China flight rules · Checked September 2026

Can I Take My Power Bank on a Flight in China? CCC Marks, Watt-Hours and Domestic Flight Rules

For a domestic flight in mainland China, capacity is only half the check. Your power bank also needs a clear CCC mark, a readable rating and a safe, undamaged body—and it must stay in your carry-on.

By The trisAino Editorial Team · Rules checked September 5, 2026

The quick answer: Usually yes—if the power bank is for personal use, has a clear CCC (also called 3C) mark, has a readable capacity of no more than 100Wh, is not recalled or damaged, and travels in your carry-on. A unit above 100Wh and up to 160Wh needs airline approval. Anything above 160Wh is not allowed. On major mainland Chinese airlines, plan to carry no more than two and keep them switched off and out of the overhead bin.

The 60-second check before you leave for the airport

Turn the power bank over and answer all seven questions:

Is there a clear CCC mark on the device itself? For a domestic flight within mainland China, a missing, blurred or unreadable mark can stop the power bank at security.
Can security read the capacity or rated energy? If neither the watt-hours nor enough voltage-and-capacity information is legible, staff may be unable to verify it.
Is it 100Wh or less? That is the normal no-approval range.
If it is above 100Wh, is it no more than 160Wh—and have you contacted the airline? Airline approval is required before travel.
Is the casing flat, intact and cool? Do not travel with a swollen, cracked, leaking, deformed or unusually hot unit.
Has the model or batch been recalled? A recalled power bank may be refused even when the label looks correct.
Is it in your carry-on, with the ports protected? Never put a power bank in checked baggage.

If any answer is “no” or “I cannot tell,” sort it out before airport security. A familiar brand name, a purchase receipt or a CE/FCC mark does not replace the physical CCC and capacity information required for a mainland domestic flight.

What changed in 2025—and what still applies in 2026

On June 26, 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China announced that, from June 28, 2025, passengers on domestic flights could no longer carry power banks that have no CCC mark, have an unclear CCC mark, or belong to a recalled model or batch.

That rule did not replace the existing lithium-battery limits. It added a product-safety check to the capacity and packing rules travelers already had to follow.

In practice, security is looking at several separate things:

Certification: Is the CCC mark clear on the unit?
Identification: Is the capacity or rated energy readable?
Energy: Is it within the permitted watt-hour range?
Condition: Is the unit undamaged and not recalled?
Packing: Is it in carry-on baggage and protected from accidental activation or short circuit?
Airline procedure: Does this carrier require approval or impose a stricter quantity or storage rule?

Passing one test does not cancel the others. A 74Wh power bank can still be refused if its CCC mark is missing. A clearly CCC-marked unit can still be refused if it is swollen or recalled.

The rule in one table

What you have	What to expect on a mainland China domestic flight
Clear CCC mark, readable rating, 100Wh or less, safe condition	Normally permitted in carry-on without airline approval, subject to the airline’s quantity and packing rules
Clear CCC mark, over 100Wh but no more than 160Wh	Airline approval required; no more than two in this approval range
Over 160Wh	Not permitted as a passenger power bank
No CCC mark, an unclear CCC mark, or a recalled model/batch	Not permitted under the domestic-flight rule
Capacity/rated energy cannot be verified	Not permitted if staff cannot calculate the rated energy
Swollen, cracked, leaking, deformed or otherwise unsafe	Do not bring it; current airline rules may expressly refuse it
Packed in checked baggage	Not permitted; move it to carry-on before bag drop

This is the practical baseline. The operating airline and the airport conducting security screening control the final decision and may apply stricter requirements.

CCC, 3C, CE and the newer QR code are not the same thing

CCC stands for China Compulsory Certification. In everyday Chinese, people often call it 3C. For the domestic-flight check, the important point is simple: the mark must be clearly visible on the power bank itself.

European CE marking, US FCC labeling or other overseas compliance marks do not substitute for CCC in this domestic-flight rule. The international version of a well-known product may therefore fail the check even if the same brand sells a CCC-marked version in mainland China.

China is also adding traceability QR codes next to the CCC mark for power banks. The transition matters:

From March 1, 2026, newly issued CCC certificates for power banks are meant to use the new QR traceability mark.
From March 1, 2027, it applies to all certified power-bank products.
Products already correctly marked and produced, sold or imported before March 1, 2027 do not need a retroactive label change.

So, as of September 2026, the absence of the newer QR code does not automatically mean an older power bank is invalid. The clear CCC mark, valid certification, readable energy rating, recall status and physical condition remain the checks that matter.

If you want to verify a product, use an official certification search rather than a seller’s screenshot. The China Quality Certification Centre provides certificate inquiry, and China’s national certification public-service platform can also be used to check certificate information.

How to calculate watt-hours from mAh

Airline limits use watt-hours, but many power banks advertise milliamp-hours. Use:

Wh = V × Ah Ah = mAh ÷ 1,000

For example, a power bank labeled 20,000mAh at 3.7V is:

20Ah × 3.7V = 74Wh

That is below 100Wh. But the calculation only answers the energy question. The device still needs a clear CCC mark for a mainland domestic flight, readable specifications, safe condition and compliance with the airline’s other rules.

