Quick Summary: On flights in China a power bank is treated as a spare lithium battery: carry-on only, never checked; ≤100Wh (≈27,000mAh) needs no approval; 100–160Wh needs airline approval, max 2 per person; >160Wh or no legible rating = banned; and you may not use it to charge devices in-flight. Since June 28, 2025, domestic flights additionally ban power banks without a clear CCC mark or under recall. On high-speed trains the rules are looser: clear label + ≤100Wh, no CCC check. Verified September 2026.
This page is the rules table — the single reference for what flies, what needs approval, and what gets confiscated. For why the CCC mark suddenly matters and how to check yours before you fly, see the power bank CCC guide; for skipping the whole carry-a-battery question, see renting shared power banks.
The rules at a glance
| Rule | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on only | Power banks and all spare lithium batteries are banned from checked baggage | Applies worldwide on Chinese airlines (CAAC rule per ICAO dangerous-goods practice); your power bank never leaves your side |
| ≤100Wh | No airline approval needed | ≈27,000mAh at 3.7V — a 20,000mAh bank (74Wh) is comfortably inside |
| 100–160Wh | Airline approval required, max 2 per person | Arranged with the airline in advance; most consumer banks don’t hit this tier |
| >160Wh | Banned outright | No exceptions for passengers |
| Legible label required | Capacity must be printed, or calculable from printed voltage + mAh | A scratched-off or missing label = confiscation, however good the battery is |
| No in-flight use | You may not charge devices with a power bank during the flight | Banks with a power switch must stay switched off in flight |
| CCC check (domestic flights) | Since June 28, 2025: no CCC mark, unclear CCC mark, or recalled models/batches are banned | Applies to China-market power banks; foreign-bought units are outside this ban’s scope but follow all rows above |
The capacity rules, explained
China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) has enforced this framework since 2014 (CAAC power bank notice, as restated in its 2025 emergency notice — verified September 2026):
- Under 100Wh: treat 100Wh as the magic number. It equals about 27,000mAh at a battery’s 3.7V nominal voltage. Practically every consumer power bank — 5,000, 10,000, 20,000mAh — sits far below. Wh ≈ mAh ÷ 1000 × voltage, so 26,800mAh × 3.7V ≈ 99Wh: the classic “biggest legal bank” spec.
- 100–160Wh: equipment-tier batteries (camera rigs, pro gear) live here. You need the airline’s approval before flying, and each person can carry at most two spare batteries or power banks in this range.
- Over 160Wh: passenger-territory ends. Cargo channels exist; checkpoints don’t negotiate.
- The label is part of the rule: a power bank with no printed rating — or one you can’t derive from printed specs — is banned even if it’s tiny. Laser-etched generic banks with fake specs are a favorite confiscation.
The 2025 CCC ban: what changed at security
Following onboard battery fires and a wave of recalls (several major brands pulled batches over cell defects in 2025), CAAC issued an emergency notice effective June 28, 2025: domestic flights ban any power bank that (a) carries no CCC mark, (b) has an unclear/illegible CCC mark, or (c) belongs to a recalled model or batch. Airports added inspection at security, and self-abandonment/temporary-storage counters at checkpoints.
Does this apply to your foreign power bank? Mostly no — CAAC’s own clarification says the CCC ban targets power banks manufactured or sold in the Chinese market (which legally require CCC since August 2024) plus recalled products. A power bank you bought in the US or Europe isn’t required to carry CCC. It still must pass every row of the table above: clear label, ≤100Wh (or approved up to 160Wh), carry-on only. If your foreign-bought bank happens to be a recalled model, it’s banned regardless. The full breakdown — including how to read the mark and check recalls — is in our CCC power bank guide.
International vs domestic legs: the CCC ban covers flights whose origin and destination are both within China. On international routes your airline’s lithium-battery rules apply — but the baseline (carry-on only, ≤100Wh, legible labels) is standard worldwide, so a compliant bank clears every leg of your trip.
Do airlines have different rules?
The three big groups — Air China, China Eastern, China Southern — all enforce the CAAC baseline above; it’s a regulatory floor, not a suggestion. Where airlines differ is process, not thresholds: how you request 100–160Wh approval (usually in advance via hotline or app), and how strictly individual airports read faded CCC marks on China-bought banks. If you’re carrying anything in the approval tier or a borderline case, contact your airline before the travel day — at the checkpoint it’s too late to fix. (Airline-specific pages as of September 2026 — check your carrier’s dangerous-goods page for the approval channel.)
Power banks on trains: the looser sibling
China’s railways run different rules, and they never adopted the CCC check: the State Railway Administration’s passenger catalog (effective July 1, 2022) allows power banks with a clear label and ≤100Wh per unit — China Railway’s own customer service confirmed in 2025 that trains don’t check CCC marks or brands, only rated capacity (verified September 2026). Practical consequences:
- Your 20,000mAh bank rides every high-speed train — keep it with you, not in checked rail luggage (rail checked service is for bags, not spares).
- Over 100Wh or label-less? Same confiscation logic as airports, applied at station security.
- Station security X-rays bags just like airports — expect the power bank bin check on big stations.
For what else your bags can and can’t bring on board — size and weight limits per item — see our luggage storage & train luggage rules guide.
Quick decision checklist before you fly
- Capacity ≤100Wh (or ≤160Wh with airline approval in hand)?
- Label legible — Wh printed, or mAh + voltage printed?
- Not a recalled model (check your brand’s recall page)?
- In your carry-on, not the checked bag?
- Flying domestic in China + bank was bought in China → clear CCC mark visible?
- Prepared to keep it switched off and unused in-flight?
All yes = you fly. Any no = fix it before security does.
FAQ
Can I take a power bank on a flight in China?
Yes — carry-on only, ≤100Wh without approval (100–160Wh with airline approval, max 2 per person), with a legible capacity label. Since June 28, 2025, domestic flights also require China-market power banks to show a clear CCC mark and not be recalled models. Never in checked baggage, and no charging devices with it during the flight.
How many mAh can I bring on a plane in China?
About 27,000mAh is the no-approval ceiling (100Wh at 3.7V). A 20,000mAh bank is fine at 74Wh; a 30,000mAh bank is ~111Wh and needs airline approval; anything over ~43,000mAh (160Wh) is banned. The mAh-to-Wh math: Wh ≈ mAh ÷ 1000 × 3.7.
Is a power bank allowed in checked baggage in China?
No — this is the strictest rule and it’s universal: power banks and all spare lithium batteries must travel in carry-on baggage. Checked luggage found with one will get it pulled at security screening, sometimes delaying the whole bag.
Can I use my power bank during a flight in China?
No. Chinese aviation rules ban using power banks to charge devices in flight, and banks with power switches must remain switched off. Charge your phone before boarding; on long domestic flights, use the seat’s USB port if the aircraft has one.
Do power banks need CCC certification on Chinese trains?
No. Rail rules (effective July 2022) only require a clear label and ≤100Wh per power bank — China Railway staff confirmed the CCC mark is not checked on trains. The CCC requirement is aviation-only, applying to domestic flights since June 28, 2025.
Related Guides
- Power Bank CCC Rules in China — what the mark means, the 2024–2025 timeline, and a pre-flight check for your bank
- How to Rent a Shared Power Bank in China — the no-battery-in-your-bag alternative
- Luggage Storage & Train Luggage Rules in China — the 20kg/130cm train luggage limits and storage options
- China Metro Guide for Foreigners — what metro security expects from your bag
- First Week in China Checklist — the arrival setup that keeps your phone (and payments) alive