China High-Speed Train Luggage Rules: Size, Weight & Prohibited Items (2026)
China Train Luggage Rules: Quick Answer
Every China high-speed train station screens bags by X-ray at the entrance, airport-style. Here is what the rules mean for travelers, in plain English:
- How much luggage can I take? Adults get 20 kg of free carry-on luggage; children (with a ticket) get 10 kg.
- Is there a suitcase size limit? Yes. On high-speed (EMU) trains, each bag’s length + width + height must be no more than 130 cm.
- Are large suitcases allowed? Officially, only within the size limit. A 28-inch case usually exceeds 130 cm and can be refused — though enforcement varies by station.
- What cannot pass security? Weapons, explosives, flammable liquids, toxic or radioactive chemicals, and live animals.
- Power banks, liquids, perfume, aerosols, alcohol? All allowed within limits: power banks ≤ 100 Wh each, perfume ≤ 100 ml per container, aerosol cans ≤ 150 ml each (≤ 600 ml total), and sealed alcohol (24–70% ABV) ≤ 3000 ml.
| Item | Allowed? | Limit / Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Suitcase | Yes | 20 kg free (adults); L+W+H ≤ 130 cm on high-speed trains |
| Backpack | Yes | Counts toward the 20 kg allowance; fits the overhead rack |
| Power bank | Yes | ≤ 100 Wh per unit, clearly marked |
| Perfume / cologne | Yes | ≤ 100 ml per container, 1 per product type |
| Aerosol (hairspray, mousse, insecticide) | Yes | ≤ 150 ml per can, 1 per type, ≤ 600 ml total |
| Alcohol (24–70% ABV) | Yes | Sealed and labeled, ≤ 3000 ml total |
| Scissors / knives | Carry-on: no | Blades over ~6 cm go in checked luggage |
| Medicine | Yes | Reasonable personal-use amounts |
| Food and water | Yes | No quantity limits for ordinary items |
| Folding stroller / wheelchair | Yes | Exempt from the luggage allowance |
These are China Railway’s current nationwide rules (as of 2026). Station security enforces them with some local variation, so when in doubt, check with station staff.
Luggage Weight and Size Limits
| Passenger type | Weight limit | Size limit (L+W+H) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 20 kg | 130 cm on high-speed (EMU) trains |
| Child (with ticket) | 10 kg | 130 cm |
| Diplomatic personnel | 35 kg | 130 cm |
| Folding wheelchair / stroller | Exempt | Free allowance |
EMU (electric multiple unit) is the technical name China’s official rules use for high-speed trains. The 130 cm figure is the sum of length, width and height, not the bag’s height alone. A typical 55–60 cm medium suitcase (roughly 35 × 25 cm in the other two directions) comes to about 115–120 cm total, so it fits. The 130 cm limit applies to high-speed EMU trains; on ordinary trains the per-bag limit is 160 cm. Rod-shaped items (tripods, fishing rods) are capped at 130 cm on high-speed trains and 200 cm on ordinary trains.
In practice, staff rarely weigh carry-on luggage — the X-ray scan and a visual check of dimensions matter far more. Keep the total reasonable and the bag easy to lift onto the rack.
Can I Bring a Large Suitcase?
Officially, a 28-inch suitcase is over the limit. A typical 28-inch case measures about 76 × 52 × 30 cm, which sums to roughly 158 cm — well above the 130 cm high-speed limit. You can be stopped at the security line and asked to leave it behind, ship it, or use station storage.
In practice, many travelers still board with large cases because staff focus on obvious prohibited items, and oversized bags end up in the luggage racks near the carriage doors. But you have no guarantee: on a crowded holiday train there may be no space, and you can be refused.
Safer options:
- Travel with a 24-inch or smaller case (sum of dimensions ≈ 110–120 cm) or a soft duffel that compresses.
- Keep your main bag under ~20 kg and put heavy items in a backpack you carry separately.
- If a big case is unavoidable, arrive early and be ready to rearrange or store it.
What Items Are Prohibited?
Never allowed (carry-on or checked):
- Guns, ammunition and firearm components
- Knives or tools that count as weapons (daggers, batons, bows and arrows)
- Fireworks, gunpowder, detonators and explosives
- Flammable liquids (gasoline, diesel), compressed gas cylinders and self-igniting materials
- Toxic, corrosive, radioactive or infectious substances
- Strong magnets and items with strong offensive odors
- Live animals (except documented service animals for passengers with disabilities)
Not allowed as carry-on, but can be checked:
- Daily-use knives and large scissors with blades longer than about 6 cm
- Tools such as hammers, long screwdrivers and saws
Banned by quantity rules even though the item type is allowed:
- Alcohol above 70% ABV
- Power banks above 100 Wh
Power Banks and Lithium Batteries
Power banks are allowed on China high-speed trains as long as each unit is 100 Wh or less and carries a clear label showing its rating. There is no rule forcing them into checked bags; keep them with you.
Quick Wh math (most banks run at 3.7 V):
Wh = mAh × V ÷ 1000- 10,000 mAh ≈ 37 Wh — fine
- 20,000 mAh ≈ 74 Wh — fine
- 27,000 mAh ≈ 100 Wh — at the limit
- 30,000 mAh ≈ 111 Wh — not allowed
If there is no readable label, security may treat the bank as unverifiable and refuse it — bring banks with legible brand and capacity markings.
Liquids, Perfume, Cosmetics and Aerosols
Chinese trains do not apply the airline-style 100 ml rule to ordinary liquids. Water bottles, drinks, shampoo and toothpaste pass through the X-ray normally. Restrictions apply only to flammable or pressurized items:
- Perfume and cologne (flammable, non-spray containers): up to 100 ml per container, one container per product type.
