China Domestic Flights: Booking, Baggage and the New Power Bank Rules

The short version

China has one of the biggest domestic flight networks in the world, and foreign visitors can use it just like Chinese travelers.

• Book with your passport details. Trip.com and the airlines’ own websites work in English and accept foreign cards.
• Arrive about two hours before departure. Check-in usually closes 40 to 45 minutes before takeoff.
• Bring your passport. It is your ID at check-in, security and the boarding gate.
• Power banks on domestic flights must have a clear 3C (CCC) mark. You may carry two at most, only in your hand luggage, and you may not use or charge them during the flight.
• Lighters and matches are banned on Chinese flights, in both hand and checked luggage.

The power bank rules below come from Air China’s notice of 4 August 2026, issued under Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requirements, and CAAC’s 2025 notice on 3C marks, checked on 29 September 2026. These rules have changed several times since 2025. Check your airline’s latest notice before you fly.

Power bank rules on flights in China (2026)

This is where most foreign travelers run into trouble. Domestic flights in China are stricter than flights in Europe or the US.

What you can bring

What you can do on board

According to Air China’s August 2026 notice, which follows CAAC requirements:

• Do not use a power bank to charge any device during the whole flight.
• Do not charge a power bank from the seat power socket.
• Switch it off if it has a power switch.
• Keep it out of the overhead bin. Put it in the seat pocket or in a bag under the seat in front of you, protected from short circuits (for example, in its own pouch).

You can usually still charge your phone from the seat USB socket if the aircraft has one.

Why a power bank from home is a problem

The 3C mark is China’s compulsory product certification. Power banks bought in the US, UK, Europe or Australia usually do not carry it, even from well-known brands. On domestic flights, security staff check for the mark and will not let a power bank without one through.

What to do:

1. Buy a 3C-marked power bank in China. Convenience stores, electronics shops, supermarkets and airport shops sell them, usually for RMB 80 to 200 for 10,000 to 20,000 mAh. Look for the CCC logo printed on the case, not just on the box.
2. Choose 20,000 mAh or less to stay safely under 100 Wh.
3. On international flights leaving China, power banks bought abroad that meet the energy limits are generally accepted, but the 3C check still applies on any domestic leg of your trip.

How to work out watt-hours (Wh)

Most power banks print their rated energy in Wh. If yours shows only mAh:

Wh = mAh × voltage ÷ 1,000, using the battery cell voltage (usually 3.6 or 3.7 V).

If the label is unclear or worn off, security will treat the power bank as unidentifiable, and it will not fly.

If security stops your power bank

According to CCTV reporting in July 2026, airports usually offer three options:

• Hand it to someone who came to see you off.
• Mail it from the airport’s courier desk to your next hotel or home address.
• Leave it in temporary storage. Beijing Capital Airport, for example, stores it free for 7 days. After that, it is treated as abandoned.

Otherwise, you can give it up at the checkpoint.

International flights: the ICAO rule

Since 27 March 2026, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rule limits every airline passenger worldwide to two power banks and bans charging power banks during the flight. Your international airline may add stricter rules, such as not using power banks at all.

Shared power banks you rent from machines in cafes and malls in China must be returned before you go through airport security.

How to book domestic flights in China

Where to book

Main airlines: Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines. Low-cost airlines include Spring Airlines, West Air, Lucky Air and 9 Air.

Booking tips

• Enter your name exactly as in your passport, including middle names, and use your passport number. Your passport is your ID at every step.
• Book early for holidays. Chinese New Year, 1 to 5 May, the summer holidays and 1 to 7 October are the most expensive and sell out first.
• Check which airport. Beijing (Capital PEK or Daxing PKX), Shanghai (Pudong PVG or Hongqiao SHA), Chengdu (Tianfu TFU or Shuangliu CTU) and several other cities have two airports that are far apart.
• Read the baggage allowance before you pay. The cheapest fares, and all low-cost airlines, may not include checked bags.
• Morning flights are often more punctual. Afternoon and evening flights are more likely to be delayed, especially during summer thunderstorms.

Baggage allowance

Allowances depend on the airline and fare:

• Full-service airlines such as Air China, China Eastern and China Southern usually include a checked bag on standard economy fares, commonly around 20 kg, plus a small cabin bag. Basic or promotional fares may not include checked bags.
• Low-cost airlines such as Spring Airlines include only a small cabin bag, with strict weight limits. Checked bags cost extra.
• Liquids in hand luggage are stricter than in many countries: bring only small toiletries in containers of up to 100 ml, packed in a separate bag, and no drinks. Buy water after security. Baby food, milk and necessary medicine are allowed in reasonable amounts for the trip.

Your ticket or the airline’s website shows the exact allowance.

At the airport, step by step

1. Arrive about two hours before departure. Allow more at Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu, and during holidays.
2. Check in. Use a staffed counter or a self-service kiosk that scans passports. Check-in and bag drop usually close 40 to 45 minutes before departure, and late passengers are often not accepted. Online check-in in the airline’s app may work, but some functions need a Chinese ID.
3. Security. Foreigners usually join the staffed lanes, because the automatic gates are built for Chinese ID cards. Take out your laptop, tablet, power banks and umbrella for the X-ray. Security staff check power banks for the 3C mark here.
4. Go to the gate. Screens and announcements are in Chinese and English. Gates usually close 15 to 20 minutes before departure.
5. Boarding: show your boarding pass and passport.

Connecting from an international flight? Clear immigration and customs at your first Chinese airport, collect your bags, then check in again for the domestic flight. Allow at least 3 hours between flights. See arriving in China: immigration and customs.

Flight or high-speed train?

Train times are typical ranges for the fastest trains. Flights add about 2 to 3 hours for getting to the airport, security and boarding, so trains usually win up to about 5 or 6 hours. See how to book train tickets in China.

Are domestic flights in China safe?

Yes. Chinese airlines fly modern Airbus, Boeing and Comac aircraft and are regulated by the CAAC. The most recent fatal crash of a Chinese passenger airline was China Eastern flight MU5735 in March 2022, and fatal accidents are very rare.

The problems you are more likely to meet are:

• Delays, especially in summer thunderstorms and at busy hubs. Leave spare time before trains, tours and international connections.
• Airport changes and early closures of check-in. Arrive early.
• Power bank confiscation. Buy a 3C-marked one.

Getting to and from the airport

Most big airports are connected by metro or airport express. Taxis and DiDi work well from the official ranks and pickup zones. See how to get a taxi in China. Avoid drivers who approach you inside the terminal.

Plan flights and trains together

The best China routes often mix flights for long legs and high-speed trains for short ones. Our train ticket service handles rail bookings, and our free trip planning service can build a route that uses each where it makes sense.