China
VERIFIED · MAY 202638 ENTRIESEAST ASIA
China is in East Asia. Review the laws below before your trip — every entry has a source link, and the verdict layer is sorted worst-first.
HEADS UP
Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty. VPN use is technically restricted but rarely enforced against tourists. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are separate legal systems — entries here cover mainland China only.
DO NOT BRING
Pro-Tibet/Xinjiang/Falun Gong material · Public political protest · Bibles in commercial quantities
Medications
10 entriesSubstances
6 entriesItems
7 entriesActivities
7 entriesDigital
5 entriesCOMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
- VPN is not actively enforced against tourists in practice, but it remains technically restricted — using it for political content carries real risk.
- CBD with 0% THC is still treated as cannabis at Chinese customs — Western legality does not transfer.
- WeChat is not a private channel — chats have been used as evidence in detentions.
JURISDICTION NOTES
- Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are separate legal systems — see those country pages for their rules.
- Enforcement and ad-hoc rules vary between Tier 1 cities (Beijing, Shanghai) and provincial regions.
- Foreign-business and student visas come with their own restrictions on political activity.
OFFICIAL SOURCES
Last verified · May 2026
Information only. Not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies — consult a qualified attorney for your jurisdiction before acting.