Many international travelers send us feedback complaining about the confiscation of their power banks when departing from China.
This guide explains what 3C certification is and how to check whether your power bank has it. Also, if your power bank doesn’t meet the requirements, where can you buy one that does? Read this guide to find out.
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- Can I Bring Power Banks to China?
- The Latest CAAC Regulation: Is 3C Certification Mandatory?
- China Flight Power Bank Limits by Capacity (mAh vs. Wh)
- What If My Power Banks Are not Allowed on Board?
- How and Where to Get Power Banks in China?
- Regulations on Power Banks: International Flights VS Domestic Flights & Other Transportation Modes in China
- Conclusion
Can I Bring Power Banks to China?
China allows international travelers to bring power banks in. But you need to be aware that air travel has strict rules for lithium-battery power banks. From June 28, 2025, flights to China are subject to new, stricter 3C/CCC certification checking rules.
- No Check-in Allowed, Carry-on Only
Regardless the capacity of your power banks, you can’t put them in your check-in luggage. The Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) of China requires that power banks be carried in your carry-on luggage only.
- For Personal Use Only
The power banks you bring in should be for personal use only. Ordinary travelers do not need to carry multiple power banks of the same model.
Each passenger may carry no more than two power banks with a rated energy between 100Wh and 160Wh.
Moreover, travelers should not use power banks to charge their phones, tablets, and other electronic devices. If your power banks have independent switches, please make sure you turn them off during the flight.
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The Latest CAAC Regulation: Is 3C Certification Mandatory?
From June 28, 2025, CAAC has prohibited power banks that don’t have 3C certification markings, have unclear 3C markings, or belong to recalled models or batches on board. International airports and airlines have also implemented stricter rules on power banks.
What is 3C/CCC certification?
3C (CCC) is short for China Compulsory Certification.
Although you are not required to be an expert in the complicated certification system, you should only bring in products with clear CCC/3C markings printed on them. The security checks don’t accept smeared, terribly worn, or indistinguishable markings.
Will My Power Banks Be Confiscated by the Airport If They Don’t Have 3C Certification?
Accurately speaking, you can’t bring a non-3C certified power bank on to a domestic flight in China. That doesn’t mean the security check staff would confiscate your power banks.
Subject to the practical implementation of the airport, you may discard, store, mail, or dispose of power banks in other ways as provided by the airport. Some airports support services for storing, mailing, and recycling power banks.
China Flight Power Bank Limits by Capacity (mAh vs. Wh)
The criterion that also matters when judging whether a power bank is allowed on board is Wh (watt-hour), not just mAh.
Rated Energy |
CAAC Regulation |
With Airline Approvals |
≤100Wh |
allowed in carry-on luggage |
no need |
>100Wh |
allowed in carry-on luggage if ≤160Wh |
allowed (get approvals in advance) — maximum 2 per person |
>160Wh |
prohibited |
prohibited |
Note: CAAC also stipulates that power banks without their rated energy marked or the rated energy of which cannot be calculated through marked parameters, are also prohibited on the flights.
Top Recommendation for Travelers: Under 100Wh
10,000mAh and 20,000mAh are both commonly applied to power banks; their rated energies are usually lower than 100Wh (the actual rated energy marked on the product should still be used as the basis) and meet the standards of power bank limits.
Airline Approvals Needed: Between 100Wh and 160Wh
You don’t have to panic if your power bank has a rated energy between 100Wh and 160Wh— it is not necessarily prohibited. However, make sure each passenger carries no more than two of them and receives airline approval ahead of your flight.
For ordinary travelers, such a high rated energy is not necessary for everyday use. A power bank rated at 100Wh or below would cause you less inconvenience, unless you have a high electricity demand for your devices.
How to Convert mAh to Wh?
You may use the formula below to convert the mAh marked on your power bank to Wh:
Wh = voltage（V）× mAh ÷ 1000
E.g. (calculated according to the common 3.7V):
10,000mAh ≈ 37Wh
20,000mAh ≈ 74Wh
26,800mAh ≈ 99.16Wh
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What If My Power Banks Are not Allowed on Board?
Airports in China have established stricter rules on power bank regulation, especially for domestic flights.
After the implementation of the new rules in 2025, some airports have developed services like power bank self-checking, recall model lookup, and temporary power bank storage.
How Does an Airport Security Check Work?
Power banks are usually X-rayed along with your carry-on luggage.
If the security asks for further inspection, they may look at:
- whether the 3C/CCC mark is clear;
- whether the power bank casing and product identification are complete;
- whether the rated energy is clear;
- whether they belong to a recalled model or batch;
- whether the capacity requirements for air transport are met.
