my devices and I enjoy renting movies through iTunes.

The trick is that you can’t buy gift cards for one country to be used in another country.

This is a bit confusing, so let me explain.

If I’m a US citizen whose devices are all purchased and registered in the US, then buying me a gift card in the US works just fine.

However, if your friend is Chinese who bought their iPhone in China and uses the Chinese Apple store, the gift card you purchase in the US won’t work. The same goes for Starbucks gift cards, Amazon gift cards, and many others.

Thoughts on Sending a Christmas Gift to China

Even though it takes time and can sometimes be annoying, don’t give up on giving gifts to your friends or loved ones in China!

It’s even appropriate to send gifts to Chinese business associates. We still celebrate Christmas and I can tell you from experience that we love getting packages 😉

Whether you use your local post office, an online gifting service, a Chinese shopping portal or a simple gift card, take some time to remember the people who are living overseas.

It will make a huge impression on us foreigners and an even bigger impression on your Chinese friend or business colleague that you took the time and effort to send a Christmas gift to China.