Line comparison
| Line | Speed | Pricing unit | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air express | 7–15 days | Per 0.5 kg block | High-value, small | Volumetric weight on puffers |
| Air economy | 12–25 days | Per kg | General apparel | Capacity pauses around holidays |
| Rail / truck | 25–45 days | Per kg, lower rate | Heavy, non-urgent | More customs variance |
| Sea | 40–70 days | Per kg or cbm | Bulky, bulk orders | Longest QC/reversal window |
| Tax-inclusive lines | varies | Higher per kg | Buyers avoiding customs admin | Category limits and weight caps |
Restrictions that split parcels
- Built-in batteries (TWS earbuds, smartwatches, speakers) usually cannot fly with general cargo.
- Liquids and perfume need a dedicated line, and many lines cap the value per parcel.
- Items with magnets, and anything with a brand mark that triggers inspection risk, are routed differently by line.
- Some tax-inclusive lines refuse shoes with metal shanks or refuse bags with chains.
Volumetric, the silent cost
Down jackets bill on volume, not weight. A 900 g parka in a 40×30×20 cm box is billed at ~4 kg on most express lines. Compress it, or put it at the bottom of a mixed box.
Practical planning: build the manifest before you pay, list each item’s weight class and restriction class, then choose the line and split the order rather than the shipment. Splitting at order time costs one domestic leg (~¥10); splitting at shipment time costs two international labels.
Two habits keep freight disputes short. Photograph the packed box on a scale before the label goes on, and keep the line’s published weight limits in the same thread as the quote. When a parcel is re-weighed at the hub, that photo is the difference between a surcharge you can argue and one you cannot.
yupoo.rest — Shipping From China: Lines, Weight Rules, Limits. Source and method: /methodology/