Therefore, it would be more time-efficient if you put them in an accessible spot rather than burying them deep under other belongings, in case an inspection is required.
What Should I Do with Power Banks That Do Not Meet the Requirements?
If your power banks fail to meet the requirements for domestic flights at the airport, you may ask the staff about storing, mailing, or recycling services.
Currently, airports such as Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, Shanghai Hongqiao, Guangzhou Baiyun, Shenzhen Bao’an, and Hangzhou Xiaoshan have set up free temporary storage or subsequent disposal facilities (usually 7 days).
However, these services may vary between airports and terminals, so don’t count on free storage services at all airports. The safest approach is to ask staff at the security checkpoint for specific storage duration and processing methods.
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How and Where to Get Power Banks in China?
If you are unsure whether your power banks meet the requirements, buying a new product that does after you arrive in China is the most hassle-free solution.
How Do I Choose a Power Bank That Is Allowed on a Flight to China?
Check the four criteria before your purchase:
- Whether the products have clear 3C/CCC certification markings
This is important if you are taking a domestic flight in China
- Whether the rated energy is ≤100Wh
It is the safest rated energy for ordinary travelers
- Whether the products have complete product parameters
Make sure you can find information like capacity, voltage, and rated energy on the product casing
- Whether you buy the power banks from reliable, formal channels
Choose formal, authorized brands and channels; avoid unbranded power banks with unclear parameters or from unknown sources
Where Can I Buy Power Banks in China?
Common purchasing channels include shopping malls, electronics stores, convenience stores, as well as e-commerce platforms like JD.com and Taobao.
To purchase online, you may search under the keyword “3C充电宝 (3C power bank)”. But don’t take the promotional claims on the product page at face value; you should still check that the product has clear CCC markings and complete rated energy information after receiving it.
How Can I Rent Shared Power Banks in China?
If you don’t want to travel with a large-capacity power bank abroad, you can always rent a shared power bank in China.
Power bank rental stations are widespread in shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, airports, train stations, and some tourist attractions in major cities of China.
Only a few simple steps are needed:
- find a power bank rental station/machine
- scan the QR code on the machine ( with WeChat or Alipay)
- follow the instructions to transfer to the rental service page and select the rental duration
- complete the payment or authorization
- take out the power bank
- return it to the designated rental station after use
Note:
- A prerequisite for the power bank rental service is that your WeChat or AliPay account has completed real-name authentication and is linked to your credit card.
- You need to scan the QR code to start the rental service, so make sure your phone battery lasts until then.
- The common charge is CNY 2 to 4 per hour, with a 24-hour cap ranging from CNY 15 to 30.
Regulations on Power Banks: International Flights VS Domestic Flights & Other Transportation Modes in China
Regulations on power banks vary by mode of transportation. A common misunderstanding is that 3C certification is required for all flights to China.
Is 3C Required for International Flights to China?
The current non-3C ban regulated by the CAAC targets only domestic flights in China. So you should not treat 3C as compulsory for all international flights to China.
However, international flights are also required to comply with the airlines’ regulations and international regulations for traveling with dangerous goods.
International tourists need to check their itineraries:
For example, if you are flying from Paris/New York to Beijing, and then transferring to a connecting flight from Beijing to Xi’an, your power bank needs to meet the 3C requirements for the domestic leg.
In short, if your China tour contains any domestic flights, always make sure your power banks have 3C certification.
Can I Bring Power Banks on a High-Speed Rail in China?
According to China Railway’s current regulations, passengers are allowed to bring power banks and lithium batteries that have clear markings, with the rated energy below 100Wh. You don’t need a 3C marking for a power bank if you take the high-speed rail.
Therefore, if you travel on high-speed rail routes such as Beijing-Xi’an, Shanghai-Hangzhou, or Guangzhou-Shenzhen, you may follow different rules than those for flights, but you still have to ensure that the product capacity falls within the limits.
Conclusion
If you want to avoid wasting time on complicated power bank rules at the airport, complete the five steps on the checklist below before departure and during your trip:
- Don’t put your power banks in your check-in luggage;
- Check the Wh number or rated energy printed on the products;
- Choose ≤100Wh power banks if possible;
- Make sure your power banks have clear 3C/CCC markings if you are taking domestic flights in China;
- Don’t charge your devices with your power banks during the flight.
For most international tourists, choosing a power bank rated at 100Wh or below, with complete product information and clear CCC/3C markings, can save time at airport security.
10,000mAh doesn’t guarantee that your power banks will be allowed on a domestic flight in China if it does not have a recognized 3C marking. The power bank rules cover both the capacity limits and 3C certification.
Keeping these key points in mind will make your trip to China effortless and avoid having your power banks “confiscated”, stored, or discarded at the airport.
