Hi all.  So I'm planning to move to China within the next 6 months, and I'm curious to know what the most cost efficient option would be for getting my belongings there.  When moving to a couple countries previously, including Thailand, I had to take literally 12 suitcases on my flight in, and pay a ton for that excess baggage fee.  I'm hoping that maybe I can just ship them to China ahead of time via a postal service.  Has anyone tried this at all and/or could perhaps recommend a company? 

 

If it wouldn't be too expensive, I'd even like to ship my 65" TV, exercise bike, and recliner, because honestly it sounds like selling used goods here in Bangkok is a nightmare and I'm worried they won't sell before leaving, otherwise I'd just sell them and buy them again, but I don't want to just leave them behind and then have to buy them all again, so might as well pay a bit extra and take them with me.  But again, depends on the price.  Any tips or pointers would be grately apperciated.

On 9/1/2025 at 3:50 PM, Spixe said:

Hi all.  So I'm planning to move to China within the next 6 months, and I'm curious to know what the most cost efficient option would be for getting my belongings there.  When moving to a couple countries previously, including Thailand, I had to take literally 12 suitcases on my flight in, and pay a ton for that excess baggage fee.  I'm hoping that maybe I can just ship them to China ahead of time via a postal service.  Has anyone tried this at all and/or could perhaps recommend a company? 

 

If it wouldn't be too expensive, I'd even like to ship my 65" TV, exercise bike, and recliner, because honestly it sounds like selling used goods here in Bangkok is a nightmare and I'm worried they won't sell before leaving, otherwise I'd just sell them and buy them again, but I don't want to just leave them behind and then have to buy them all again, so might as well pay a bit extra and take them with me.  But again, depends on the price.  Any tips or pointers would be grately apperciated.

As I see you'll move to a 3rd or 4th class country???😂😂😂

If I would be you I would sell all that stuff and buy what you need in China (Ali). 

Good luck. China is beautiful. The girls in particular. 

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

The girls in particular. 

 

I don't know. Not meaty enough for me and world experts in makeup ability.

 

 

Just now, Celsius said:

 

I don't know. Not meaty enough for me and world experts in makeup ability.

 

 

Very well educated. Many speak English and got a good job.

On 9/1/2025 at 3:50 PM, Spixe said:

Hi all.  So I'm planning to move to China within the next 6 months, and I'm curious to know what the most cost efficient option would be for getting my belongings there.  When moving to a couple countries previously, including Thailand, I had to take literally 12 suitcases on my flight in, and pay a ton for that excess baggage fee.  I'm hoping that maybe I can just ship them to China ahead of time via a postal service.  Has anyone tried this at all and/or could perhaps recommend a company? 

 

If it wouldn't be too expensive, I'd even like to ship my 65" TV, exercise bike, and recliner, because honestly it sounds like selling used goods here in Bangkok is a nightmare and I'm worried they won't sell before leaving, otherwise I'd just sell them and buy them again, but I don't want to just leave them behind and then have to buy them all again, so might as well pay a bit extra and take them with me.  But again, depends on the price.  Any tips or pointers would be grately apperciated.

I used a removal company a few years back - they offered the best prices with better than average service. They come in, pack everything and do all the paperwork. Santa Fe Shipping, was the name of the company.

On 9/1/2025 at 10:50 AM, Spixe said:

Hi all.  So I'm planning to move to China within the next 6 months, and I'm curious to know what the most cost efficient option would be for getting my belongings there.  When moving to a couple countries previously, including Thailand, I had to take literally 12 suitcases on my flight in, and pay a ton for that excess baggage fee.  I'm hoping that maybe I can just ship them to China ahead of time via a postal service.  Has anyone tried this at all and/or could perhaps recommend a company? 

 

If it wouldn't be too expensive, I'd even like to ship my 65" TV, exercise bike, and recliner, because honestly it sounds like selling used goods here in Bangkok is a nightmare and I'm worried they won't sell before leaving, otherwise I'd just sell them and buy them again, but I don't want to just leave them behind and then have to buy them all again, so might as well pay a bit extra and take them with me.  But again, depends on the price.  Any tips or pointers would be grately apperciated.

Are you Chinese?? If not, are you insane?? 🙄🙄

2 hours ago, harryviking said:

Are you Chinese?? If not, are you insane?? 🙄🙄

Why do you call him insane? You've never been there?

12 hours ago, Formaleins said:

I used a removal company a few years back - they offered the best prices with better than average service. They come in, pack everything and do all the paperwork. Santa Fe Shipping, was the name of the company.

Perfect info.  Thank you.  I'll look into them.

