Practical Aspects of Mailing and Consigning Specialty Products
How to take home what you bought: which items can be brought on a plane, which can only be transported by land, delivery timeframes, and packaging standards. The logistics of sending specialty products by mail or consigning them is part of the Xinjiang travel pre-trip preparation series: it explains practical issues such as season and duration, documents and border permits, car hire and transportation, payment and internet access, as well as food and accommodation, all at once, so you can check off each item before departure.
Aviation Red Lines
Knives (such as Yingjisha small knives) cannot be carried on or checked in; excessive amounts of hair spray and certain aerosols are prohibited; alcohol is limited to 2 bottles checked in according to the alcohol content rules; raisins and other dried fruits can be carried on or checked in, properly sealed to prevent odors.
Land Transport Channels
Knives, large carpets, and excess alcohol should be shipped by land courier or logistics. Both Urumqi and Kashgar have distribution points, with delivery to the mainland in 3–7 days; choose channels that offer insurance and tracking, and high-value jade products should be shipped with insurance.
Packing Standards
Dried fruits should be vacuum-packed and placed in cardboard boxes for compression protection; fruits for shipping should use foam nets and hard boxes; knives in their original boxes with wooden frames; carpets rolled up.
Tax Refunds and Receipts
Xinjiang does not yet have routine departure tax refunds. Foreign travelers making large purchases should keep receipts and merchant information; jade products must include certification, and retain tracking numbers for courier shipments.