Can you bring a power bank to China?
A flight-by-flight guide to carry-on packing, watt-hour limits, and China's CCC marking rule for domestic flights.
Usually yes, but pack the power bank in carry-on baggage, not checked baggage, and make sure its watt-hour rating is visible. For a flight within mainland China, it must also have a clear CCC (3C) mark and must not be from a recalled model or batch. Check the operating airline before every flight.
Use it during the trip
Practical China trip kit
Common apps and official downloads
Prepare offline language help first, then keep payment and transport apps ready for arrival. Install only from the official store listing.
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Save before you go
Preserve the evidence needed to identify and explain an item.
- Save the product label, ingredients, specifications, or prescription.
- Keep batteries and restricted items accessible for inspection.
- Leave uncertain items unpacked until the current official rule is checked.
Printing this page also keeps the guide answer and visible source links with this checklist.
Emergency numbers in China
Call only for a real emergency. Say the exact location first; ask nearby staff to help communicate when safe.
Separate your international and domestic flight checks
A flight into China and a later flight within mainland China can be subject to different checks. Your international carrier sets the conditions for the inbound flight. For a mainland domestic flight, the Civil Aviation Administration of China also applies its CCC marking and recall rule.
- Check each operating airline, including a codeshare partner, rather than relying on the airline that sold the ticket.
- Recheck the power bank before a domestic connection or separate flight inside mainland China.
- Do not assume that passing security overseas guarantees acceptance at a Chinese airport.
Keep it in carry-on baggage and show the Wh rating
CAAC passenger guidance treats a power bank as a spare lithium battery. A unit rated at no more than 100Wh may be carried in cabin baggage but may not be checked. A unit over 100Wh and up to 160Wh needs airline approval and is limited to two per passenger; anything larger is not covered by this passenger allowance.
- Look for a clearly printed Wh value on the case before leaving home.
- If only voltage and amp-hours are shown, do not rely on your own calculation at security; ask the airline whether the original label is sufficient.
- Protect exposed terminals and keep the unit from being crushed, punctured, or accidentally activated.
Check the CCC mark before a China domestic flight
CAAC's rule effective June 28, 2025 prohibits power banks without a CCC mark, with an unclear CCC mark, or from a recalled model or batch on mainland domestic flights. CCC is also commonly called the 3C mark. A visible capacity label does not replace this separate product-safety check.
- Inspect the physical case for a clear CCC logo; a receipt, product listing, or sticker added by the traveler is not a substitute.
- Check the manufacturer and current official recall information for the exact model and batch.
- Replace a damaged, swollen, leaking, unusually hot, or poorly labeled unit before travel.
Plan for charging and last-minute refusal
Security staff and the operating airline make the final carriage decision. Some airlines may also restrict using or charging a power bank onboard, so arrive with devices charged and keep essential addresses, tickets, and contact details available offline.
- Read the airline's dangerous-goods page again shortly before departure.
- Do not use or charge a power bank during the flight when the airline prohibits it.
- Leave time at security in case staff need to inspect the label, approval, or recall status.
Before you rely on this answer
China travel rules and app behavior can change by city, route, account, passport, airline, and local inspection practice. Treat this page as a traveler-friendly starting point, then verify official or provider details before booking or packing anything important.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a power bank go in checked luggage?
No. CAAC and IATA passenger guidance treat power banks as spare batteries that belong in carry-on baggage, not checked baggage.
Does my power bank need a 3C or CCC mark for China?
For a mainland China domestic flight, CAAC prohibits power banks without a clear CCC mark and power banks from recalled models or batches. Confirm the latest rule with your operating airline before travel.
Is a 20,000mAh power bank allowed on a flight in China?
Capacity in mAh alone does not answer the flight rule. Check the unit's printed Wh rating, CCC mark for a domestic flight, recall status, condition, and the operating airline's policy. Up to 100Wh is the standard CAAC carry-on threshold.
Can I use a power bank during the flight?
Do not assume so. Airlines can restrict using or charging power banks onboard. Follow the crew and the operating airline's current dangerous-goods instructions.