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Tracking a parcel from China: AliExpress, Temu and Shein

8 min read

A parcel (or package) from AliExpress, Temu or Shein changes hands: a Chinese logistics firm flies it out, your country's customs checks it, and your local post or courier delivers it, often under a new number. Each company scans only its own leg, so expect up to 11 days before the first scan, silence during the flight and a wait after "arrived at destination country". Follow the shop's tracking, then the local carrier's; on the cheapest shipping, tracking can stop at that handover for good.

How accurate is AliExpress tracking?

As accurate as its scans (Temu's and Shein's too): no tracker, Peek included, can show a scan the carrier hasn't published. AliExpress points you to Cainiao's tracking site. The gaps come from the route:

  1. SellerHands it to a Chinese logistics firm. Up to 11 days without a scan
  2. Sorting centreBagged by country, cleared for export
  3. FlightHand over to airline, then silence until landing
  4. Your customsArrive at Destination means waiting here
  5. Your post or courierTakes over, often under its own number
  6. Your doorThe last scans may show only on the local carrier's site

Towards Europe, Cainiao also uses China–Europe trains and ocean freight, through its hub in Liège, Belgium.

Why is my AliExpress, Temu or Shein tracking not updating?

When an order looks stuck in transit, the parcel is usually between two companies and neither is scanning it. These quiet spells are normal:

  • Before the first scan. AliExpress and Cainiao say tracking usually takes up to 11 days to appear after the seller ships; Cainiao shows Not Found meanwhile. Nothing 12 days after shipment? Contact the seller.
  • At customs. Once landed, it waits for clearance (next section).
  • On economy shipping. Cainiao is blunt: "Economy shipping doesn't include tracking after a package has been handed to a destination country/region's carrier." Temu warns that because local carriers may handle the last leg, tracking may not be available at every step.
  • Around Chinese holidays. China's public holidays, such as Chinese New Year (late January or February) and National Day (the first week of October), can slow handling and clearance. For the October 2026 holiday, SF International warned some ports would stop clearing personal postal items.

Late rather than quiet? Once your order's delivery time has passed, see the refund section below. More on gaps in why tracking stops updating.

Arrived at destination country: how long does it take?

It depends on your customs and your local carrier. Arrive at Destination means the parcel has landed, but "you need to wait for clearance before being delivered", says Cainiao.

If nothing moves after that scan, Cainiao says your country usually hasn't updated yet and suggests asking your local post office. How long customs can take: parcels held at customs.

What the other statuses mean

StatusWhat it means
Accepted by carrier, Received by logistics companyThe Chinese logistics firm scanned it in, not your local post.
Hand over to airlineAt the departure airport in China, waiting for a flight.
Leaving OriginIt has left the country of origin (China), possibly via other countries, Cainiao warns.
Import customs clearance complete, Released from customsCustoms has let it go. The handover is next.
Received by local delivery company, Pick up by local carrier at destination portYour post or courier has it. Follow its number from now on.
Arrived at the pick-up point, Waiting for Pick UpAt a pickup point or post office. Collect it in time, or it may go back.
Not FoundNot in the system yet, or a mistyped number. Normal for the first 11 days.
Security Check FailedIt can't be shipped. Talk to the seller.
Unclaimed, Storage term expiredNot collected in time, so it's going back to the sender.

Out for delivery and other everyday statuses: what tracking statuses mean.

Why did my tracking number change?

Three usual reasons:

  • AliExpress combined your orders. It says a number shared by several orders means their shipping was upgraded.
  • One order, several parcels. Shein's UK page says most of its stock is in China, so an order can split. Temu gives each parcel its own delivery time, and the tracking number once it's ready.
  • A local courier took over with its own label and number. Cainiao shows that number on its tracking page when it publishes one; from then on, check the courier's own site.

Postal numbers are the exception. The Universal Postal Union allows "only one S10 identifier" per item, so a China Post number usually works on your own post's site too.

Which company does my number belong to?

