China Packing List: Documents, Power Banks, and Backups
A practical first-trip packing list that separates China entry rules from railway and domestic-flight security checks.
Pack the original passport in hand baggage, plus offline hotel and transport details, two payment routes, medicines in clear packaging, and the right chargers. Check Customs, your international carrier, and any domestic flight or train rules separately. In particular, do not apply a China domestic-flight power-bank rule to the international flight that brings you into China.
Do the three stepsPack by task and transport leg
Keep entry documents and first-arrival essentials with you. Then test uncertain items against the rule for the exact border, flight, or railway leg where you will carry them.
Do these three things
These three actions cover the normal path. Special cases and deeper detail follow below.
- 1
Build a hand-baggage essentials set
Carry the original passport, live bookings, first-hotel name and address, essential medicine, phone, charging cable, and separate payment backups where you can reach them.
- 2
Check every restricted item by travel leg
Review entry Customs, the airline and departure-airport rules for the international flight, CAAC rules for China domestic flights, and railway rules for train journeys.
- 3
Remove unclear items before departure
Confirm labels, capacity, permits, and packaging. If an item still cannot be verified, leave it behind or ask the responsible carrier or authority before travel.
Which check controls this item?
One item can pass one travel leg and fail another. Apply the rule for the exact step where you will carry it.
Check China Customs
Use current baggage declaration and import rules for items you bring across the border.
Check the China flight rule
For a flight within China, confirm current CAAC, airport, airline, battery, liquid, and baggage conditions.
Check railway security rules
Use the current official railway restricted-items catalogue and any temporary station notice.
You are ready when...
- Your original passport and first-arrival details are in hand baggage.
- You have checked Customs, flight, and train rules as separate tasks.
- Every power bank has a clear capacity label and meets the rule for each planned leg.
- You have removed or confirmed every medicine, food, liquid, battery, and restricted item that was uncertain.
Special cases and detailed steps
Use these sections when the normal path does not fit your conditions. They cover exceptions, extra checks, and longer recovery steps.
Keep first-arrival essentials with you
Put the original passport, arrival booking details, first-hotel name and address, phone, charging cable, essential medicine, and at least two payment routes in secure hand baggage. A saved document copy can help with recovery, but it does not replace the original passport.
Keep one small set of clothes and basic toiletries available if checked baggage is delayed. Check liquid and security limits with the airline and airports on your actual route.
Separate the three restricted-item checks
China Customs controls what crosses the border. The airline, airports, and origin-country security rules control your international flight into China. CAAC and domestic carriers control flights within China. Railway authorities control train security.
Do not move a rule from one route to another. In particular, the CAAC notice about CCC marks is for power banks on domestic flights in China. It is not evidence for the international flight that brings you to China.
Check power banks twice when the trip uses trains and flights
For China domestic flights, check the current CCC-mark restriction, airline rules, airport notices, and any recall information. The CAAC notice took effect on 28 June 2025 for domestic flights.
For trains, the national catalogue requires a clear marking and limits power banks or lithium batteries to 100 Wh. A station can apply tighter controls for a specific place or time. Check the live rule before every long transfer.
Treat uncertain medicines, food, and equipment as separate cases
Keep medicines in clear original packaging where practical and carry the supporting prescription or medical note that your route may require. Check current Customs and carrier rules for each medicine, food item, plant or animal product, tool, spray, liquid, battery, or specialist device.
If you cannot confirm an item, leave it behind or contact the responsible authority or carrier. Do not rely on another traveler's past experience.
If something does not work
Match the issue to one recovery step, then move to the backup when time matters.
You applied the China domestic-flight CCC rule to your inbound flight
Check the international airline, departure airport, and origin-country security rules for that flight. The cited CAAC CCC restriction is specifically for domestic flights in China.
Your power bank has no clear capacity label
Do not depend on it for a China train. The official railway catalogue requires clearly marked power banks or lithium batteries and sets a 100 Wh limit. Check the domestic-flight CCC rule separately.
You packed the passport in checked baggage
Move the original passport to secure hand baggage before check-in. It is needed for border inspection and later identity checks.
A station applies a tighter temporary control
Follow the live official instruction. The national railway catalogue allows stricter controls for a specific place or time.
If staff reject a non-essential item, follow their instructions and use an approved disposal or storage option where available. Do not argue from a rule for a different transport leg. Keep essential documents, medicine, and money separate from items that may be removed.
Sources and currentnessReviewed 19 Jul 2026; next review due 26 Jul 2026
Recheck when it matters: Check your international airline and departure airport, then recheck CAAC or the domestic carrier for flights within China and the current railway catalogue for trains. Live station or airport controls can be stricter for a particular place or time.
- GACC Announcement No. 43 of 2025 on Passenger Baggage DeclarationsGeneral Administration of Customs via the State Council
- CAAC Bans Passengers from Carrying Power Banks Without CCC Markings or from Recalled Models on Domestic FlightsCivil Aviation Administration of China
- Catalogue of Prohibited and Restricted Items for Railway PassengersNational Railway Administration and Ministry of Public Security via the State Council
- Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of ChinaNational Immigration Administration
Frequently asked questions
Does my passport need six months left for every China trip?
Do not use one six-month rule for every route. The cited NIA law supports carrying a valid original travel document. Check the exact entry route, visa office, and carrier conditions for your trip.
Does every power bank used in China need a CCC mark?
The cited CCC restriction applies to power banks carried on domestic flights in China. Railway rules use a separate clearly marked capacity and 100 Wh check. Other travel legs have their own rules.
Can I carry a power bank on a China train?
The national railway catalogue allows clearly marked power banks and lithium batteries at or below 100 Wh, but a stricter temporary control may apply. Recheck before travel.
Should important documents go in checked baggage?
No. Keep the original passport and first-arrival details secure and accessible in hand baggage. A copy is only a backup and does not replace the original.