Bringing American (Wisconsin) ginseng to China can be challenging due to strict Chinese customs regulations. Officially, American ginseng is a CITES Appendix II plant (endangered species) and is generally prohibited to enter China without proper permits. However, many travelers successfully carry dried, cultivated ginseng (artificially grown 花旗参/西洋参) for personal use by adhering to limits and documentation. This guide explains the rules and provides step-by-step instructions (in both English and 中文) for travelers and Marathon Ginseng customers. We cover Chinese customs limits (个人用途 vs 商业), required paperwork (invoice, origin certificate, CITES license if needed), and how Marathon Ginseng's services can help (export certificates, China delivery, VIP customs assurance, Hong Kong handoff, etc.).
Step 1: Check Chinese Customs Regulations // 第一步：了解中国海关规定
English: Chinese customs treat American ginseng as a controlled plant. According to official guidance, "American ginseng cannot be taken into China". In practice, wild or fresh ginseng is strictly forbidden without permits, while dried, cultivated ginseng for personal use is usually tolerated under limits. Chinese law does not explicitly list dried cultivated ginseng as banned, but it is a CITES Appendix II species. This means you need a CITES export certificate if exporting via mail or bringing large quantities. The safe approach is to confirm the latest regulations and to declare any ginseng at customs if asked. (Per Chinese law, baggage for personal use should be for "reasonable quantity" and is subject to inspection; prohibited items found must be declared or will be confiscated.)
中文: 中国海关将美国花旗参视为受管制的植物。根据海关指南，"美国花旗参不能携带入境"。实际上，野生花旗参和鲜参若无手续禁止携带，而干燥栽培花旗参只要是个人自用通常能通关。中国法律虽未明确列举干花旗参为禁止物品，但此品属于《濒危物种公约》（CITES）附录II，需要出口许可证。建议您查看最新中国海关规定并在入关时主动申报携带的花旗参（中国海关法规定：个人携带物品应限于自用、合理数量，并接受海关监管）。如有疑问，应咨询相关部门或使用Marathon Ginseng的服务帮助确保合规。
Step 2: Personal Use vs Commercial / Quantity Limits // 第二步：区分个人携带与商业用途／限额
English: 个人自用 is key. Chinese customs allows travelers to bring in modest quantities of ginseng for personal health. There is a ¥5,000 RMB exemption limit for gifts or goods per person. At current prices, ¥5,000 of ginseng is roughly 5 pounds (≈2.3 kg) of dried root. As long as your ginseng is legally bought and non-commercial (for yourself or gifts, not for resale), small amounts (e.g. under 5 lb) usually pass with minimal hassle. Note that customs will tax any gift value above ¥5,000 at 15%. Wild ginseng (正野山参) is never allowed without a CITES "允进出口证明书". Fresh ginseng is treated as an agricultural product and cannot be carried (it requires a quarantine certificate). By contrast, dried slices, powder, capsules, or candies are classified as health products and are almost always permitted within the exemption limit.
中文: 个人自用是允许携带的前提。中国海关规定，每人携带价值不超过5000元人民币的物品可享税免优惠。以花旗参价格计算，5000元约合5磅（约2.3公斤）干参。只要花旗参合法购买并且非商业用途（仅自用或作为礼物），通常少量（例如5磅以内）就能顺利通关。超过5000元的部分需按15%征税。野生花旗参（正野山参）只能持有CITES许可证才能带入，否则禁止。新鲜花旗参属于农产品，需要检疫证明，个人携带一般不允许。而花旗参衍生产品（参片、参粉、胶囊、参茶等）被视为保健品，只要价值在免税额度内就可携带。
Step 3: What Forms of Ginseng to Bring // 第三步：适合携带的花旗参形式
English: To maximize chances of clearance, travelers should pack well-processed, clearly labeled products. The safest choices are capsules, powders, sliced root or extract candies – these are readily identified as health supplements. For whole root, Marathon recommends 5-year cultivated roots (which are robust and valued) cut into slices or prongs. Pre-packaged pouches (like Marathon's sealed 0.5 lb packs) are ideal for luggage and inspection. Avoid loose or unlabeled ginseng; an unopened factory package with Marathon's label or an invoice can help prove legality.