Besides Cainiao, you'll see YunExpress, 4PX and Yanwen (which even sells lines named after Temu and AliExpress):

The number looks likeUsually
LP + 14 digitsCainiao (AliExpress): a shape seen in practice, not one Cainiao documents
YT + 16 digitsYunExpress (YT + 13 digits is YTO Express)
4PX + 13 digits + CN4PX
two letters, nine digits, CNChina Post or China EMS
two letters, nine digits, YP, or BYS + 9 digitsYanwen (YP isn't a country)
SF + 13 digitsSF Express
SY + 11 digitsSunyou
UUS…UniUni, a last-mile courier (US and Canada)
SPX… or GFUS…SpeedX or GOFO, last-mile couriers (US)

Paste either number into Peek and it works out the carrier among more than 3,500. For numbers in general, see tracking number formats.

Who delivers AliExpress, Temu and Shein parcels in your country?

It depends on the shipping line:

CountryWho you may see on the last leg
USUSPS for postal numbers ending CN and on some 4PX lines (4PX scans read Arrived at usps facility), or a courier such as UniUni, SpeedX or GOFO.
UKYanwen sells UK lines through Royal Mail, Evri, Yodel and Hermes. Shein's orders arrive "via our UK courier partners".
IrelandAn Post for postal items. It tells you by postcard, email or text when customs charges are due.
CanadaCanada Post for postal items, or a courier such as UniUni.
AustraliaAustralia Post for postal items. Shein doesn't deliver to PO boxes or parcel lockers.

How long does shipping from China take?

It depends on the line you paid for. Cainiao counts calendar days; Shein counts working days:

WhoWhat they state
AliExpressA delivery time per order, on the product and order pages
Cainiao's linesPremium 5–10 days to markets such as the UK; Standard 10–18 days (7 to the UK at best); Economy 20–45 days
Temu1–3 days to process, then a delivery time for each parcel once it ships; in the UK, Standard 6–13 business days, Express 4–7
Shein USStandard: "77.1% are ≤ 7 business days"
Shein UKStandard 5–8 working days, Express 4–7
Shein IrelandStandard 6–10 business days
Shein CanadaA delivery window, shown as dates
Shein AustraliaStandard 5–9 business days, Express 3–7

Will you pay customs on top?

Mostly not: in the UK (up to £135), Australia (up to AUD 1,000) and Ireland, these platforms usually take the tax at checkout, and Shein Canada collects sales taxes there too. Three cases can still cost you more:

  • US: the $800 duty-free limit (de minimis) has been suspended for every country since 29 August 2025, so small orders owe duty too.
  • Canada: mail worth more than CAD 20 owes duty or tax, plus Canada Post's CAD 9.95 fee.
  • Ireland: since 1 July 2026, a €3 EU duty per distinct item on parcels up to €150, and from 1 November 2026 a €2 fee per distinct item, at any value. If the checkout didn't take them, An Post or the courier collects them before delivery.

Thresholds, fees, refunds and how to spot a fake fee message: parcels held at customs.

When to ask for a refund

Go in this order:

  1. Wait for the first scanUp to 11 days after the seller ships is normal.
  2. Find the local numberLook on the tracking page for a second number or the local carrier's name.
  3. Ask the right companyStuck at customs: your local post. Economy gone quiet: the seller, who can name the local carrier.
  4. Claim before the deadlineEach platform counts from a different day.
PlatformNot arrivedSays delivered, but isn't
AliExpressDispute from the 11th day after shipping until 15 days after the delivery time endsCheck with the local carrier first, then dispute
TemuContact customer service within 90 days of the order dateSame
SheinWithin 45 days of the payment dateWithin 30 days of the delivery date on the tracking page (45 in the US)

AliExpress's Delivery Commitment adds a late-delivery coupon 48 hours after the latest estimated date and a refund after a set number of days on labelled items, but not on cheap methods such as AliExpress Saver Shipping or Cainiao Super Economy. Shein and Temu make up for lateness too: Shein's On-Time Delivery gives 500 points in the US and Australia, 500 points or a £5 credit in the UK, and a CAD 5 credit in Canada; Temu issues a credit about 48 hours after the latest delivery date in your order details.

If it says delivered and nothing is there, follow delivered but not received.

Sources