How to Receive a Package at Hotels in China?

Many travellers fill up their Taobao carts before heading to China, then have everything shipped straight to their hotel when they arrive. That way, there’s no need to lug big bags from Singapore, and you can even save on cross-border shipping! So what should you watch out for when travelling to China and having your Taobao purchases delivered to your hotel? Trip.com has rounded it all up, so let’s take a look together.

How to Ship Taobao Packages to the Hotel When Travelling to China?

Many travellers visiting China have their Taobao packages delivered straight to the hotel where they’re staying! Before you book your stay, check whether the hotel accepts package deliveries. Most business hotels, chain hotels, and star-rated hotels are happy to receive parcels for guests, but a few places don’t offer this service—so it’s best to ask ahead of time!

When entering the recipient details, you can fill them out as follows:

• Recipient: Name
• Contact phone number：China mobile number or hotel phone number (if you don't have a hotel phone number, you can also indicate that it's inconvenient to answer calls)
• Recipient address: Complete hotel address (we recommend adding in parentheses after the address: XX Hotel hold for + reservation name)

Also, try to avoid buying pre-order items, because sometimes they ship too late and your package might not arrive until after you've checked out.

Do all hotels in China accept package deliveries?

The answer is usually yes! Most hotels in China can receive packages for you, though a few guesthouses or other types of accommodations might not.

Typically, the following types of hotels accept package deliveries:

• Business hotel
• Chain hotels
• Star-rated hotels (some luxury hotels will even deliver straight to your room!)
• International hotel group

🔻Some hotels, like in the photo below, have a package area where you can pick up your delivery yourself; others will collect it and stash it in a storage room. I recommend asking the front desk at check-in where your package is. Also, note that hotels in China almost never let you borrow scissors to take back to your room to open packages, so bring your own small tools—like a key or a small pair of scissors.

Also, be sure to double-check the following accommodation type comparisons:

• Hostel
• B&Bs (some in remote areas may require you to go to a nearby depot to pick up your package yourself)
• Apartment-style hotel
• Short-term rentals

Some businesses may refuse to accept deliveries on your behalf because their front desks aren’t staffed 24/7.

How long can hotels in China hold packages they’ve received for you?

Most hotels can hold onto packages for about 3 to 7 days. For the smoothest experience, have your delivery arrive 1 to 3 days before check-in—that’s the lowest risk. Additionally, hotels may refuse certain items, such as:

• Fresh food
• Refrigerated items
• Major appliances
• Dangerous goods

Before you buy, we recommend checking with the hotel first—Trip.com Customer Service can reach out on your behalf!

How can I return a Taobao order from my hotel in China?

One of Taobao’s biggest perks is how easy it is to return things.

If, after receiving the product, you find:

• Wrong size
• Color mismatch
• Not satisfied with the quality
• Damaged item

You can request a return through Taobao, and a courier will come to your hotel to pick up the items you want to return.