Can antique Chinese swords be brought (or sent) back into the country?

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Question: Asked by D. from china | Jul. 19, 2015 12:40

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Can antique Chinese swords be brought (or sent) back into the country?

During China's 'Century of Humiliation', vast amounts of art and antiques were carted off to Europe, and arms and armor were fashionable items for foreign adventurers. There is now a tremendous domestic demand for genuine Chinese antiques. I'm considering bringing antique swords back to China from legitimate European dealers (they've fallen out of fashion there and often go unsold at auction) as a business, but am not sure about the legalities. If I go through correct customs procedures, would I be able to bring these items back into the country, either in my own checked luggage, or sent by couriers?

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Answers (2): Answered by Nora | Jul. 20, 2015 03:49

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It is not allowed to take swords into China, either in carry-on luggage or check-in luggage. So it is best to send by courier. Would you return it to China? You are suggested to contact a Chinese museum and they will tell you the procedure.

0 0 Reply; Answered by D. | Jul. 20, 2015 05:21

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I'm not sure what you mean by 'return it to China'; I would be buying them overseas and bringing them to China to be sold to local collectors. A quick online search didn't turn up Chinese auction houses specializing in these kinds of items, but I really just started my research. That's a good idea though - I could start with museums with related collections and see what they recommend. I just want to make sure that customs wouldn't seize these if shipped in from overseas, on the grounds that they are weapons. It seems to me that China is eager to get their lost historical treasures back, so hopefully a way could be found to make this work.

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