China power bank rules ban portable chargers without a clear 3C or CCC mark on domestic flights. I travelled across China with an older OnePlus power bank that had no marking and fully expected to lose it. Here’s what happened, where the rule applies and how to avoid risking yours.
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Why I created this China power bank guide
While planning my trip to China, I spent far too long trying to work out what the power bank rules actually were.
Reddit was full of completely conflicting stories. Some travellers said power banks without a 3C mark were being confiscated in all train stations and airports immediately. Others had travelled across China without anyone looking at theirs twice. Then there were different answers depending on whether somebody was flying domestically, leaving China on an international flight or travelling by train.
It became difficult to separate the official rules from one person’s experience at one security checkpoint.
I created this guide to bring everything together in one place. It combines the current official rules for flights and trains with what actually happened when I travelled through Shanghai, Qingdao and Beijing carrying an older power bank without a 3C mark.
My experience is not a guarantee that yours will be the same, but it should help you understand where the rules apply, where the uncertainty comes from and how much risk you are comfortable taking.
China power bank rules at a glance
Domestic flights in mainland China
- The CCC or 3C logo must be clearly visible.
- Power banks with an unclear mark, no mark or a recalled model number can be refused.
- Up to 100Wh normally requires no airline approval.
- Between 100Wh and 160Wh requires airline approval, with a maximum of two.
- Anything above 160Wh is prohibited.
International flights to or from China
- Keep the power bank in your cabin baggage, never your checked suitcase.
- Its capacity and product information should be clearly readable.
- Up to 100Wh is generally accepted without prior airline approval.
- Between 100Wh and 160Wh normally requires airline approval, with a maximum of two.
- Airport security or your airline may apply stricter checks.
High-speed and regular trains
- Each power bank must be 100Wh or below.
- The capacity and product markings must be clear and readable.
- The official railway list does not currently state that a 3C mark is required.
- Keep it easy to remove because bags are screened when entering major stations.
- Damaged, swollen or suspicious batteries may still be refused.
The non-negotiable flight rules
- Never place a power bank in checked baggage.
- Do not travel with a damaged, swollen or recalled model.
- Make sure the capacity can be identified from the printed label.
- Do not use or recharge the power bank during the flight where prohibited by the airline.
- Check your airline’s latest policy before departure.
Official sources and last update
Power banks are one of those travel essentials you normally throw into your bag without giving them much attention.
Is it charged? Does the cable work? Will it keep your phone alive through a full day of maps, translations, photos and Alipay?
That is usually the full checklist. However, China adds another question: does it have a little CCC or 3C logo printed on it?
Before travelling, I had read enough about China’s power bank rules to know that mine could potentially be taken. My old OnePlus power bank did not display the required 3C marking, but it had also served me for years and was not something I would be devastated to lose.
I decided to bring it, fully accepting that it might disappear into a security bin somewhere along the route.
It made it through every train station without an issue. Then, while leaving China through Shanghai Pudong Airport, my tray was pulled aside and a security officer picked it up for a closer look.
I was fairly certain its time had come.
It had not.
Here is what happened, what the current China power bank rules actually say and why my experience should not be treated as permission to take the same gamble with your £100 portable charger.
Before you go to China, check out my guide to Bullet Train Travel in China
Can you take a power bank to China?
Yes, you can take a power bank to China.
The important part is how you plan to travel once you arrive.
China’s strict 3C power bank rule formally applies to domestic flights within mainland China. International flights follow the usual lithium battery and airline restrictions, while Chinese trains currently require power banks to have clear product markings and a capacity no higher than 100Wh.
That sounds relatively straightforward, but it becomes messy when travellers begin comparing personal experiences.
Some people have had power banks taken. Others have been questioned and allowed through. Plenty have crossed China without anyone looking at the logo at all.
My experience landed firmly in the final category, right up until my last airport security check.
What is the 3C mark on a power bank?
The 3C mark is another name for China Compulsory Certification, usually shortened to CCC.
