All visitors entering China must fill out customs declaration forms upon arrival. Reasonable amounts of money (currently up to USD$5,000), alcohol and cigarettes. Certain valuable items, such as camera equipment, computers, and gold, must be declared on the form.

Note: Tourists may bring 8mm,1/2 inch VHS, or small-format digital video camcorders by declaring the equipment upon entry, provided that the tapes produced in China are not intended for commercial use. But professional audio / video recording equipment requires special authorization. Importing arms and ammunition, culture, or ethnics is forbidden.