Bringing medication into China
One rule decides everything: a home prescription does not make a drug legal in China — customs enforces Chinese law. Most everyday medicine is fine, though, and the few exceptions are easy to plan around. Use the quick check below, then the three steps.
Fine to bring
Paracetamol/acetaminophen, ibuprofen, anti-diarrheals (loperamide/Imodium), antihistamines, rehydration salts — and your routine prescription meds, kept in their labelled box with a doctor's note.
Allowed — but bring proof
Sleeping pills and sedatives (e.g. benzodiazepines like Xanax or Valium) and other psychotropics. Travel with a genuine personal-use amount only, carry the prescription + doctor's letter, and declare them at customs.
Leave home — or get a permit first
ADHD stimulants (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse), codeine and strong opioids, pseudoephedrine cold meds (Sudafed), and CBD/cannabis. CBD is banned outright; the controlled ones may need an embassy import permit arranged weeks ahead.
What you need
- Your prescription meds in their original, labelled pharmacy packaging
- A doctor's letter — name, condition, drug (generic + brand), dosage, and that it's for personal use; ideally translated into Chinese
- A copy of your prescription
- Two minutes to run your meds past the traffic-light check above
1 · Pack the right kit
- 1
Bring the basics
Western brands are hard to match locally, so pack your own: pain/fever relief, an anti-diarrheal, rehydration salts, an antihistamine, motion-sickness tablets. Birth control, tampons and condoms are worth bringing too.
Tip Travelers' diarrhea is the #1 complaint — the anti-diarrheal earns its place.
- 2
Skip pseudoephedrine cold meds
Sudafed-type decongestants are restricted. Pack a 'PE' (phenylephrine) version, or just buy a local cold remedy on arrival.
Watch out Also check combo cold syrups don't contain codeine.
- 3
Enough for the trip, in its box
Bring a reasonable personal-use amount, left in its original labelled packaging. Loose, unlabelled pills are harder to explain at customs.
2 · Carry the paperwork
- 1
A doctor's letter (translated)
One signed letter: your name, condition, each drug's generic + brand name, dosage, and that it's for personal use. A Chinese translation helps a lot — keep a copy of the prescription with it.
- 2
Declare anything controlled
Carrying a caution-list medicine or a large amount? Declare it. For a banned or tightly-controlled drug, ask the Chinese embassy first — a permit can take weeks.
- 3
Carry it — don't mail it
Posted medicine is scrutinised far more than what's in your bag, and is often seized. Keep it in your carry-on.
3 · Buy it in China
- 1
Find a pharmacy
Look for a green cross and 药店 / 大药房. Big chains — 老百姓, 大参林, 海王星辰, 一心堂 — are regulated and safe; some run 24 hours in big cities.
- 2
Show the Chinese name
Type the medicine into a translation app and show staff. Most things are over the counter; antibiotics are the exception (local prescription needed). The cards below have the names.
- 3
Hospitals & emergencies
For prescription-only meds or a specific Western brand, use a hospital pharmacy. In an emergency, dial 120.
Tip Stick to chains and hospitals — skip tiny tourist-area shops.
Common medicines you can buy in China
Recognise these names on the shelf, or show them to a pharmacist. Pinyin is included so you can say or search them.
Cold & flu
- 白加黑bái jiā hēiDay/night cold & flu tablets
- 新康泰克xīn kāng tài kèCold & blocked-nose relief (New Contac)
- 连花清瘟lián huā qīng wēnHerbal cold/flu capsules
- 板蓝根bǎn lán gēnHerbal granules for early cold/sore throat
Throat & cough
- 金嗓子喉片jīn sǎng zi hóu piànSore-throat lozenges
- 西瓜霜xī guā shuāngThroat spray / lozenge
- 川贝枇杷膏chuān bèi pí pá gāoCough & throat syrup (Pei Pa Koa)
Pain & fever
- 布洛芬bù luò fēnIbuprofen
- 对乙酰氨基酚duì yǐ xiān ān jī fēnParacetamol / acetaminophen
- 芬必得fēn bì déIbuprofen capsules (Fenbid)
- 泰诺tài nuòTylenol-brand cold/pain
Stomach & gut
- 蒙脱石散méng tuō shí sànAnti-diarrheal sachets (Smecta)
- 黄连素huáng lián sùBerberine, for diarrhea
- 铝碳酸镁lǚ tàn suān měiAntacid for reflux (Talcid)
- 健胃消食片jiàn wèi xiāo shí piànIndigestion / bloating tablets
Allergy
- 氯雷他定lǜ léi tā dìngLoratadine (non-drowsy)
- 西替利嗪xī tì lì qínCetirizine
First aid
- 创可贴chuàng kě tiēAdhesive bandages / plasters
- 碘伏diǎn fúIodine antiseptic
- 口服补液盐kǒu fú bǔ yè yánOral rehydration salts
Common problems
Isn't my home prescription enough to bring any medication?
No. Customs enforces Chinese law, not your home pharmacy's. A prescription helps prove personal use for medicines that are merely controlled, but it does not make a banned drug (like ADHD stimulants or CBD) legal to bring in.
I take ADHD medication. What are my options?
Don't simply pack Adderall, Ritalin or Vyvanse — they're essentially banned. Discuss with your doctor first: a planned short break, a non-stimulant alternative, or, if essential, ask the Chinese embassy about an import permit (slow and often denied). Plan months ahead.
How much can I bring?
A 'reasonable quantity' for personal use — there's no fixed national day-limit for ordinary prescription medicine, so match it roughly to your trip length and carry the prescription. Avoid bulk amounts that look commercial.
Do I need a prescription to buy medicine there?
Not for most everyday medicine — cold, stomach, pain and allergy products are sold over the counter at any pharmacy. Antibiotics are the main exception: they now require a prescription from a licensed Chinese doctor.
Checked June 2026. A planning aid, not official advice — rules and app flows change, so confirm anything critical before you rely on it.