Removals to Shanghai from the UK
Our busiest China destination, and the most straightforward. Direct sea routing from UK ports into Shanghai, cleared and delivered by the Asian Express Shanghai office.
Shanghai is the easiest mainland Chinese city to move to from the UK, because it is served directly by the main UK–Far East sea services with no inland leg once the shipment arrives. Plan on eight to fourteen weeks door to door by sea, or one to two weeks by air.
Clearance and delivery are handled by the Asian Express Shanghai office, so the people dealing with your customs entry are in the city your goods are arriving in.
- Our presence
- Asian Express company office in Shanghai
- Sea routing
- Direct from Felixstowe, Southampton or London Gateway into Shanghai
- Inland leg
- None — the port serves the city directly
- Door-to-door planning range
- 8–14 weeks by sea, 1–2 weeks by air
- Cleared against
- Your passport and Chinese residence permit
Why Shanghai is the simplest China destination
Three reasons, all practical. It is a direct port call on the main services from Northern Europe, so there is no transhipment adding uncertainty. There is no inland transport leg, which is the stage that adds both days and cost elsewhere. And the volume of expatriate household shipments through the port means the clearance process is thoroughly routine for everyone involved.
Delivering in Shanghai
Most of our Shanghai deliveries go to apartments rather than houses, which shapes what we ask at survey. In the former concession areas — Xuhui, Jing'an, parts of Huangpu — older buildings with small or no lifts and narrow lanes are common, and a stair carry or a shuttle from the street is often the only way in. In the newer developments in Pudong and out towards Hongqiao, lifts and access are better but compound management rules are stricter, and delivery slots frequently need booking in advance.
Neither is a problem if we know beforehand. Both are expensive if we find out on the day.
What actually slows a delivery down in China
Once your shipment is cleared, the remaining problems are physical, and they are the same across Chinese cities. Our surveyors ask about all of these before quoting, because each one is a cost if it is discovered on the day.
- Compound access. Many residential developments will not admit a full-size removal vehicle. Goods transfer to a smaller shuttle at the gate — extra handling, extra labour, and a charge if it was not quoted for.
- Lift dimensions. Chinese residential lifts are frequently smaller than UK ones. A three-seat sofa or a double wardrobe that will not fit means a stair carry, and above a few floors that is a significant cost.
- Delivery time windows. Estate management commonly restricts when removals may take place, and sometimes requires notice or a deposit. We arrange this in advance where we can.
- Parking and street access. Central districts in all four cities restrict large-vehicle access at certain hours.
- Protecting common areas. Some buildings require lift and corridor protection to be fitted before a move. Our crews carry it.
Tell us the building, not just the city. Floor number, lift availability, whether the compound admits large vehicles, and any management restrictions. Five minutes of questions at survey prevents the most common source of a revised invoice on delivery day.
Questions people ask before booking
How long does shipping from the UK to Shanghai take?
Eight to fourteen weeks door to door by sea depending on whether you ship a part load or a full container, and one to two weeks by air. Sea transit alone is typically four to six weeks; the rest is packing, consolidation, clearance and delivery. See the shipping times guide.
Can my shipment arrive before I do?
It can arrive, but it cannot clear. Personal effects are cleared against your passport and residence permit and normally require you to have entered China. Goods waiting at the port accrue storage. We time the sailing to land after you do.
Do you deliver to Suzhou, Hangzhou and Ningbo as well?
Yes — all are routinely served from Shanghai with an inland delivery leg, which adds days rather than weeks. Give us the delivery address and we will confirm the routing.
Is air freight to Shanghai worth it?
For a first-need consignment of about 0.5–1.5 m³, usually yes; it lets you live normally while the sea shipment is in transit. For a whole household the arithmetic rarely works — see sea against air freight.