It is a product safety certification used in mainland China. On a compliant power bank, you should see the CCC logo printed clearly on the device. It resembles three interlocking letter Cs, which is where the nickname 3C comes from.c
This is separate from the CE mark commonly found on electronics sold in Europe.
A power bank can be from a reputable international brand, work perfectly and carry other safety markings, but still have no Chinese 3C logo. That is where many foreign travellers get caught out.
They are not necessarily travelling with a suspicious battery bought from a questionable market stall. They may be carrying an expensive power bank purchased from a perfectly legitimate retailer at home.
It simply was not manufactured or labelled for the Chinese market.
Why are China’s power bank rules causing so much confusion?
Most of the confusion comes from people using “China’s power bank ban” to describe several different rules at once.
The stricter 3C requirement was introduced for domestic flights in mainland China from 28 June 2025. It bans power banks with no CCC marking, an unclear CCC marking or a model that has been recalled.
That does not automatically mean the exact same 3C requirement applies to every train journey, metro station or international flight leaving China.
However, bags are screened regularly across the Chinese transport network. Railway stations have airport-style security at the entrance, and your power bank can still be removed for inspection if staff cannot identify its capacity or have concerns about its condition.
The official rule and the experience you have at an individual security lane are not always going to feel identical.
That is why one traveller may insist their device was checked carefully, while another will tell you they carried the same model across five cities without anyone noticing it.
Both experiences can be true.
The power bank I brought to China
I brought an old OnePlus power bank that I had owned for years.
It still worked well, but it was no longer precious. The device has seen plenty of trips and there was no 3C logo anywhere on it.
Bringing it along for the trip was a deliberate choice.
I did not want to bring a brand-new or expensive power bank when there was a chance it could be confiscated. Losing this one would have been annoying, but it would not have ruined my trip or left me mourning a premium Anker in the middle of Shanghai Airport.
I also had a backup plan.
China is not a difficult place to buy electronics. Had mine been taken, I planned to visit Miniso, Xiaomi or one of the many electronics shops I passed in Shanghai, Qingdao and Beijing.
The worst-case scenario was buying another portable charger.
With that accepted, the OnePlus power bank went into my cabin bag.
Travelling on Chinese trains with my non-3C power bank
During my trip, I travelled by high-speed train between Shanghai, Qingdao and Beijing before returning to Shanghai.
Chinese railway stations have security screening at the entrance, so this was not a case of the power bank sitting untouched at the bottom of my bag for the entire journey. My luggage went through scanners repeatedly as I moved between cities.
Nothing happened.
It passed through every train station without being removed, questioned or examined. Nobody asked about the capacity and nobody searched for a 3C mark.
That matches the current railway wording more closely than the stricter domestic aviation rule. China Railway states that power banks should have clear markings and must not exceed 100Wh per unit. Its published restricted-items list does not currently say that every power bank taken onto a train must carry the 3C logo.
That does not mean every battered or unlabelled power bank will be accepted.
If the capacity cannot be read, the battery looks swollen or damaged, or security staff cannot work out what they are looking at, you may still have a problem. Bringing a device with clear labels removes a completely unnecessary argument from your journey.
Mine passed, but I would not build an entire China transport strategy around that result.
My Shanghai Pudong power bank inspection
After making it across China without so much as a second glance, I reached Shanghai Pudong Airport for my flight home.
My bags went through security, followed by the familiar wait for the trays to appear on the other side.
Then one of mine was diverted.
A security officer began checking the contents and picked up my power bank. She turned it over carefully, examining the small print on the casing.
At this stage, I had already accepted defeat.
I knew there was no 3C mark. She presumably knew there was no 3C mark. My power bank had enjoyed a long life, crossed several countries and survived more delayed flights than either of us cared to remember.
This appeared to be goodbye.
She looked at it for a few more seconds, placed it back in the tray and gave me a quick nod.
That was it.
I picked up my bag and walked away with the power bank still safely inside.
There was no explanation, no warning and no dramatic airport debate. It was checked, returned and allowed through.
I was lucky.
Does my experience mean you can ignore the 3C rule?
Absolutely not.
