Your power bank might not be allowed on domestic flights in China
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Since 28 June 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has banned power banks from domestic flights if they don't carry the 3C (CCC) certification mark, if the mark is unclear, or if the model or batch has been recalled.
Most power banks sold in the US, Europe, Korea, Japan or Australia don't have the 3C mark, because they were never made for the Chinese market. So if you're flying within China, Beijing to Chengdu say, or Shanghai to Guilin, yours may be taken off you at security.
How it played out
The rule was announced on 26 June 2025 and enforced two days later, which is why so many people were caught. The South China Morning Post reported that travellers arrived at airports that weekend to be told their power banks couldn't come on board, and Executive Traveller wrote that thousands were having theirs confiscated, with discarded batteries piling up at checkpoints. It also reported that some passengers on international flights out of Shanghai were also stopped in the confusion.
The background is a run of battery incidents. China Daily reported that the CAAC counted 15 lithium-battery fire or smoke incidents in Chinese aviation in 2025 up to that point, and that a power bank caused the fire that damaged an Air Busan jet in South Korea that January. Major brands also recalled large batches around the same time, and some manufacturers had their 3C certification suspended.
My take: this isn't a rule that's going away or being enforced loosely. Airport security checks power banks one by one. Treat an unmarked power bank as something you'll lose.
Check yours in 30 seconds
- Look for the CCC logo on the casing, usually near the capacity and voltage text. It's a small oval with "CCC" inside. No logo, assume it won't pass.
- Check the label is legible. A worn or scratched mark counts as unclear, and unclear counts as no.
- Check the capacity. Under 100Wh is fine in hand luggage. Between 100Wh and 160Wh needs airline approval. Over 160Wh isn't allowed at all. If only mAh is printed, 27,000mAh at 3.7V is roughly 100Wh.
- Check for recalls if it's a big brand bought in the last couple of years. Recalled batches are banned even with a 3C mark.
The rules at a glance
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Domestic flight in mainland China | 3C mark required; carry-on only, never checked bags |
| International flight into or out of China | 3C not required by this rule, but your airline's limits apply |
| Any international flight since 27 March 2026 | ICAO limit of two power banks per passenger, no recharging the power bank in flight |
| High-speed train | Not covered by the CAAC rule; station security has its own checks |
That ICAO change matters too. In March 2026 the International Civil Aviation Organization capped power banks at two per passenger on international flights and banned recharging them on board. Some airlines go further and ask you not to use a power bank in flight at all, so listen for the crew announcement and do as they say.
What I'd do, by trip type
Only flying in and out of China, with trains in between? You can bring your own. The 3C rule is about domestic flights. Do check your airline's own rules for the international legs, and keep it in hand luggage.
Flying within China? Leave the unmarked one at home and buy a 3C-marked power bank after you land. Convenience stores, electronics shops and airport stores sell them, and the mark is standard on anything sold legally here. Keep the receipt and the box until the trip is over.
Short city break? Skip owning one altogether. Shared power banks are in almost every restaurant, mall and metro station. Scan the QR code on the station with Alipay, take one, return it to any station of the same brand. Just return it before you head to the airport.
Already at security with a non-compliant one? Ask about options. China Daily reported that airports were told to provide areas where you can abandon it, store it temporarily, or arrange to mail it. Mailing a battery isn't always simple, so for a cheap one, letting it go is usually the least painful choice.
Quick answers
My power bank has a CE or UL mark. Isn't that enough?
No. Those are European and US marks. The domestic flight rule asks for China's own 3C certification specifically.
Can I put it in checked luggage instead?
No. Power banks are banned from checked bags worldwide, and the Chinese rule covers carry-on and checked bags alike.
Does this apply to Hong Kong and Macau?
Not the 3C rule, which is mainland domestic. Both follow the ICAO limits instead. Macau, for example, set the two-power-bank limit and an in-flight charging ban from 29 March 2026.
Does a magnetic phone battery or a battery case count?
Treat it as a power bank. Security staff look at what it does, not what it's called, and a snap-on battery pack without the 3C mark gets the same answer as any other. If you rely on one, buy a 3C-marked version here or leave it behind for the domestic legs.
What about phones, laptops and cameras?
Built-in batteries in devices aren't affected. Spare camera batteries follow the normal lithium rules: hand luggage, terminals taped or in a case.
A universal adapter is still worth buying before you go. Get one with USB-C ports (the one I use, on Amazon). A power bank, only if it has the 3C mark. Everything else I carry is in my kit.
Sources: Yicai (CAAC notice); China Daily; South China Morning Post; Executive Traveller; ICAO; Macau GCS; The Standard; LoyaltyLobby. Check your airline before you fly.
If something here has changed, email me. I re-check every guide and update the date at the top.
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Written by David, who lives in China. About me