中文: 为确保通关，建议携带已加工、标签清晰的参类产品。最佳选择是花旗参胶囊、参粉、参片或含人参提取物的糖果等，这类产品通常被归为保健品，无需特殊许可。如果携带整根参，可选择5年生栽培参（滋养价值较高且质地紧实），并事先切成片或小段。像Marathon Ginseng有密封包装的0.5磅袋装花旗参，非常适合行李携带与海关查验。请尽量保留原包装和标签，并随身携带购买发票，这样海关人员一看就明白您的花旗参是合法购买。
Step 4: Prepare Required Documentation // 第四步：准备所需文件
English: Proper documents greatly ease customs clearance. At a minimum, carry your purchase receipt/invoice and certificate of origin (产品原产地证书) for the ginseng. If possible, also bring any US export permit or CITES certificate for ginseng. (Marathon Ginseng provides a U.S. Endangered Species Export License free of charge for orders – see below.) If stopping in Hong Kong en route, Marathon can issue an official Hong Kong export permit. These documents prove legality. Remember: no document means no entry for wild or large quantities. Also, have your passport and visa in order, and be ready to declare the ginseng at arrival. In practice, customs rarely asks for these if amounts are small, but it's safest to have them ready.
中文: 准备齐全的文件可大大提高通关成功率。至少应随身携带花旗参的购物发票/收据和原产地证书，以证明产品来源合法。若可能，还可提供美国出口许可证（CITES《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约允许进出口证明书》）或花旗参检疫证书。Marathon Ginseng为会员提供美国花旗参出口许可证的办理服务（即CITES许可证），特别是从香港转机时更需使用。若没有任何文件，就难以合法带入野生或大宗花旗参。请同时准备好护照签证资料，并在边检处主动申报行李中的花旗参。通常小量私人携带可顺利通过，但配合文件和申报可减少麻烦。
Step 5: Travel and Declare // 第五步：出行与申报
English: When traveling, place your ginseng in carry-on or checked luggage as you prefer, but always declare it if asked. At Chinese entry, pass through the customs and quarantine checkpoints. If a declaration form or customs declaration screen appears, list your ginseng as "plant/herb for personal health." Be polite and straightforward. Importantly, if customs flags the ginseng (even if it shouldn't), declare it immediately. Chinese law says that if you declare prohibited items, they will be confiscated but you avoid penalties. Concealing a banned item risks fines or more serious action. In practice, most people carrying small, dried ginseng for personal use are not heavily penalized. However, always carry documentation (even just a receipt) to show it's a legal purchase.
中文: 出行时，可将花旗参放在随身行李或托运行李中。入境中国后，通过海关检疫时应主动申报。如果出现申报表或询问，请如实填写为"个人保健用植物/参类"。态度要友好诚实。重要提示：如果遇到海关人员抽查发现违禁品，即使您并不知情，务必主动申报。中国海关法规定，申报违禁物品可免于处罚，但物品会被没收。若未申报被查获，后果会更严重。实际上，大部分旅客携带少量干燥花旗参自用不会遭重罚，但为保险起见，请保留并出示合法购买的收据和相关文件，以便证明您的花旗参是个人自用而非商业销售。
Marathon Ginseng Support and Services // Marathon Ginseng的支持与服务
English: Marathon Ginseng offers several services to ensure your ginseng journey is smooth and legal. We can provide the U.S. export permit (CITES license) for endangered species, and offer free replacement if lost. For members traveling via Hong Kong, Marathon can arrange a Hong Kong export certificate (making handoff easier). Our VIP Club even guarantees customs clearance assurance for ginseng. If you prefer, Marathon also ships directly into China, paying all duties: our Domestic Delivery service imports ginseng as a medicinal material under Chinese law. Orders delivered in China already include import duty (≈50%), so recipients face no extra tax. After arrival, Marathon's "Monk Garden" stores in China sell these products domestically. For any questions, Marathon's U.S. hotline (715-571-2426 or 818-663-8888) and Chinese WeChat (Marathon_Ginseng) are available.