My flight from Shanghai Pudong was an international departure, rather than a domestic flight within mainland China. The official 3C ban was introduced specifically for domestic flights.
Even then, being allowed through one security check does not guarantee the same outcome for another traveller, airport or member of staff.
My experience only proves what happened to me on that particular journey. It does not create a loophole.
I also approached the trip knowing that I might lose the power bank and had chosen one that I could afford to surrender. That is very different from arriving with a costly new model and assuming a security officer will wave it through because somebody on the internet got lucky once.
Please do not take your fanciest power bank to China without the correct marking and use my experience as reassurance.
That, my friend, is a very expensive game of airport roulette.
China power bank rules for domestic flights
The strictest rule applies when taking a domestic flight within mainland China.
Since 28 June 2025, passengers have been prohibited from carrying power banks that:
- Have no visible CCC or 3C certification mark
- Have a CCC mark that is unclear or unreadable
- Belong to a recalled model or production batch
The normal battery-capacity rules also apply.
A power bank of up to 100Wh can usually be carried without airline approval. Devices above 100Wh but no higher than 160Wh require approval from the airline, and passengers are normally limited to two.
Power banks above 160Wh are prohibited for ordinary passenger travel.
Most standard phone power banks fall below 100Wh, but check the actual number printed on your device rather than guessing from its physical size.
The power bank must remain in your cabin baggage. It cannot be packed in checked luggage.
China power bank rules for international flights
The official notice banning non-3C power banks was written for domestic flights within mainland China.
International flights to and from China still follow lithium battery restrictions, airport security procedures and the individual policy of your airline.
For most travellers, the essential rules are:
- Keep the power bank in your cabin baggage
- Make sure its capacity and technical information are readable
- Do not bring a damaged, swollen or recalled battery
- Check with the airline before carrying anything above 100Wh
- Follow any instructions about using or charging it during the flight
Security staff can still inspect your power bank, as I discovered at Shanghai Pudong.
A missing 3C mark may not automatically result in confiscation on every international route, but I would not assume that it will be ignored. Airport and airline policies can be stricter than the minimum rule, and enforcement may vary.
China power bank rules for trains
China Railway currently permits clearly marked power banks and lithium batteries with a rated capacity of no more than 100Wh per unit.
The published railway rule focuses on two things:
- The markings must be clear.
- Each battery must be no more than 100Wh.
It does not currently state that the power bank must display the 3C logo.
Your luggage will usually be scanned before entering a major railway station, so keep the power bank somewhere accessible. There is no benefit in burying it underneath a week of laundry and creating a full suitcase excavation if security wants to see it.
My non-3C OnePlus power bank passed through every railway check during my trip, but it still had identifiable product information and was in good physical condition.
I would not travel with a swollen battery, a homemade device or anything so worn that the capacity can no longer be read.
Can China airport security confiscate your power bank?
Yes.
If your power bank does not meet the rules for your journey, security can refuse to let you take it through.
Depending on the airport, there may be an option to surrender it, temporarily store it or arrange for somebody outside security to collect it. Do not rely on those services being available, especially when you are short on time or leaving the country.
In practical terms, you should pack on the assumption that a rejected power bank may be lost.
That is why I chose an old device.
I knew that if the officer at Shanghai Pudong had dropped it into a confiscation box, I would have been mildly annoyed for about six minutes and then started looking for a replacement.
The equation changes considerably when the device is expensive, new or essential for specialist camera equipment.
What happens if your power bank is confiscated in China?
If security rejects your power bank, you will normally have to leave it behind before continuing with your journey.
There may occasionally be an option to step out of the security queue and hand it to somebody who is not travelling, but that is not much use when you are alone, running late or already halfway through an airport.
I would plan on the basis that a confiscated power bank is gone.
That sounds mildly disastrous in a country where your phone holds your payments, train tickets, translation apps, maps and access to Didi, but replacing the battery is much easier than you might expect.
China has two very practical alternatives: rent one temporarily or buy a compliant replacement.
Renting a power bank in China
Shared power-bank stations are everywhere in larger Chinese cities.
