How to Collect Parcels in Shanghai: Cainiao Stations & Hive Box Lockers (2026)

In Shanghai most parcels do not come to your door: couriers drop them at a neighbourhood Cainiao station (菜鸟驿站) or a Hive Box (丰巢) smart locker near you, and you collect them with a pickup code sent to your phone. At a station you show the code or your QR; at a locker you tap the screen, enter the code, and the door pops open. Pickup is usually free within the first day or two. Why didn't my parcel come to my door? Because door delivery is the exception here, not the rule. To move huge volumes cheaply, couriers for Taobao, JD and most e-commerce leave parcels at a shared collection point for your compound or street: either a Cainiao station (a small staffed shop packed with shelves) or a bank of Hive Box lockers. You get a notification with a code, then collect at your convenience. It feels strange at first, but it means you never miss a delivery because you were at work. If you would rather have things brought up, see the question on door delivery below. How do I collect from a Cainiao station (菜鸟驿站)? Show your pickup code at the counter or scan it yourself. Step by step: Wait for the notice. You get an SMS or a Cainiao (菜鸟) app alert with a pickup code (取件码) and the station…