Are you looking to track a package from China?
If so, you may be confused about which tracking service to use, where to find your tracking number, and how long it will take for your package to arrive.
This article will tell you all about that and more.
Continue reading to learn how to track your orders from China!
How do you track packages from China?
You only need an active tracking number when tracking a package from China.
To track your package, follow these steps:
- Head to a popular package tracking website, such as 17Track or Ship24.
- Paste your tracking number in the designated text field.
- Click on the 'Track' button.
After clicking the 'Track' button, you will be taken to the next page, where you will see all info regarding your package's shipping process!
What is a tracking number?
A tracking number is a unique code that belongs to a specific package during its shipping process. A buyer can use the tracking number to monitor their package's shipping progress to its final destination.
Here's an example of a tracking number from a package bought on AliExpress:
Where can I find the tracking number for my package?
Naturally, the next question you may have is where you can find the tracking number for your package.
Well, the tracking number can commonly be found in two places. Let us explain!
Find the tracking number in your email
When making an online purchase, it's common practice for suppliers or shipping carriers to email you the tracking number once the package has been sent out.
This means that getting your tracking number could be as simple as checking your inbox!
For example, here is an example of a tracking number that is sent by email:
If you don't see a tracking number for your order, remember to check your spam and trash folders as well. Shipping confirmations from unknown senders may occasionally land in one of these mailboxes by accident.
And if you haven't received a shipping confirmation within four days, you can always message the seller and ask them for a confirmation that the delivery is scheduled.
Find the tracking number on the seller's website
If you didn't find a tracking number in your mailbox, you could always check the 'My Orders' page on the website you've bought your product.
For example, you can find the 'My Orders' page on AliExpress here:
Note: You'll only be able to track a package if you choose a shipping method with a tracking option. Not all shipping methods have a tracking option available.
4 Online websites to track your packages from China
You may have already ordered and purchased the things you need.
If that's the case, you may wonder which website is best for tracking your package from China.
Let's cover our favorite options below!
1. 17Track
17Track is a package tracking service that offers everything under one roof. It works with over 700 postal and courier services all around the world.
It's also perfect for customers who want to input more than one tracking number simultaneously, as 17Track allows you to enter up to 40 tracking numbers!
2. Parcels App
Parcels App is another popular website used to track packages from China. An advantage of Parcels App is that it offers both a web-based service and a mobile app.
3. Ship24
Ship24 is the next online platform developed to provide consumers with high-quality tracking options.
It's connected with over 1,200 shipping carriers and is available in many different languages.
Ship24 is responsible for tracking over fifty million items per month!
4. PackageRadar
The last of our favorite package tracking websites is PackageRadar.
It's also one of the simplest of four, but it works great nonetheless!
It can monitor shipments from over fifteen Chinese ecommerce websites, including Wish, GearBest, and AliExpress.
What is the shipping time for a package from China to the US or Europe?
Is your package from China taking a long time to arrive?
If so, it doesn't necessarily mean that there's anything wrong!
The shipping time for a package from China to the US or Europe depends on your chosen shipping method, but if you picked the cheapest one, it could be two months or more!
While this is the worst-case scenario, shipping times from China are indeed relatively long and unreliable.
However, if you picked a shipping method that offers good value for money, like YunExpress, ePacket, AliExpress Standard Shipping, or anything similar, a shipping time of two weeks seems like a well-estimated average.
If you're lucky and work with a good supplier, you might even get your package in around one week!
Usually, the website you buy your products from also estimates the shipping time. Here's how that looks on AliExpress:
As you can see, you will also be able to pick express shipping methods on some occasions, which promise to deliver your package within a week. The downside is that these are often ridiculously expensive!
The table below summarizes the shipping time from China to the US and Europe using the most popular shipping methods:
| Shipping Method | Average Shipping Time | Destination |
| AliExpress Standard Shipping | 18 days | US |
| AliExpress Standard Shipping | 12 days | Europe |
| ePacket | 10 to 20 days | US |
| ePacket | 7 to 15 days | Europe |
| YunExpress | 7 to 15 days | US |
| YunExpress | 7 to 12 days | Europe |
3 Most popular shipping methods in China
When purchasing goods from China, there are many different things that you need to consider. Think about the delivery date, the safety of the package, the tracking information, and the lowest possible cost for shipping.
Because of these things, the shipping method that's most suitable for you varies based on your preferences.