Advertised capacity	Approximate energy	Capacity result only
10,000mAh	37Wh	Below 100Wh
20,000mAh	74Wh	Below 100Wh
26,800mAh	99.16Wh	Just below 100Wh
30,000mAh	111Wh	Airline approval required
50,000mAh	185Wh	Above the passenger limit

Do not calculate from an assumed voltage when the device label is missing or ambiguous. Security needs to be able to verify the rating from the product information.

How to pack it for the airport

Put every power bank in your carry-on before you reach bag drop. Then:

Switch it completely off.
Protect exposed terminals from metal objects. A small separate pouch or the original protective case works well.
Do not pack it loose beside keys or coins.
Keep it easy to reach for inspection.
For itineraries on major mainland carriers, plan for a maximum of two power banks unless your operating airline confirms otherwise.
If either unit is over 100Wh, contact the airline before travel and obtain the required approval.

Current Air China and China Eastern guidance also says power banks should not go in the overhead bin. Keep them where the crew instructs—typically in a bag under the seat in front of you or in the seat pocket—and where you can notice heat, smoke or damage quickly.

Can you use or charge it during the flight?

No. CAAC guidance prohibits using a power bank to charge electronic devices during the flight. Current major-airline rules also require the unit to remain switched off and prohibit charging the power bank from the aircraft’s power supply.

Use the aircraft’s approved seat power for your phone only if the crew and operating airline allow it. If a power bank becomes hot, smells unusual, swells or smokes, stop handling it and alert the cabin crew immediately.

What if your itinerary includes an international flight?

Do not treat “flying to China” and “taking a domestic flight in mainland China” as the same check.

The CCC restriction discussed here is the CAAC rule for domestic flights. If your itinerary is international or regional only, check the operating airline and departure airport’s lithium-battery rules. If you connect onward to a mainland domestic flight—for example, Shanghai to Chengdu after arriving from overseas—prepare for the domestic CCC check on that onward leg.

The safest approach is to check the strictest leg before you leave home. Codeshares can be confusing, so look at the operating carrier, not only the airline name on the ticket.

What to do if your power bank is not compliant

Do not hide it in checked baggage and do not remove or alter a label. Instead:

Leave the unit at home if you can identify the problem before travel.
If you need a replacement, buy from a reputable retailer and inspect the physical CCC mark, the rated energy and the certificate information before paying.
If you discover the problem at the airport, ask staff about that airport’s lawful disposal, temporary-storage or shipping options. Availability, cost and eligibility vary, so do not rely on one of these services being offered.
Allow extra time. The final carriage decision belongs to airport security and the operating airline.

A cheap replacement is not automatically a safe one. Confirm the mark and specification on the actual device, not only on its box or product listing.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 20,000mAh power bank allowed on a flight in China?

Usually, if it is labeled around 3.7V, a 20,000mAh unit is about 74Wh and therefore below the 100Wh no-approval threshold. For a mainland domestic flight, it must also have a clear CCC mark, readable specifications, safe condition and no applicable recall. It must travel in carry-on baggage.

Is a 30,000mAh power bank allowed?

At a nominal 3.7V, 30,000mAh is about 111Wh. That falls in the over-100Wh-to-160Wh range, so you need the airline’s approval before travel. Airline quantity limits also apply.

Does a CE or FCC mark count instead of CCC?

No. Those marks do not replace the clear CCC mark required by the mainland domestic-flight rule.

Does every legal power bank need the new CCC QR code in 2026?

Not yet. The QR transition began for newly issued certificates on March 1, 2026 and expands to all certified power-bank products on March 1, 2027. Correctly marked products made, sold or imported before that date do not need retroactive changes. A missing QR code alone is therefore not decisive in September 2026.

Can I put a power bank in checked luggage?

No. Power banks are spare lithium batteries for aviation purposes and must remain in carry-on baggage.

Can I use a power bank during the flight?

No. Do not use it to charge a device, and do not charge the power bank from aircraft power. Keep it switched off and follow the crew’s storage instructions.

Will airport security confiscate a non-compliant power bank?

Security can refuse to let it travel. What happens next depends on the airport: disposal, temporary storage or shipping may or may not be available. Treat those services as possible options, not a guarantee.

The trisAino take

The easiest rule to remember is mark, math, condition, cabin:

Mark: a clear CCC mark for a mainland domestic flight.
Math: 100Wh or less is the normal no-approval range; 100–160Wh needs approval; over 160Wh is out.
Condition: readable label, no recall, no swelling or damage.
Cabin: carry-on only, switched off, protected and kept where the crew instructs.

Check again with your operating airline shortly before departure. Aviation and product-recall rules can change, and airport security makes the final decision.

Official sources

Rules checked September 5, 2026. Confirm your operating airline’s current policy and any recall information before departure.