 

13 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

As I see you'll move to a 3rd or 4th class country???😂😂😂

If I would be you I would sell all that stuff and buy what you need in China (Ali). 

Good luck. China is beautiful. The girls in particular. 

That's the plan, but I'm worried I won't be able to sell it all here, as I've heard it can be quite difficult to sell things second-hand.  I'm thinking worst case scenario, instead of just leaving these things behind, if it would cost less to send them all rather than to buy them new, I might as well take that route.

Go on your local area facebook pages and scroll the pages for ad's where people can sell their stuff locally. 

 

China is a great choice as it is full of hotties. And with all the bad western food trends all over Asia, not to worry, All that excessive fat makes the new generations of Asian ladies a busty bunch. 😜

I used a shipping company when I moved from Chiang Mai.  Regular truck service between Yunnan province and Thailand.  Price was reasonable, cheaper than sending by post, door-to-door delivery.  This was clothing and books, no furniture.  Sorry, don't recall the name, try Facebook.

 

After pickup, I just rode my bicycle to China. 

You might consider taking the high-speed rail.

20 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Why do you call him insane? You've never been there?

🤪

On 9/8/2025 at 10:04 PM, NoDisplayName said:

I used a shipping company when I moved from Chiang Mai.  Regular truck service between Yunnan province and Thailand.  Price was reasonable, cheaper than sending by post, door-to-door delivery.  This was clothing and books, no furniture.  Sorry, don't recall the name, try Facebook.

 

After pickup, I just rode my bicycle to China. 

You might consider taking the high-speed rail.

It sounds great in theory but I wouldn't have a clue how to find this shipping company.  I've already contacted half a dozen, and they have all been quite expensive so far, making post look relatively cheap in comparison.  If there's any hints at all you can give me in finding the shipping company you used, it'd be very appreciated and useful.  Unfortunately, all I know from the post is that a good company exists, but I have no way to find them otherwise, ha.  Here's hoping for a tip on where or what to look for. 

On 9/8/2025 at 1:47 PM, harryviking said:

Are you Chinese?? If not, are you insane?? 🙄🙄

If you are in Thailand, you are insane

14 minutes ago, still kicking said:

If you are in Thailand, you are insane

Living in  Bangkok or any larger city in China?

 

Can't see there should be any worse. 

Just now, Hummin said:

Living in  Bangkok or any larger city in China?

 

Can't see there should be any worse. 

No, I'm just replying to some poster 

 

travelwise, i took the train from hanoi to kunming, it was 25 years ago but a great journey, there was only me and a japanese guy left on the train as we crossed the border. there was a delay so the conductor took us out for food - so we knew the train wouldn't leave without us😁 . few years later went on to work in china, quite a place. enjoy.

14 hours ago, Spixe said:

Here's hoping for a tip on where or what to look for.

 

There must be thousands of small trucking businesses doing weekly, if not daily, runs between northern thighland and China.

 

Where are you located now, and what is your China destination?

 

Odds are they're more likely to have space available on the trip north.

 

Get a thigh friend to fire up Facebook and search for a local service.  If you have no friends, take a ride on the ring road outside town, look for shipping companies that have Chinese character signs......

 

In the meantime, check on Taobao for prices of new replacement items in China.  You may find some of those larger items will cost more to ship than to buy anew.

10 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

There must be thousands of small trucking businesses doing weekly, if not daily, runs between northern thighland and China.

 

Where are you located now, and what is your China destination?

 

Odds are they're more likely to have space available on the trip north.

 

Get a thigh friend to fire up Facebook and search for a local service.  If you have no friends, take a ride on the ring road outside town, look for shipping companies that have Chinese character signs......

 

In the meantime, check on Taobao for prices of new replacement items in China.  You may find some of those larger items will cost more to ship than to buy anew.

Located in central Bangkok, going to Xiamen, Fujian province.  

 

Finding a truck like that sounds like a great idea.  I'll probably try to sell my bigger items and re-buy them in China, but I still have a good 1.5'ish CBM at around 150kg of items I need to get to China affordably.  What abouts should my Thai friend be searching for, something like "shipping companies to China" or even "Chinese shipping companies"?  Thanks again for the tip.

10 minutes ago, Spixe said:

I'll probably try to sell my bigger items and re-buy them in China, but I still have a good 1.5'ish CBM at around 150kg of items I need to get to China affordably. 

 

Before you go to all the trouble of finding a shipping company, check Thai Post for parcel shipments to China.

 

Only 150 kg?  Split it into 10 15-kg parcels, send surface.  I did that on two of my moves to thailand.  Sent multiple 10-12kg parcels by China Post.  Inexpensive, not opened by customs, no customs fees charged.

