China Power Bank / 3C Checker for Flights

The “3C” travelers talk about is China’s CCC — China Compulsory Certification mark. A capacity label such as “20,000 mAh” does not replace it. For a domestic departure in mainland China, an imported power bank with no clear CCC mark can be refused even when its watt-hour capacity is otherwise acceptable.

First identify every flight sector

Do not label the whole itinerary “international” just because it began abroad. These are different situations:

Itinerary	What to check
Tokyo → Shanghai, trip ends in Shanghai	Airline lithium-battery rules and arrival security procedures
Shanghai → Beijing	Mainland domestic rule: clear CCC mark, no recalled model, plus Wh limit
Tokyo → Shanghai → Xi’an on separate or domestic connection	Treat Shanghai → Xi’an as a domestic departure
Tokyo → Shanghai → Paris, staying airside	International transfer procedure; ask the airline if security screening occurs in China
Shanghai → Tokyo	International departure rules and the airline’s current instructions

CAAC’s 2025 CCC notice explicitly targets domestic flights. International transfer layouts vary, and a passenger may still be re-screened. That is why the checker gives a caution result for an uncertain transfer rather than pretending every transfer is identical.

Find the watt-hours

Many power banks print Wh directly. If yours only shows milliamp-hours and voltage, calculate:

Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1,000

Use the battery’s rated cell voltage printed by the manufacturer, not a guessed USB output voltage. If the case is worn and neither Wh nor the necessary values are readable, security staff may be unable to verify it.

Capacity bands

Rated energy	Passenger rule
100 Wh or less	Usually allowed in carry-on, subject to CCC on domestic China departures and airline rules
Over 100 Wh to 160 Wh	Airline approval required; normally no more than two spare batteries in this band
Over 160 Wh	Not accepted as ordinary passenger baggage
Unreadable capacity	High risk of refusal because staff cannot verify the rating

These limits apply to spare lithium batteries and power banks. A power bank is treated as a spare battery, not as an installed battery inside a phone.

What counts as a usable CCC mark?

The mark should be visible on the product body and traceable to the model. A shop sticker, handwritten “3C,” screenshot or certification claim on an online listing is not the same as a clear mark on the device.

For mainland domestic flights, CAAC says passengers may not carry power banks that:

• do not have a CCC mark;
• have an unclear or illegible CCC mark; or
• belong to a recalled model or batch.

The recall check matters even when the logo is present. Search the brand and exact model before departure. If the product label does not identify the model, replacement is usually safer than debating it at security.

Carry-on handling

• Put the power bank in your cabin bag.
• Protect terminals from keys, coins and other metal objects.
• Do not use a swollen, damaged, leaking or unusually hot battery.
• Follow crew instructions on using or charging devices during the flight.
• Keep approval from the airline if the battery is over 100 Wh.

If cabin baggage is taken at the gate for hold loading, remove the power bank first.

What should an overseas visitor buy?

If your trip includes a mainland domestic flight, the lowest-friction choice is a reputable, non-recalled power bank with:

• a clear CCC mark on the body;
• Wh printed clearly;
• a model number you can verify;
• capacity at or below 100 Wh;
• no physical damage.

Buying a cheap power bank after arrival is not automatically safe. Check the mark and model before leaving the shop. Keep the receipt until the trip is over.

If you do not need a domestic flight, do not buy a new battery solely because social media says “all foreign power banks are banned.” The official CCC restriction is for domestic flights. Your airline and departure airport still control the actual screening process.

Failure scenarios

The power bank has no CCC mark and I fly Shanghai to Beijing tomorrow.
Do not rely on it. Replace it with a compliant, verifiable model or travel without it.

The logo is present but nearly rubbed off.
Treat it as unclear. A photo from when it was new may not solve the on-device inspection problem.

My battery is 26,800 mAh.
Capacity in mAh alone is insufficient. At 3.7 V it is about 99.2 Wh; at a different rated voltage the result changes. Read the label.

My international ticket connects in China.
Ask the operating airline whether you clear security again and whether any segment is domestic. If you enter China and continue on a domestic flight, the CCC rule applies to that departure.

Security refuses it.
Do not plan on storage or courier service being available. Follow airport instructions; surrender or disposal may be the only time-safe option.

Before leaving for the airport

1. Run every power bank through the checker.
2. Photograph its label and model.
3. Check the manufacturer’s recall page.
4. Confirm airline approval when above 100 Wh.
5. Move it from checked luggage to carry-on.
6. Replace damaged or unreadable batteries before travel day.

Related guides

• What can I bring to China?
• China travel without a Chinese phone number
• China travel apps tourists need
• First-time China travel checklist

Official sources

• CAAC: Notice on power banks on domestic flights, effective June 28, 2025
• CAAC: Lithium battery and power bank passenger rules