Pack for the checkpoint you will actually use. Railway and airport security are separate, so an item accepted on a train may be forbidden on a flight. Keep the passport, booking details, power banks, medicines, liquids, and unusual equipment easy to inspect, then check the current rules for each rail or flight segment.
For a domestic flight, inspect every power bank before airport day. A familiar brand or previous successful trip is not enough.
Before Packing
Make an inventory of non-routine items: batteries, power banks, liquids, aerosols, medicines, needles, tools, knives, sporting equipment, food, mobility devices, camera equipment, and radio or drone equipment. Check:
- customs rule for international entry or exit
- railway rule for train segments
- CAAC and operating-airline rule for flights
- destination-country rule for onward travel
Do not assume checked baggage solves a prohibited-item problem.
Railway Station Security
Bring the original passport or other valid identity document associated with the real-name ticket. At the station, follow the passport-supported route indicated by staff. Put bags through screening and present items for inspection when requested.
China Railway’s English FAQ provides official luggage and prohibited-item guidance. Recheck it before travel. Rules can distinguish quantity, size, packaging, or type; an everyday product name may be too vague.
Pack so the traveler can open a bag without exposing every valuable or losing documents. Keep the passport and phone out of the screening tray until instructed.
Airport Document Checks
Use the passport entered in the booking. Online check-in may not eliminate manual document review. Allow time for check-in, bag drop, identity checks, security, terminal transport, and the gate cutoff.
If the passport changed after booking, contact the airline before travel. Do not rely on a booking screenshot under a different number.
Liquids and Cabin Items
The operating airline and airport apply current cabin and dangerous-goods rules. Check liquid containers, aerosols, gels, tools, sharp objects, and restricted equipment through the official airline page. International and domestic segments can differ.
If medicine, infant food, or medical liquids are necessary, ask about documentation, packaging, and inspection in advance.
Power Banks
CAAC’s 2025 notice prohibits power banks on domestic flights if they have no CCC mark, an unclear CCC mark, or belong to recalled models or batches. Also confirm capacity, quantity, terminal protection, cabin placement, and use restrictions with the airline.
Do not place a power bank or spare lithium battery in checked baggage unless the applicable current rule explicitly allows the exact item. Do not cover or alter markings.
Laptops, Cameras, and Batteries
Charge devices enough to complete the trip but comply with in-flight use instructions. Protect spare-battery terminals and keep them accessible. Ask about professional camera batteries or unusually large equipment before travel.
At security, use trays as instructed and account for each item before leaving the checkpoint.
Medicine and Mobility Equipment
Carry medicine in original labeled packaging where practical, with prescription or medical documentation appropriate to the route. Ask about needles, cooling packs, oxygen, and battery-powered devices.
For a wheelchair or mobility device, provide dimensions, weight, battery chemistry, removability, and transfer needs. Confirm both security and operator assistance; one request does not automatically cover the other.
If an Item Is Rejected
Do not hide it in another bag or argue from a foreign rule. Ask what lawful options exist: disposal, surrender, returning it to someone outside, re-packing, or another operator process. A missed departure may cost more than leaving a questionable nonessential item at home.
Plan the Checkpoint as a Handoff
Security is easier when one traveler can present the documents while another keeps track of trays, children, and loose items. Before joining the line, move passports and boarding information into one accessible place, empty pockets, close drink bottles, and separate anything likely to need inspection. Count phones, laptops, cameras, power banks, and bags before and after the checkpoint.
If a child, older traveler, or disabled traveler needs more time, tell staff before the group reaches the scanner. Keep medicines, medical letters, and device specifications together rather than buried in checked luggage. A companion should understand the equipment well enough to explain what it is if the primary user cannot do so quickly.
For an international-to-domestic connection, do not assume the first screening covers the second segment. Immigration, baggage collection, customs, check-in, rail entry, and another security check may all be separate steps. Use the operator’s published cutoff, then add time for an unfamiliar terminal and document questions.
If staff give an instruction you do not understand, ask for a short written or translated explanation and point to the exact item. Cooperate first, preserve the receipt or surrender record if one is issued, and pursue a complaint later through the operator or airport rather than delaying the live checkpoint.
Security Checklist
- Passport and booking details match.
- Customs, rail, and flight rules were checked separately.
- Non-routine items are identifiable and easy to inspect.
- Every power bank has a clear CCC mark, valid capacity, and no recall.
- Medicines and mobility devices have required documentation.
- Check-in, security, and gate cutoffs include realistic buffer time.
- Rejected items will use a lawful resolution, not concealment.