 

https://international.thailandpost.com/services/international-post-service/?lang=en

 

If sending to Xiamen, ship transport is also an option.  Probably cheaper than truck, but will take an extra week or so.

<<double post>>

14 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Before you go to all the trouble of finding a shipping company, check Thai Post for parcel shipments to China.

 

Only 150 kg?  Split it into 10 15-kg parcels, send surface.  I did that on two of my moves to thailand.  Sent multiple 10-12kg parcels by China Post.  Inexpensive, not opened by customs, no customs fees charged.

 

https://international.thailandpost.com/services/international-post-service/?lang=en

 

If sending to Xiamen, ship transport is also an option.  Probably cheaper than truck, but will take an extra week or so.

Thanks a ton for the link.  I've been meaning to go down there and ask, as everything I looked up online came to naught.  That's a huge help. 

 

I wouldn't mind the ship transport option also.  Mind if I ask, how might I go about finding this option?  I haven't a clue what to search for in this case, but I'll jump on it if I can find it, as it sounds like the least expensive way so far.  I'll be checking out Thailand post in the meantime.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Why the F would you want to move there to this increasingly authoritarian monster of a country? You'll last about a couple of months... it's a dystopian mess. Don't just watch some YouTube nonsense influencer that has been paid to make the place look rosey... it's a joke. Go for it if you want, but for me, never in a million years.

 

You, and many others on this thread, seem to falsely assume I've never been there and have no idea what I'm getting into.  I've lived there for 20 years, and only moved away 2 years ago to work in other countries.  Now I'm going back.  I know what to expect.  Just looking for advice on logistics of moving, not for advice about life in China.  Thanks anyway.

31 minutes ago, Sir Dude said:

Why the F would you want to move there to this increasingly authoritarian monster of a country? You'll last about a couple of months... it's a dystopian mess. Don't just watch some YouTube nonsense influencer that has been paid to make the place look rosey... it's a joke. Go for it if you want, but for me, never in a million years.

 

Everyday life, for expats at least, is no more authoritarian than living in Europe or America or Thailand.

 

I lived there for 'bout 15 years, various locations in Yunnan, Guangxi and Hainan.  Survived the Covids with a minimal 2-week limited lockdown.

 

Immigration there is a breeze.  The local officials follow the written rules, don't take bribes, and no need for agents.  If they ever offer a NON-O style retirement visa.....................

10 minutes ago, Spixe said:

I wouldn't mind the ship transport option also.  Mind if I ask, how might I go about finding this option?  I haven't a clue what to search for in this case, but I'll jump on it if I can find it, as it sounds like the least expensive way so far.  I'll be checking out Thailand post in the meantime.

 

Google offers a multitude of shippers.  Most are high volume, but some will have space available in partial containers.

 

This one has online quotes for your household goods.  A little expensive..........3 X-large boxes around 8000 baht plus 1000 RMB at destination.

 

https://www.sevenseasworldwide.com/

 

You'd have to compare that to Thai Post and small trucking companies.  Easy to find a truck to Kunming, Xiaman not as readily available.

 

I found a photo of the shipper in Chiang Mai.

 

Just spitballing here, but you may want to head over to Chatuchuk market and talk to one of the global shippers who send stuff all over the world.  If they can ship a life sized bronze statue of an elephant, they can do 1.5 M3 and a few hundred kg.

 

I've been (mostly) in Tianjin since the month after they opened back up to tourism post Covid in 2023.  It's okay, but not the same as pre-Covid.  I'd say that 75% of the foreigners never came back.  I have zero western foreigners in my apartment/townhouse/villa community.   Partly because of changes in the nature of JVs and global trade in general.  Not so many western multi-national companies hiring expats nowadays, at least for Tianjin.  Still lots of Japanese and Korean expats, but they have their own cliques.

 

 If you've got a job lined up, it's fine.  Most of the foreigners I meet now in church are teachers and their families. 

Off topic troll posts were removed.

 

10. You will not post troll messages. Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonizing forum members by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other members into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

I used these when I moved to Thailand. they were the incoming movers who brought my things to my house. They also ship out, so you might talk to them about prices...............https://www.boonma.com/pages/international-move

On 9/11/2025 at 5:04 PM, fredwiggy said:

I used these when I moved to Thailand. they were the incoming movers who brought my things to my house. They also ship out, so you might talk to them about prices...............https://www.boonma.com/pages/international-move

Thanks a ton for recommendation and for the link to boot.  Very helpful.  Will ask them.  Much obliged.