China
Track PAC shipments in real-time with Paxlo. Get instant updates on your China postal parcels, delivery status, and estimated arrival times.
PAC, officially known as China Post Air Mail, is one of China's primary international shipping carriers. It handles millions of parcels annually, connecting Chinese sellers and businesses with customers worldwide. PAC specializes in affordable international mail services, particularly for smaller packages and documents that don't require express speed. The carrier operates through an extensive network of postal facilities across China, making it accessible for both individual shippers and e-commerce businesses.
The service bridges China's postal infrastructure with international networks, allowing packages to move from collection points through sorting facilities to customs handling and final delivery abroad. PAC competes primarily on cost rather than speed, which makes it popular for non-urgent international shipments from Chinese online retailers to buyers in Europe, North America, and other regions.
China Post has operated for over a century and remains the country's state-owned postal operator. PAC emerged as a dedicated service line for air mail shipments, distinguishing it from slower surface mail options. The carrier plays a vital role in facilitating cross-border e-commerce, particularly from platforms like Alibaba, AliExpress, and independent Chinese retailers targeting international markets.
Within China's logistics ecosystem, PAC sits alongside competitors like SF Express, ZTO, and YTO. However, PAC maintains advantages in rural delivery coverage and international reach thanks to China Post's government backing. The carrier handles peak volumes during major shopping seasons like Singles Day and Chinese New Year, when export shipments surge.
PAC does not offer express delivery speeds comparable to DHL or FedEx. Transit times typically range from 15-45 days depending on destination, with longer waits during peak seasons or for remote locations. The trade-off is affordability, which explains its popularity among price-sensitive e-commerce sellers.
Paxlo integrates PAC tracking data to give you real-time visibility into your shipment's journey. When you enter a PAC tracking number into Paxlo, the app connects directly to China Post's systems and retrieves the latest status updates. You see exactly where your package is, from pickup in China through international transit to final delivery.
The app handles a common frustration with PAC tracking: inconsistent update frequency. China Post sometimes provides sparse tracking information, especially for packages in international transit. Paxlo aggregates PAC data and supplements it with carrier intelligence, giving you a clearer picture of your shipment's status even when official updates are delayed.
PAC's tracking system, while functional, has limitations that frustrate international buyers. Updates often appear days after a package actually moves. A package might sit in a sorting facility for a week before any status change shows up. Tracking can also go silent during international transit, leaving customers uncertain whether their shipment is moving or stuck.
Another challenge: PAC tracking numbers don't always work with international tracking websites. Some services recognize PAC numbers from certain carriers but not others. This fragmentation means buyers must use China Post's official website, which has a less intuitive interface than Western carriers.
Paxlo solves these tracking headaches by creating a unified interface for PAC shipments. Instead of switching between multiple tracking websites or dealing with confusing status messages in Chinese, you get clear English updates in an app designed for modern smartphones. The benefits extend beyond convenience.
A standard PAC shipment from China to Europe or North America follows this pattern. The package is collected and transported to a local sorting facility within 1-3 days. It then moves to a regional distribution center, where it waits for consolidation with other international parcels. This stage can take 3-7 days. Once consolidated, the package goes to an international gateway airport in a major city like Shanghai or Beijing, which adds another 2-5 days.
The international transit phase is the longest and most unpredictable. Depending on destination, your package might take 15-30 days crossing oceans and passing through intermediate hubs. Customs clearance adds variable time, typically 2-5 days but potentially longer if inspectors need to examine contents. Finally, the package enters the destination country's postal network for last-mile delivery, which usually takes 3-7 days. Total journey: 30-60 days in normal conditions, longer during peak seasons.
PAC differs significantly from competitors like SF Express and ZTO. SF Express offers faster international service but charges substantially more. ZTO focuses primarily on domestic Chinese logistics. China EMS is faster than PAC but also pricier. ePacket, another China Post service, is similar to PAC but sometimes appears as a separate tracking option depending on the destination country. Paxlo tracks all of these carriers, so you get consistent updates regardless of which service your seller chose.
Download Paxlo on iOS or Android, then enter your PAC tracking number. The app recognizes PAC numbers automatically and connects you to current package status. If you've ordered from an online seller, look for tracking information in your order confirmation email or account dashboard. The tracking number is usually a 13-digit code starting with specific digits assigned to China Post.
Once you've added a PAC shipment to Paxlo, enable notifications so you get alerts when status changes occur. You can also share tracking links with others if you need to coordinate delivery timing. Paxlo stores your tracking history, so past shipments remain searchable if you need to reference them later.
PAC updates its tracking system infrequently, especially during the initial collection phase. It's normal for a tracking number to show no movement for several days after the seller provides it. The package may already be in transit even though no scan has registered. If your package hasn't updated for more than two weeks, it could be stuck in a sorting facility, delayed by customs, or experiencing a logistics issue. In Paxlo, check your estimated delivery date. If the package hasn't arrived by the estimated date plus a week, contact the seller or file a claim with China Post.
Standard PAC air mail typically takes 30-50 days from China to Europe or North America, but this is not guaranteed. Factors affecting speed include the destination country, seasonal shipping volume, customs clearance complexity, and last-mile carrier efficiency. Packages sent during peak season like December or June can take 60+ days. Paxlo calculates estimated delivery based on your specific tracking number and destination, which is more accurate than generic 'typically 30-45 days' statements. Customs clearance at your destination can add unexpected delays of 5-14 days if the package is inspected.
Paxlo is a tracking app, not a shipping service, so it cannot speed up delivery times. However, if your PAC package appears stuck, Paxlo helps you document the delay with timestamps and status history, which strengthens any claim you file with your seller or through an e-commerce platform's buyer protection program. Some sellers offer expedited services or alternative carriers like SF Express or EMS at checkout, but these are different from standard PAC air mail. If speed is critical, check with the seller about upgrading before completing purchase.
Most PAC packages clear customs without issues, but your destination country's customs rules apply. If a package contains prohibited items, excessive quantities of restricted goods, or undeclared high-value items, it may be detained, confiscated, or returned to the sender. China Post is required to provide customs declarations, but accuracy depends on the seller's honesty. Paxlo will show tracking updates when your package enters customs, but customs clearance times vary widely. Low-value consumer goods usually pass within 2-5 days. High-value items or those requiring permits may take 10-30 days. If a package shows 'Customs Clearance' for more than 14 days, contact the destination's customs authority or ask your seller to follow up.
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These statuses indicate your package has left China and is on its way internationally. 'Handed to Airline' means the package was loaded onto an aircraft at a Chinese gateway airport. 'In Transit Abroad' means it's traveling between international sorting hubs or has reached your destination country but hasn't entered final delivery yet. These statuses often don't update frequently because international mail is handled by multiple carriers and intermediaries, not just PAC. Paxlo tracks your package through this phase and shows the estimated arrival window based on typical timelines. From 'In Transit Abroad' to final delivery typically takes 7-21 days, but can extend if customs clearance is needed.
Yes. Add any PAC tracking number to Paxlo and it will retrieve the complete history, even if the package was delivered weeks or months ago. This is useful if you need to verify that a package actually arrived on a specific date, or if you're resolving a dispute with a seller. Paxlo stores all your past shipments in your account, making it easy to reference delivery dates and final statuses. If a 'Delivered' status shows but you never received the package, it may have been left at a safe place, given to a household member, or misdelivered. Contact your postal service's customer support with your tracking number from Paxlo to investigate.