You will spot them in shopping centres, restaurants, cafés, metro stations, railway stations, airports, hotels and tourist attractions. They usually look like one of the small cabinets in the photo below, filled with portable batteries, with a QR code printed on the front. The grey brand is called Energy Monster, while the yellow one is Meituan.
They are handy when you only need enough power to get through the rest of the day and do not want to buy a new charger immediately.
How to rent a power bank in China
The exact screen varies between providers, but the process normally works like this:
- Find a power-bank rental station with batteries available.
- Scan the QR code using Alipay or WeChat.
- Open the provider’s mini-program and approve the rental.
- Confirm the payment method or deposit request.
- Wait for one of the power banks to unlock from the station.
- Use it while exploring and return it when you are finished.
Rental charges are normally based on time, so check the prices shown in the mini-program before confirming.
When you return it, make sure the app actually shows that the rental has ended. Do not push the battery into a slot, walk away and assume everything has worked. That is how an emergency phone charge quickly becomes a very expensive mistake.
You will also need to return it to a compatible station from the same company. An Energy Monster power bank, for example, cannot necessarily be dropped into another brand’s cabinet simply because the slot looks inviting.
Alipay is likely to be the easiest starting point for most international visitors, particularly if you have already linked your foreign bank card and completed the identity checks before travelling.
Before you travel to China, read my guide: The Best Apps for Travelling China: The Complete Foreigner Survival Guide
Some providers may still ask for additional verification or a Chinese mobile number. If one rental station refuses to cooperate, try a different provider rather than spending half an hour arguing with a machine while your phone sits on 3%.
I would treat rentals as a brilliant short-term backup after arriving in a city, rather than something I would rely on immediately before boarding a flight.
Buying a replacement power bank in China
The more permanent option is to buy a power bank after arriving.
Xiaomi stores are an obvious place to look, while Miniso branches, established electronics shops, larger shopping centres and some convenience stores may also stock them.
Buying inside mainland China gives you a much better chance of finding a model intended for the Chinese market, but do not assume every power bank on every shelf is automatically suitable.
Before buying, check the actual device for:
- A clear CCC or 3C logo
- A readable Wh rating
- The manufacturer and model number
- No damage or swelling
- A capacity suitable for your flights and train journeys
The mark needs to be visible on the power bank itself. A CCC logo printed only on the outer box will not be much help when airport security is examining the battery several days later.
I would also keep the receipt and packaging until the end of the trip, particularly if you plan to take domestic flights.
Xiaomi sells several reasonably sized power banks through its Chinese stores, and Miniso can be a useful budget option, but stock and certification can vary by model. Check first, buy second.
What was my backup plan?
If my old OnePlus power bank had been taken, I planned to buy another one from Miniso, Xiaomi or one of the many electronics shops I passed during the trip.
A rental power bank would have kept my phone alive until I found one.
That is also why I was comfortable bringing an older model. Losing it would have been inconvenient, but it would not have meant losing an expensive piece of kit or attempting to navigate Shanghai with a dead phone and no access to Alipay.
My power bank survived, but the backup options made the gamble far less stressful.
Where can you buy a 3C power bank in China?
Replacing a power bank in China should be relatively easy, particularly in a major city.
Look in:
- Miniso branches
- Xiaomi stores
- Huawei stores
- Baseus retailers
- Established electronics shops
- Large shopping centres
- Airport and railway station technology shops
Stock varies between branches, so check the actual device rather than assuming everything on the shelf is suitable.
Look for a clear CCC logo, readable capacity information and a recognisable manufacturer. I would also favour an established retailer over a cheap, unbranded power bank with very optimistic claims printed across the box.
Buying one inside China also gives you a much better chance of finding a model designed and certified for the domestic market.
If you know that your current power bank has no 3C marking and you plan to take domestic flights, buying a compliant replacement after arrival is the simplest option.
What should you check before buying a power bank in China?
Before paying, inspect the casing or packaging for:
- A visible CCC or 3C certification logo
- The rated capacity in Wh
- Clear manufacturer and model information
- No signs of damage, swelling or poor construction
- A capacity suitable for your planned flights and train journeys
Do not only check the mAh number on the front of the box.
