China Plug Adapters, Voltage and Power Bank Rules for Travelers

Mainland China runs on 220 volts at 50 Hz. Most visitors need a plug adapter but not a voltage converter: if your phone, laptop or camera charger says "100–240V" on its label, it works on Chinese power, and the only problem is the shape of the plug. The rule that catches the most people is about power banks: since 28 June 2025, a power bank without a clear CCC (3C) mark cannot go on a flight inside mainland China.

Do I Need a Plug Adapter or a Voltage Converter for China?

Plug adapter: yes, for most travelers. Chinese wall sockets take two plug shapes: two flat parallel pins (the shape used in North America and Japan, often called Type A) and three flat pins with two of them set at an angle (often called Type I). Round-pin European plugs usually don't fit compliant Chinese sockets, square-pin UK plugs and most other shapes don't either, so bring an adapter; and even plugs that look right can sit loosely; the next section shows which plugs fit.

Voltage converter: only for devices that accept 110–120 V and nothing else. Chargers for phones, laptops, tablets and cameras are almost always dual-voltage. Hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons from North America or Japan are the usual exceptions. The voltage section below shows how to check in ten seconds.

Do not plan around "universal" hotel sockets. China's current sockets keep the two-pin holes and the three-pin holes separate, and the old universal-hole sockets that were built to accept British, American and European plugs have been banned from production since 1 June 2010 because their oversized holes caused shock and overheating risks. You may still find one in an older hotel room. Do not count on it.

The electronics kit that covers almost everyone:

• One universal travel adapter (two if you are sharing a room).
• A multi-port USB charger marked 100–240V, so one adapter charges your phone, watch and earbuds at the same time.
• Your usual cables, plus a spare phone cable.
• A power bank of 100 Wh or less with a clear CCC mark printed on it, if you will take any domestic flights.
• A travel eSIM or a plan for a local SIM card (see the phone section).

For everything else that goes in the suitcase, see our China packing list.

What Plug Does China Use? Sockets and Plug Shapes

The national standard for household plugs and sockets in mainland China is GB 1002-2024. It became mandatory on 1 August 2025 and fully replaced the older GB/T 1002-2021. For a traveler, the standard looks like this on the wall:

• The two-pin socket: two flat parallel slots, no earth. It takes flat two-pin plugs (Type A).
• The three-pin socket: three flat slots, two of them angled, with an earth pin. It takes the Chinese three-pin plug (Type I).
• The standard wall plate: one two-pin socket and one three-pin socket on the same plate, with the two sets of holes kept apart. Chinese people call it the "five-hole socket".

Some practical notes on what fits:

• US and Canadian plugs: flat two-pin plugs usually fit. Some have one pin wider than the other, and that wide pin may not go in. A US three-pin plug with a round earth pin does not fit at all. An adapter solves both.
• Japanese plugs: flat two-pin plugs usually fit the two-pin socket.
• Australian and New Zealand plugs: similar three-pin shape and often fit, but the plugs are made to a different standard. Pack a small adapter as a backup.
• European round-pin plugs: usually don't fit compliant sockets. Bring an adapter.
• UK, Indian and South African plugs: you need an adapter.

If a plug goes in loosely or wobbles, stop using that socket. A loose contact gets hot. Use your adapter in a socket where it sits firmly.

Power strips bought in China are covered by their own mandatory standard, GB 2099.7-2024, also in force since 1 August 2025. A Chinese power strip has Chinese sockets, so it does not remove the need for your adapter. If you want several outlets, a multi-port USB charger from home is the simpler choice. If you need to buy an adapter before you leave, a universal travel adapter on Amazon covers mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in one piece.

Voltage: When Do You Need a Converter?

Chinese power is 220 V single-phase at 50 Hz. Under normal conditions, the voltage at your socket may vary between +7% and −10% of 220 V, which works out at about 198–235 V.

What matters is the small print on your charger or device, usually on the power brick or near the plug. Look for the word INPUT:

• INPUT: 100–240V ~ 50/60Hz (or 110–240V). This is dual-voltage. It works in China with only a plug adapter. Almost all phone, laptop, tablet, camera and e-reader chargers are like this.
• INPUT: 110V, 120V or 100V only. This is single-voltage. On 220 V it will overheat or burn out. Leave it at home, buy a dual-voltage version, or use a step-down converter.

The devices that fail most often are hair dryers, hair straighteners, curling irons and some electric shavers and toothbrush chargers bought in North America or Japan. A converter strong enough to run a heating appliance is heavy, so most travelers leave these at home. Mid-range and upscale hotels in China usually have a hair dryer in the room; check the hotel listing if it matters to you.

A note on frequency: chargers do not care whether the power is 50 Hz or 60 Hz, but a few devices with motors or built-in clocks are designed for one frequency only. If the label says 60 Hz only, check the manual before using it in mainland China.

Power Banks: Rules for Flights and Trains

The rules differ between planes and trains.

On flights

Under China's civil aviation rules, power banks and lithium batteries can never go in checked baggage; they must travel with you in the cabin, and you cannot use them at any point during the flight. The limits depend on rated energy, measured in watt-hours (Wh): up to 100 Wh you can carry them without approval; above 100 Wh and up to 160 Wh you need the airline's approval and may carry no more than two; above 160 Wh they are banned. Some airlines set a lower limit on how many power banks you may carry in total, so check your airline's conditions of carriage before you fly.

