Buying a Guitar in China

yangmei122
August 28, 2009, 02:08 AM posted in General Discussion

I'd like to buy a guitar in China. Obviously, I won't be able to fit it into my suitcase, so I was wondering how to transport it. I'm flying Lufthansa from Beijing to Frankfurt (and then to another city). Is anyone here familiar with the regulations (luggage, customs) in this case? Apart from my suitcase, I will have a small backpack and a handbag which contains a netbook with me.

Any important vocab I should know?

Thanks in advance.

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changye
August 28, 2009, 03:47 AM

Hi yangmei122

Don't worry. It's no big deal. Just put your guitar in a hard case. You can consign it together with your suitcase at a counter. Don't forget to ask them to put "Fragile" stickers on the guitar case. No custom procedure needed at least in the PRC. You have to pay the excess baggage charge in the case of overweight. Good luck.

"Fragile" stickers
易碎品标志 (yi4sui4pin3 biao1zhi4)

P/S. Please ask them at a counter if you can carry the guitar case with you. Probably you have a slim chance, though.  我可以携带这个吗? (wo3 ke3yi3 xie2dai4 zhei4ge ma?)

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yangmei122
August 28, 2009, 04:01 AM

Really? I thought I was only allowed to check-in a single piece of luggage.

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changye
August 28, 2009, 05:36 AM

Hi yangmei122

Really? I don't know about Lufthansa, but I consinged a big suitcase, an electric piano and a mini compo when I came to China from Japan several years ago. 

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yangmei122
August 31, 2009, 11:29 AM

Hi Changye,

Oh. Wow.;)

Well, I'll give it a try.