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.
필요한 것
- 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.
팁 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.
주의 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.
팁 Stick to chains and hospitals — skip tiny tourist-area shops.
자주 생기는 문제
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.
검증일 June 2026. 공식 안내가 아니라 계획에 도움을 주기 위한 정보예요 — 규정과 앱 화면은 바뀌니, 중요한 내용은 의지하기 전에 꼭 직접 확인하세요.