Guides & Articles
Practical advice for finding and recovering lost belongings while traveling in China.
Official lost-property channels →
Start with your situation
By location
Lost something on a train in China?
Use the official 12306 search and registration route, and prepare the details railway staff need.
Lost something on a metro in China?
Identify the line operator, reconstruct your journey and report an item without confusing metro services with China Railway.
Lost property at a Chinese airport terminal
Separate terminal, aircraft and ground-transport reports, and save the location details that help an airport identify your item.
Left something on a plane—or is your checked bag missing?
Understand the difference between a cabin-item inquiry and an airline baggage irregularity report when arriving in China.
Phone or bag left in DiDi or a taxi in China
Use trip records to identify the right vehicle and follow up even when the phone used for booking is missing.
Left an item at a hotel, restaurant or attraction
Help staff search the correct room, table or visitor area, and arrange a verified handover after you leave.
Beijing Daxing Airport lost-property guide
Check that your ticket says Beijing Daxing (PKX), not Beijing Capital. For terminal belongings, start with the official municipal Daxing lost-property page and its published telephone. For an item left in the aircraft, contact the actual operating airline as well.
Shanghai Pudong Airport lost-property guide
Confirm Shanghai Pudong (PVG), your terminal, the area and time. Start with the airport’s official lost-property page. Shanghai’s official visitor information also identifies the “Shanghai Airport” WeChat mini program for reporting and tracking lost items. Contact the carrier separately for aircraft belongings.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport lost-property guide
Confirm Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) and the actual terminal, gate or security area. The official airport homepage has a lost-and-found service entry. Start there rather than a third-party collection advertisement. If the online service is unavailable, ask airport customer service which office handles your location.
How to search for items left on China Eastern
For an item left in a China Eastern cabin, open its official left-item query page. Provide the itinerary requested on that page and check the actual operating carrier. Items lost at security, shops or terminal public areas need an airport report too; an airline query alone may not reach that office.
How to search for items left on China Southern
China Southern offers an official left-item search using the travel document or ticket and flight details requested on the form. Its stated scope is flights arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun only. For other arrivals, ask 95539 which local office is responsible before assuming the online search covers your flight.
By item
Lost your phone in China: protect it while searching
Secure your device and accounts, preserve useful location information and leave a contact number that someone can actually answer.
Lost a foreign passport in China: what to do next
Coordinate loss reporting, consular replacement and Chinese immigration requirements without relying on a passport photo to travel.
Lost your wallet or bank cards in China
Protect payment access first, then report the wallet using private identifying details.
Verification, collection & return
Already left China? How to recover an item that has been found
Organize a remote inquiry, verify the holding office and separate collection from international shipping.
Someone says your item has been found: how to verify it
Check the holding record and ownership match before sending identity documents, arranging collection or paying.
Can someone collect your lost item in China for you?
Confirm authorization, identity checks and the difference between a representative and a courier.
Returning a found item from China by international courier
Check item eligibility, batteries, customs information and total cost before booking a return shipment.