Travelling To China? Pack Approved Portable Chargers Or They May End Up In "Power Bank Cemetery"

Looking at TikToker @meaijeaw’s video of heaps of portable chargers strewn in boxes, you could easily mistake it for a shop having a big sale on power banks. Dubbing it "power bank cemetary", the TikToker's post is actually a scene from an airport in Xinjiang, China, where the numerous power banks are actually those that have been confiscate by security and immigration officers. 

Since June 28, China has imposed a ban on non-approved power banks on domestic flights. Only power banks that have the China Compulsory Certification (CCC or 3C) are allowed. CCC is China’s national mandatory safety and quality standard. This restriction comes on the back of a spate of mid-flight fires caused by power banks. 

While the official regulations state that the rule applies only to domestic flights, there have been varying accounts that international flights do get checked too, and travellers may face having their portable charges getting confiscated as well. 

In fact, a commenter on @meaijeaw’s post said that although they were not checked arriving in Shanghai, there were strict security checks when they flew out of the city. Other commenters also mentioned that while all domestic flights get checked, “some people get checked and some don’t” on international flights, they explained. 

Local content creator Rachell (@aglimpseofrach) this week also shared about her friend’s experience. “One of my friends, @mikoxsimba, [who was flying into Guangzhou] told us that the security checked their portable chargers as well,” said Rachell, who has not faced any checks on her portable chargers when she travels to Guangxi every month for work.

“In order to not risk it, it’s better to just have a portable charger with the CCC logo,” Rachell elaborated. 

So, yes, if you’re travelling to China and want to err on the side of caution, best to just take a power bank that is CCC certified, even if you’re not on a domestic flight.

CCC-Certified Power Banks To Buy 

Power bank requirements for travel in China: 

• Must be CCC-compliant. All powerbanks must have clear CCC (or 3C) labelling
• The CCC logo should be printed on the power bank, and not on a sticker
• 100Wh (approximately 27,000 mAh) or less. It would help too if the power capacity is clearly printed on the power bank. Power banks that are between 100-160Wh require prior approval from airline. 
• No more than two power banks per person 
• Power banks should always be in your hand-carry baggage, never in your checked luggage

What happens if you have a non-approved power bank?
Non-compliant power bank may get confiscated. However, some airports also offer free storage or courier services for you to store or send out your power bank. 

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