Then there is the CCC rule. Since 28 June 2025, power banks with no CCC mark, an unclear CCC mark, or from a recalled model or batch are banned on flights within mainland China, and a mark that is worn or cannot be read is treated the same way. The full rule is in the Civil Aviation Administration of China notice. A CE, UL or other foreign safety mark does not replace it. A power bank bought at home, even from a well-known brand, often has no CCC mark, and security staff will take it before a domestic flight.

The rule is written for domestic flights. For an international flight leaving China, check your airline's own power bank rules before you go to the airport.

How to read your power bank's label

• Find the Wh number. It is usually printed on the casing. If you only see mAh, multiply the mAh by the battery voltage (usually 3.6 or 3.7 V) and divide by 1,000. A 20,000 mAh power bank at 3.7 V is about 74 Wh, comfortably under 100 Wh.
• Find the CCC mark. It is the letters CCC inside an oval outline, printed or moulded on the casing. A mark only on the box or in the manual does not help you at security.
• Check that the printing is still readable. Scratched or faded labels are a common reason for refusal.

If your power bank has no CCC mark, you have two easy options. Buy one after you arrive: power banks sold in Chinese electronics shops and convenience stores should carry the mark, but check the casing before you pay. Or buy one before you leave: some international brands make models that carry the CCC mark, so look for a CCC-marked power bank on Amazon and check that the product photos show the mark printed on the casing itself.

On trains

On trains the limit is simpler. According to China Railway's list of restricted items, each power bank or lithium battery you carry may be rated at no more than 100 Wh. The CCC requirement is a civil aviation rule for flights; the railway rule sets only the 100 Wh limit and does not add a CCC requirement, so a power bank of 100 Wh or less without the mark is accepted on trains. Train security still scans every bag, so keep power banks in your daypack where you can take them out quickly. Our guide to luggage rules on trains, flights and the metro covers how much luggage you can bring and what else security looks for.

Other Electronics: E-Cigarettes, Camera Batteries, Drones and Hand Warmers

E-cigarettes and vapes. China's civil aviation authority allows e-cigarettes in your carry-on but not in checked baggage; the battery inside follows the power bank rules and the e-liquid follows the rules for liquids. Using one on board is illegal: the revised Civil Aviation Law, in force since 1 July 2026, bans smoking on aircraft, including e-cigarettes, and in serious cases the aviation authority can ban a passenger from flying for a period of time, with police penalties on top. Bringing e-cigarettes into China also has customs limits; our pre-departure checklist covers what you can bring in.

Spare camera and drone batteries. Spare lithium batteries are allowed only in hand luggage, and each one must be protected against short circuits. In practice, keep each battery in its own plastic case or pouch, or tape over the metal contacts. Batteries inside your camera, phone or laptop are fine where they are. The CCC requirement is written for power banks, not for your phone, laptop or camera.

Drones. The batteries follow the spare-battery rule above. For the drone itself, check your airline's rules before you pack it.

Balance boards and other wheeled personal transport. On China Railway trains, balance boards and similar wheeled devices must be packed in a hard case before they can go on board as carry-on items. Shanghai Metro does not allow passengers to ride balance boards, skateboards or scooters inside the system, and other cities' metros set their own rules. Airlines in China generally do not accept them on flights, so check before you go.

Hand warmers in winter. Airport security notices in China say disposable heat packs are fine in carry-on or checked bags in personal quantities; rechargeable hand warmers count as power banks and must travel in the cabin; electric hot-water bottles contain liquid and can only be checked; and self-heating meals are not allowed in either. Rules are applied airport by airport, so confirm at the check-in counter if you are unsure.

Getting Your Phone Ready Before You Fly

Your phone is your map, wallet, translator and ticket in China, so set it up at home, while you still have fast and familiar internet.

• Have mobile data from the moment you land. Travel China, China's official travel website, says on its SIM Cards & Networks page that public Wi-Fi in China usually needs a verification code sent by text to a Chinese phone number, which a foreign SIM cannot receive. The main airports are an exception: free Wi-Fi at Shanghai Pudong, Beijing Daxing and Beijing Capital lets you sign in with your passport.
• A travel eSIM is the easiest option. The same site advises short-term visitors with an eSIM-capable phone to buy a regional eSIM plan that covers China before they enter, and activate it after arrival. Airalo is one of the providers that sells these plans; you can buy and install one before you fly at Airalo.
• A Chinese carrier eSIM probably will not work on your iPhone. Apple says iPhones bought outside mainland China cannot install an eSIM from China Mobile, China Telecom or China Unicom. If you want a Chinese number, buy a physical SIM card, and make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave. Our China SIM card and eSIM guide compares the options.
• Expect some of your usual apps not to load. Travel China says Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp cannot be accessed directly in China. Our internet and VPN guide explains what this means for staying in touch.
• Install the essential apps at home. WeChat, Alipay, maps, ride-hailing and translation apps are all easier to set up before you go. Use our list of apps to install before you go, and link a card to Alipay with our Alipay setup guide. Download an offline Chinese language pack in your translation app too.

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Are Different

A mainland-only adapter is not enough for the rest of the region. Hong Kong supplies 220 V at 50 Hz, and appliances there must use a three-pin plug (the square-pin British style, often called Type G), so use an adapter made to the British BS 1363 standard; appliances rated below 200 V must not be plugged straight into Hong Kong's 220 V supply. Macau runs on 230 V at 50 Hz, and its sockets are usually square or round three-pin, so the tourism office suggests checking the socket before you plug in. Taiwan uses 110 V at 60 Hz, so appliances from Europe, Australia or Southeast Asia need an adapter or a transformer there; many buildings also have 220 V sockets, mainly for air conditioners. For planning a combined trip, see our Hong Kong and Macau guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: October 2026