Domestic Flights in China: Booking, Airports & What to Expect

China has 259 commercial airports and more than 4,500 domestic routes, so for long trips, flying is often the fastest way across the country. But the high-speed train (高铁, gāotiě) now covers most of the populated regions and beats flying on a lot of routes. This guide covers when a flight actually makes sense, which airlines to book and how, the security and baggage rules that catch foreigners off guard, and what happens when your flight is delayed.

Flight or train? The honest comparison

This is the first question to answer before you book anything. China's rail network is so good that for many popular routes, the train is simply the better choice — and it's not close.

The rough rule of thumb that researchers and frequent travelers both use: high-speed rail is most competitive on routes between roughly 160 and 800 km. Beyond about 800 km, flying usually wins on total time. The reason isn't just the cruising speed — it's everything around the journey. Door-to-door, getting from your accommodation through check-in and security takes around two hours at an airport versus a bit over an hour at a train station, because rail stations are usually more central and security is faster.

China's high-speed lines run up to 350 km/h on flagship routes, and the network covers 97% of cities with urban populations over 500,000. So a lot of "short" flights make little sense once you add airport time, the buffer for delays, and the trek out to the airport.

Some concrete examples. Beijing ⇄ Shanghai (about 4.5–5 hours by train) works well either way — the train is reliable and city-center to city-center, the flight is faster in the air but loses time on both ends. Shanghai ⇄ Hangzhou or Suzhou (30–60 minutes by train) is a clear win for rail; don't even consider flying. But for long or awkward routes — Xi'an ⇄ Guilin, Shanghai ⇄ Guilin, anything to the far west or to Hainan — fly.

The main domestic airlines

China has a lot of carriers, but a handful dominate. By domestic capacity, the "big three" are China Southern, China Eastern, and Air China — together they hold roughly 58% of the market. After them come Hainan Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Spring Airlines, and Juneyao Airlines.

For most travelers, any of the full-service carriers will be fine — the safety record across Chinese aviation is strong, with a ten-year rolling major accident rate of just 0.0249 per million flights as of 2023. A few notes that actually matter when choosing:

• Hainan Airlines was named Best Airline in China for 2024 by Skytrax, and tends to get good marks for service.
• Spring Airlines (春秋航空, Chūnqiū) is China's main low-cost carrier — think of it as the local Ryanair. Base fares are cheap, but baggage, seat selection, and food are extra, and onboard purchases often need cash or Alipay/WeChat Pay. There's no free checked baggage allowance, so read the fare details before you book.
• The big three and most full-service airlines include a checked bag and usually a meal on most routes, though always confirm at booking.

How to book a domestic flight

You have three practical options as a foreign visitor:

1. Airline websites — China Southern, Air China, China Eastern and others have English-language sites and accept major international cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex).
2. Third-party platforms — Trip.com is built for international travelers, with an English interface and international card support. Ctrip (its Chinese parent) and Fliggy also work but lean toward domestic users.
3. Airport counters — possible but rarely the cheapest, and not worth it unless you're already there.

One thing to know: some smaller local booking sites only accept China-issued bank cards, so if a payment fails, switch to a major international platform rather than fighting it.

On pricing — there's no reliable published "average fare" because prices swing hard with season, demand, and how far ahead you book. Domestic fares tend to be most stable around one to two months before departure. Booking around major holidays like Chinese New Year or the October Golden Week is both expensive and crowded; if you can, avoid those windows or book very early. Always check current prices yourself rather than trusting a figure you read somewhere.

If you want to compare fares across airlines in one place, Trip.com is a straightforward starting point for searching and booking domestic routes with an international card.

Baggage rules: weight, not pieces

Here's a key difference from many Western airlines: most Chinese domestic flights use a weight-based allowance, not a piece-based one. Typical free checked allowance on full-service carriers:

• Economy: 20 kg
• Business: 30 kg
• First: 40 kg
• Infant: 10 kg

A single checked bag shouldn't exceed 100×60×40 cm. Carry-on is usually one piece in economy, around 5 kg and within 55×40×20 cm. Excess baggage is charged by the kilo — China Southern, for example, bills 1.5% of the full one-way adult economy fare per excess kilo, which adds up fast on expensive routes.

Low-cost carriers are different. Spring Airlines includes no free checked baggage, so factor that into the "cheap" fare. You can see the full official rules on the China Southern baggage page as a reference for what full-service allowances look like.

Security rules that catch foreigners out

Chinese domestic security has a few rules that differ from what you might be used to, and they're enforced strictly.

Liquids

On domestic flights, liquids generally cannot go in your carry-on at all — the exception being personal-use cosmetics, toothpaste, and shaving cream. Each cosmetic item is limited to one container under 100 mL and may be opened for inspection; toothpaste and shaving cream are limited to 100 g/mL each. Everything else liquid goes in checked baggage. This is stricter than the "one clear bag of small liquids" rule many travelers expect.