中文: Marathon Ginseng提供多种支持服务，助您顺利带花旗参回国。我们可为客户办理美国野生动植物出口许可证（CITES证书），并提供遗失补发服务。如果您经停香港，Marathon可安排在港获取官方出口许可证，方便您转机带参。我们VIP会员享有"通关保障"，即承诺帮助通关。此外，Marathon提供中国境内直邮服务：我们通过正规进口手续，以药用标准将花旗参批量进口中国。此项服务已包含所有关税（约50%），收货人无需再缴税。在中国，"Monk Garden® Wisconsin Ginseng"官方门店也有销售我们的产品。如需咨询，您可拨打Marathon美国服务热线（715-571-2426或818-663-8888），或微信联系Marathon_Ginseng。
Recommended Travel-Friendly Products // 推荐随行携带的花旗参产品
English: When choosing ginseng for travel, smaller, sealed forms work best. Marathon recommends: ginseng capsules (easy to pack and allowed without limit), 5-year-old roots (high potency, compact weight), and pre-packed slices or nuggets. For example, Marathon's product #888 (5-Year Eagle-Claw Root, 0.5 lb) and #608 (5-Year Cultivated Slices, 4 oz) are ideal for short trips. These come in vacuum-sealed bags and carry an MSRP well under the ¥5,000 limit, making customs checks simpler. Also consider Marathon ginseng extract powders or teas; these are convenient and fall under health supplements. Always pack the capsules or slices in your carry-on or checked bag with their original labels.
中文: 旅行携带应优先选择小包装、易携带的参类产品。Marathon 建议：花旗参胶囊（方便携带且根据规定可直接入境），5年生老参段（营养更集中，重量合适）以及预先装袋的花旗参片/块。例如 Marathon 的产品 #888（0.5磅5年鹰爪参）和 #608（4盎司5年参片）非常适合旅行。这些都用真空密封包装，价值远低于海关免税上限，查验简单。另外，花旗参粉末和参茶也是好选择，它们归为保健品，只要在免税额度内即可随身携带。请将胶囊或参片保留原包装并放入随身或托运行李中，以便海关查看。
Printable Checklist // 可打印携带清单
- Passport and valid Chinese visa (护照和有效签证)
- Purchase invoice/receipt for the ginseng (购买发票)
- Certificate of Origin or any export permit (原产地证书、出口许可证)
- (If via HK) Hong Kong CITES export certificate (香港出口许可证)
- U.S. Endangered Species Export License for ginseng (CITES证书)
- Dried/capsule form ginseng under 5 lb (<¥5,000 RMB) (干燥/胶囊花旗参，约5磅以内)
- Separate sealed packages (keeping factory labels) (单独包装并保留厂标)
- Declare at customs ("个人自用花旗参") if asked (主动申报)
This checklist can be printed or downloaded for travel prep.
此清单可下载或打印，帮助您核对出行准备。
Conclusion // 结语
English: Carrying American ginseng to China is possible when you prepare properly. Stay within personal limits, pack dried/capsuled ginseng, bring your documentation, and declare it politely at customs. Marathon Ginseng's export certificates, China delivery, and support services are available to assure a hassle-free experience. With these steps, you can "bring American ginseng to China" and enjoy its benefits while complying with all regulations.
中文: 总之，只要事前准备充分，携带方式得当，美国花旗参是可以合法带入中国的。请控制数量、携带干燥包装好的参、备齐文件并在海关主动申报。Marathon Ginseng 提供的出口证书、中国境内配送与通关支持服务将帮助您 安心携参无后顾之忧。按照本文指南办理，您就能顺利将美国花旗参带回中国，享受健康礼物的乐趣。