Let's take a look at three of the best shipping methods for packages from China!
1. AliExpress Standard Shipping
AliExpress Standard Shipping is a shipping service offered by AliExpress and Cainiao Network.
Many AliExpress suppliers also include this shipping method within their product costs for added simplicity.
As ePacket’s price and delivery times have slowly declined over the last few years, AliExpress’ Standard Shipping has become stronger both in price and promptness.
2. YunExpress
YunExpress is a shipping and logistics company specializing in ecommerce shipping solutions, with market-leading direct-line logistics for cross-border ecommerce sellers. It was founded in Shenzhen, China.
Basically, when a customer places an order, the merchant sends the package directly to YunExpress and lets it deliver the package to the customer.
In our experience, YunExpress is a great shipping method to choose if it's available for your purchase. Their shipping times are quick and reliable!
3. ePacket
ePacket was the preferred shipping method for most dropshippers up until 2020; however, not so much nowadays.
The decline in the use of ePacket for dropshipping is down to a few reasons, all covered in a separate article: Can You Still Use ePacket for Dropshipping in 2024?
Epacket is still being offered as a shipping method in 2024, but it isn’t as cheap and reliable as it used to be.
3 Chinese dropshipping suppliers to consider
If you're considering starting a dropshipping store, you might be looking for a Chinese dropshipping supplier.
One of the most important things you can do to ensure the success of your dropshipping business is to work with trustworthy suppliers who can deliver exceptional services.
Finding a product that you like and believe will sell well but then discovering that the supplier is bad can be highly frustrating.
To help you solve this issue, we have compiled a list of China's most reliable dropshipping suppliers.
Let's shortly cover the top three suppliers from that list!
But before that, take a look at these five things to look out for when searching for a Chinese dropshipping supplier:
1. AliExpress
If you are looking for a dropshipping supplier in China, AliExpress is still one of the best places to look.
Dropshipping with AliExpress is still a profitable business model in 2024, but you need the right knowledge to find the best sellers and get the fastest shipping times.
2. CJdropshipping
CJdropshipping is an all-in-one solution that will help you source products from dropshipping suppliers and sell them worldwide.
Like AliExpress, CJdropshipping offers a wide selection of products. But the special thing about CJdropshipping is that you will find suppliers with warehouses located all over the world, including Japan, Canada, the US, and more!
3. uDroppy
uDroppy is a platform similar to CJdropshipping. Its platform includes solutions for sourcing, fulfilling, and shipping your products.
uDroppy works with more than 900 dropshipping suppliers and provides you with thousands of products to choose from!
FAQs about tracking packages from China
If you have any remaining questions about tracking a package from China, this FAQs section should help!
What is the most popular website to track a package from China?
In our opinion, the most popular website to track your package from China is 17Track.
How long does it take customs in China to clear a package?
Customs clearance usually takes less than twenty-four hours. However, products can also be inspected for several days or weeks.
What happens when my package is held at customs?
If you are sending a package internationally and see a tracking scan that says "Customs Clearance" or "Held by Custom," the best thing to do is to be patient. If you do get worried, it's best to contact the store or supplier you bought your product from for help.
Can I avoid paying high customs fees?
To avoid paying high customs fees, inform the seller that the item is only for personal use. Import duties are typically imposed on items imported for commercial or business use.
How much does AliExpress Standard Shipping cost?
Typically, AliExpress Standard Shipping costs between $2 and $3.
Summary
Before we go to the conclusion, we’ve created a quick summary of this article for you, so you can easily remember it:
- To track a package from China, you need a tracking number.
- You can find your tracking number from a shipping confirmation email that's in your inbox or by going to a 'My Orders' page on the store you brought the product from.
- Once you have your tracking number, you can track your package from China by visiting a website like 17Track.
- Typically, the shipping time for a package from China to the US or Europe is 10 to 20 days on average.
- AliExpress Standard Shipping, YunExpress, and ePacket are some of the most popular shipping methods for packages from China.
Conclusion
Many companies use China as a shipping hub to distribute their wares worldwide.
You can track your package from China using well-known online tracking tools at any time, as long as you use a shipping method that supports tracking.
For more information about dropshipping from China, check out our complete guide here!
We hope this article has helped you find out exactly how to track packages from China.
If you have any questions, comment below, and we'll be more than happy to assist you!
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