The Wh rating is particularly important for air and rail travel, and it should be printed somewhere on the device. Airport staff need to be able to identify the battery capacity without conducting a maths lesson at the security desk.
Keep the receipt during your trip too. It may not override any transport rule, but it gives you proof of where and when the device was purchased should you discover a fault or recall notice.
What I would do differently on my next trip
I would bring a power bank with a clear 3C mark.
My old OnePlus survived the journey, but there was no particular victory in carrying it successfully. It simply added a small question mark every time my bag went through a security scanner.
The affordable approach would be to bring a compliant model from home or buy one shortly after landing in China.
I would not bring a premium non-3C power bank and hope for the same result I had. The money saved by avoiding a replacement would not be worth the possibility of losing it at the start of a domestic flight.
My OnePlus was effectively travelling on borrowed time.
It somehow returned home with me, where it can now enjoy retirement and tell the other cables about the day it survived Shanghai Pudong.
China power bank rules FAQs
Do power banks need a 3C mark in China?
Power banks need a clear CCC or 3C mark when being carried on domestic flights within mainland China. The current railway rule requires clear product markings and a maximum capacity of 100Wh but does not explicitly require 3C certification.
Can tourists take foreign power banks to China?
Yes. Tourists can bring foreign power banks into China, but devices without a 3C mark may not be accepted on domestic flights. Your power bank must also meet the relevant battery-capacity and cabin-baggage rules.
Will China confiscate a power bank without a 3C mark?
It can be refused at security, particularly before a domestic flight. Enforcement on international routes and other forms of transport may vary, but you should not bring a device you are unwilling to lose.
Can I take a power bank on a Chinese high-speed train?
Yes, provided it has clear markings and is no more than 100Wh per unit. Keep it accessible because bags are screened when entering major Chinese railway stations.
Can a power bank go in checked luggage?
No. Power banks should be carried in cabin baggage or on your person. They must not be placed in checked luggage.
What size power bank can I take on a flight in China?
Power banks up to 100Wh can normally be carried without airline approval. Models above 100Wh and no higher than 160Wh require airline approval, with a limit of two per passenger. Anything above 160Wh is prohibited.
Does the 3C rule apply to international flights leaving China?
The specific CAAC notice banning power banks without a clear 3C mark applies to domestic flights in mainland China. International passengers must still follow capacity, cabin-baggage, airport-security and airline requirements.
Where can I buy a compliant power bank in China?
Try established retailers such as Miniso, Xiaomi, Huawei, Baseus and larger electronics shops. Check the physical device for a clear CCC logo and readable Wh rating before buying it.
What happens if airport security rejects my power bank?
You may have to surrender it or arrange for somebody to collect it before you continue through security. Temporary storage may be available at some airports, but it should not be relied upon.
Should I bring an old power bank to China in case it gets taken?
I brought an old model because I was comfortable losing it, but that is not the best option. A compliant power bank with clear markings is far less stressful and avoids the risk of beginning part of your journey without one.
Why you can trust this guide
I travelled independently through Shanghai, Qingdao and Beijing in April 2026, using high-speed trains between the cities before departing China through Shanghai Pudong Airport.
I personally carried the older OnePlus power bank described in this guide. It passed through multiple railway security checks and was manually inspected at Shanghai Pudong before being returned to me.
This guide combines that first-hand experience with the published guidance from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and China Railway 12306.
My experience should be treated as one real journey rather than a guarantee of how another security officer will handle the same device.
Would I take a non-3C power bank to China again?
No. I got away with it, but there was no real upside beyond avoiding the cost of a replacement power bank.
If mine had been confiscated, I was ready to accept that and buy another one. That is the main reason the experience never became a major travel problem.
The outcome could have been completely different with another officer, another airport or a domestic flight.
Bring a compliant power bank, make sure the markings are easy to read and keep it in your cabin bag. It is a small bit of preparation that removes one more potential headache from travelling around China.
As for my old OnePlus, it survived. Against the odds, it came home for one more trip.
Updated: 22 July 2026
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