Power banks — the rule that trips people up

This one changed recently and catches a lot of people. On mainland China domestic flights, a power bank must carry a clear, valid 3C (CCC) certification mark. Power banks with no 3C mark, an unclear mark, or from a recalled model or batch are banned from the cabin. This applies only to mainland domestic flights.

Beyond the mark, the usual lithium battery rules apply: power banks go in carry-on or on your person only — never in checked baggage — and can't be used during the flight. Capacity of 100Wh or under is fine (up to two per person); 100–160Wh needs airline approval; over 160Wh is banned.

Alcohol

Alcohol can't go in carry-on at all; it must be checked. Drinks at 24% ABV or below are unrestricted as checked baggage; 24–70% is capped at 5 L per passenger; anything over 70% is banned entirely, checked or carry-on.

The full official list of permitted and restricted items is published by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) — worth a quick look if you're carrying anything unusual.

At the airport

China's busiest airports are big and busy — in 2024 the industry carried over 730 million passengers, a record. The ten busiest by domestic passenger volume are Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun, Beijing Capital, Shenzhen Bao'an, Chengdu Tianfu, Beijing Daxing, Chongqing Jiangbei, Hangzhou Xiaoshan, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Kunming Changshui. Pudong overtook Baiyun as the country's busiest airport in 2024.

A few practical points:

• Bring your passport. It's your ID for booking, check-in, and security. Keep it accessible.
• Arrive early. Domestic check-in counters and security can close well before departure, and big airports have long walks between terminals and gates. Official cut-off times vary by airport and airline, so check your specific airport's guidance — but giving yourself two hours is sensible at a major hub.
• Several major cities have more than one airport. Beijing has Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX); Shanghai has Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA). They can be far apart — double-check which one your flight uses.

For the two cities most travelers transit, we have dedicated breakdowns of terminals, transport, and timing in the Beijing Airport Guide and Shanghai Airport Guide.

Delays: what to expect and your rights

Delays are the real downside of flying in China. The headline numbers actually look reasonable — in 2023 the on-time rate was 87.80% and the average delay was about 10 minutes — but those averages hide bad days, and weather is the single biggest cause, accounting for over 60% of irregular flights. Airline-caused issues were under 15%.

What that means in practice: a summer afternoon flight through a thunderstorm region, or any flight during a heavy-traffic holiday, carries real delay risk. If your schedule is tight (a same-day international connection, for example), build in a buffer or take the train where you can.

What the airline owes you

This is where the rules get specific, and they hinge on why the flight is delayed:

• Airline's own fault (mechanical, crew, scheduling): the airline must provide meals and, if needed, accommodation.
• Not the airline's fault (weather, air traffic control, security, passenger issues): the airline helps you arrange meals and lodging, but you pay.
• If you're delayed at a connecting or diverted point, the airline provides meals or accommodation regardless of cause.

Cash compensation for delay is decided by each airline, not by law — there's no nationwide payout schedule. Air China, for example, pays 200 RMB for a 4–8 hour delay caused by the airline, and 400 RMB for 8 hours or more. Other carriers set their own terms in their conditions of carriage. Weather and ATC delays usually carry no compensation.

The airline must notify you of a status change within 30 minutes through its app, website, SMS, or airport announcements. If you're stuck on the plane (tarmac delay), they must update you every 30 minutes, provide water and food after 2 hours, and let you off after 3 hours if there's no clear departure time.

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to fly within China?

Yes. Chinese aviation has a very strong safety record, with a ten-year rolling major accident rate of 0.0249 per million flights as of 2023 — among the best in the world.

Can foreigners book domestic flights without a Chinese phone number or bank card?

Yes. Use an international platform like Trip.com or an airline's English site, both of which accept major foreign credit cards. You'll need your passport details for the booking.

Should I fly or take the train between major cities?

For routes under about 800 km with a good high-speed line — Beijing–Shanghai, anything in the Yangtze Delta — the train is usually as fast door-to-door and far more reliable. For longer hauls or remote destinations, fly. See our High-Speed Train Complete Guide to compare.

What happens to my no-3C power bank?

On a mainland domestic flight, it can be confiscated at security. Either buy a 3C-certified one locally, or travel with it on the train, which has no 3C requirement.

Bottom line

Flying within China is efficient, safe, and well worth it for long distances and remote spots — but it's not the default answer it might be back home, because the high-speed train wins on so many routes. Decide route by route: under ~800 km with a fast train, take the train; longer or awkward, fly. Book a month or two ahead on Trip.com or an airline's English site, pack liquids and alcohol in checked bags, keep your power bank (with a 3C mark) and valuables in your carry-on, bring your passport, and arrive early. Build in a delay buffer in summer and around holidays, and you'll be fine.

Next, sort out your specific airports and your city-to-city plan — the airport guides and rail guide linked above are the natural next reads.

Last updated: June 2026