Power Bank CCC Rules in China: What Travelers Need to Know

Published Sep 4, 2026

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Quick Summary: A power bank that flies in China must pass three checks: a clear, legible rating label (capacity in Wh or numbers you can calculate it from), capacity within limits (≤100Wh no approval; 100–160Wh airline approval, max 2 per person; >160Wh banned), and — for power banks manufactured or sold in China — a CCC certification mark. Since June 28, 2025, domestic flights ban power banks with no CCC mark, an unclear CCC mark, or recalled models/batches. Power banks you bought abroad are not required to carry CCC, but they must still meet the label and capacity rules. Information as of September 2026.

This page owns the CCC question: what the mark is, why airports suddenly care, whether your power bank needs one, and how to check yours before you fly. It only brushes against the numbers game — the full capacity-table breakdown lives in our China power bank rules on flights guide, and if you’d rather not carry one at all, renting a shared power bank in China is a viable fallback.

Why every airport in China suddenly checks power banks

Three things collided in 2024–2025, and travelers are feeling all of them:

  1. CCC became mandatory for power banks sold in China. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced in 2023 (Announcement No. 10) that lithium-ion batteries and power banks fall under the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) regime. Certification ran from August 1, 2023, and after a one-year transition, from August 1, 2024 any power bank manufactured, sold, or imported in China without a CCC certificate and mark may not legally reach the market (SAMR official explanation, verified September 2026).
  2. Recalls hit major brands. In 2025 several big power bank brands recalled batches over battery-cell safety risks, and SAMR revoked or suspended CCC certificates for some manufacturers — meaning a power bank that has a CCC mark can still be recalled and grounded.
  3. The aviation regulator drew a hard line. Following onboard smoke/fire incidents, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued an emergency notice: from June 28, 2025, power banks with no CCC mark, an unclear CCC mark, or models/batches under recall are banned from domestic flights (CAAC notice as reported by China’s civil aviation press, verified September 2026). Airports now inspect power banks at security, and confiscated units pile up in bins at the gate.

Do I need a CCC power bank in China?

Depends on where your power bank came from — this is the official scope, straight from CAAC:

  • Bought in China (or made by a China-market brand)? It legally must have CCC since August 2024. If the mark is missing or worn off, it’s banned from domestic flights. Buy a replacement — compliant ones are cheap and everywhere (convenience stores, supermarkets, JD/Taobao).
  • Bought abroad (your home-country Anker, Samsung, Belkin, etc.)? It is not required to carry a CCC mark — CCC certification only applies to products manufactured or sold in the Chinese market. CAAC’s own clarification says the 2025 flight ban targets China-market products that should be certified but aren’t, plus recalled items. Your foreign power bank flies on domestic flights as long as it meets the baseline rules: clear label, ≤100Wh (or 100–160Wh with airline approval), carry-on only.
  • It’s a recalled model or batch? Banned, regardless of where you bought it. If your brand announced a recall in 2025, check your model and serial number before flying — Chinese security will.
  • Flying international into/out of China? The June 2025 CCC ban applies to flights whose origin and destination are both within China. International legs follow your airline’s lithium-battery rules — but note the baseline (carry-on only, ≤100Wh) is global standard practice, so a compliant power bank clears both.

How to check if your power bank passes

Sixty seconds at home saves your charger at the checkpoint:

  • Find the rating label. On the back or bottom: capacity in Wh (watt-hours), or mAh + voltage (Wh ≈ mAh ÷ 1000 × V, e.g. 20,000mAh × 3.7V ≈ 74Wh). If neither is printed or the label is scratched off — it doesn’t fly.
  • Locate the CCC mark if the brand sells in China. It’s a stylized “CCC” logo, usually printed or embossed near the label. Faint/faded counts as “unclear” at some airports — the strictness varies by airport.
  • Google “[brand] [model] recall” — 2025 saw multiple big recalls (Anker and Romoss among them). Recalled = banned on domestic flights.
  • Check the capacity math against the limits: ≤100Wh fine; 100–160Wh needs airline approval and max 2 units; >160Wh banned outright. A 30,000mAh bank (~111Wh) is over the no-approval line — leave it home. A 20,000mAh (~74Wh) is the sweet spot.
  • Flying domestic in China and bought the bank in China? No clear CCC mark = replace it before you fly. Airports offer self-abandonment and temporary storage areas, but you want your charger at your destination.

Buying a compliant power bank in China

If yours fails the checklist, replacing it locally is painless: convenience stores (FamilyMart, Lawson), airport shops, and electronics markets all stock 10,000–20,000mAh banks from ¥50–150. Anything legally sold in China now carries the CCC mark by law — the mark is your quality signal, so check the box. Popular domestic brands include Anker’s China lineup, Xiaomi, Baseus, and Ugreen. For the capacity rules the new unit must obey, see the flights rules guide — 20,000mAh stays under the 100Wh no-approval line.

FAQ

What is CCC on a power bank?

CCC (China Compulsory Certification) is China’s mandatory product-safety certification. Power banks sold in China must be CCC-certified since August 1, 2024 — the mark on the body certifies the battery passed national safety testing. It functions like CE marking in Europe or UL listing in the US.

Do I need a CCC power bank if I’m just visiting China?

No — you don’t need to buy a CCC-marked power bank to visit. Foreign-purchased power banks are outside the scope of the June 2025 domestic-flight ban, as long as yours has a clear capacity label, is ≤100Wh (or has airline approval up to 160Wh), and isn’t a recalled model. Every power bank, foreign or domestic, must travel in carry-on baggage only.

Why was my power bank confiscated at a Chinese airport?

The three usual reasons: no legible capacity rating (label missing or unreadable), capacity over 160Wh, or — on domestic flights since June 28, 2025 — a missing/unclear CCC mark or recalled model. There’s a fourth in-flight rule travelers miss: using a power bank to charge devices during the flight is banned in China, so put it away after boarding.

Can I bring my power bank to China from the US/Europe?

Yes — with a clear Wh label, ≤100Wh, in your carry-on. That combination clears Chinese airports and most world airports alike. Check for recalls before you go, and remember it stays in your carry-on for every leg, including onward domestic flights inside China.

Which power bank should I buy for China travel?

A 10,000–20,000mAh (37–74Wh) unit from a major brand with a clearly printed label — it clears the 100Wh line, charges a phone 2–5 times, and, if bought in China, comes CCC-certified automatically. Match it with a working payment setup, because your phone is your wallet in China: see how to pay in China before you land.