- Nail polish and remover: up to 50 ml total.
- Aerosol cans (hairspray, mousse, insecticide, air freshener): up to 150 ml per can, one can per product type, 600 ml total across all aerosol types.
- Matches and lighters: up to 2 small boxes of safety matches and 2 ordinary lighters.
Practical tip: transfer perfume into a small atomizer, buy travel-size cosmetics, and pick up hairspray at station shops after security if you need a full-size can.
Alcohol
- 24–70% ABV (most wine and spirits, including baijiu): allowed if sealed, labeled and no more than 3000 ml total per passenger.
- Below 24% ABV (beer, low-alcohol drinks): treated like ordinary drinks, with no quantity limit.
- Above 70% ABV: prohibited.
- Homemade or unlabeled alcohol: can be refused regardless of volume, because security cannot verify the strength or contents. Keep gift bottles in their original sealed packaging with a visible label.
Food and Drinks
Food and drinks are allowed without quantity limits. Snacks, fruit, instant noodles and sealed or open drinks all pass security — unlike at some airports, train security does not require you to open bottles or taste liquids; they simply go through the X-ray.
Hot water is available on platforms and in carriages, and dining cars sell meals on longer routes. One practical rule: avoid strongly scented foods such as durian — “items with strong odors” are listed as restricted, and no one on the train will thank you anyway.
Medicine
Prescription and over-the-counter medicines are allowed in reasonable, personal-use quantities. You do not need to declare normal medication, and there is no separate medicine allowance within your luggage.
For controlled substances (strong painkillers, sedatives, some psychiatric drugs), carry the prescription or a doctor’s letter in case security asks. Keep insulin and other daily medication in your carry-on, not in a bag you might be asked to store.
Knives, Scissors and Tools
- Small folding knives (blade under about 6 cm), nail files and small scissors are normally fine as carry-on.
- Kitchen and utility knives, large scissors, and pointed tools (screwdrivers, hammers, saws) cannot pass as carry-on — put them in checked luggage or ship them.
- If you are traveling with only carry-on, buy knives or tools at your destination instead of packing them.
Strollers, Wheelchairs and Special Luggage
- Folding strollers and folding wheelchairs are exempt from the luggage allowance in practice — they don’t count toward your 20 kg. Take them to the carriage door and staff will help with boarding where needed.
- Non-folding wheelchairs usually require advance coordination with the station (the 12306 app has a special-assistance booking option).
- Service animals with documentation are allowed.
- Bicycles are generally not allowed as carry-on; very small folding bikes may qualify within the luggage rules — check with the station.
- Sports equipment such as golf clubs, tennis rackets and fishing rods: rod-shaped items must stay under 130 cm on high-speed trains; anything larger should be confirmed with station staff before you arrive.
What Happens at Train Station Security?
Every station has an X-ray checkpoint before the platforms: bags go through the machine and passengers pass through a metal detector gate. On normal days it takes 2–5 minutes; during holiday peaks, 10–20 minutes or more.
If security flags an item, it will not travel with you. Options depend on the station: larger stations often offer temporary luggage storage and express-shipping counters, and you can always hand the item to someone seeing you off. It will not be returned to you at your destination, and arguing only risks missing your train. Arrive 30–60 minutes before departure (longer on holidays) so there is time to resolve any issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a 28-inch suitcase on a China high-speed train?
Officially, no on the numbers — a typical 28-inch case sums to about 158 cm, well over the 130 cm high-speed limit. Many passengers still board with one and store it by the carriage doors, but you can be turned away depending on the station and how full the train is. A 24-inch case (≈ 110–120 cm) is the safe choice.
Do China trains weigh luggage?
The allowance is 20 kg for adults, but in practice station staff almost never weigh carry-on bags. Screening centers on the X-ray scan and a visual check of size. Keep your total reasonable and avoid obviously heavy single bags.
Can foreigners bring large luggage on Chinese trains?
Yes — the rules are identical for everyone. There is no separate allowance or exemption for foreigners, and being a foreigner does not waive security screening. Plan for the same 20 kg / 130 cm limits as local passengers.
Can I bring a power bank?
Yes, if each unit is 100 Wh or less and clearly labeled. That covers nearly all phone power banks (typically 10,000–20,000 mAh). Units above 100 Wh are not allowed.
Can I bring liquids?
Yes. Trains don’t apply the airline-style 100 ml rule to ordinary liquids — water, drinks and toiletries pass through X-ray normally. Only flammable liquids and flammable cosmetics are restricted.
Can I bring perfume?
Yes, up to 100 ml per container, with a limit of one container per product type. A full-size 150 ml bottle may be refused, so carry a travel-size atomizer.
Can I bring alcohol?
Yes. Sealed, labeled bottles in the 24–70% ABV range are allowed up to a total of 3000 ml per passenger. Above 70% is prohibited, and unlabeled or homemade alcohol can be turned away.
Can I bring food and water?
Yes, without quantity limits for ordinary food and drinks. Bottled water and other drinks pass through security as-is. Just avoid strongly scented items such as durian.
Can I bring medicine?
Yes — personal-use prescription and over-the-counter medicines are fine in reasonable amounts. For controlled substances, carry the prescription or a doctor’s letter and keep daily medication in your carry-on.
What happens if my luggage is oversized?
There is no single outcome. Staff may allow it on if it fits the carriage luggage racks, or require you to use station storage, ship it, or leave it behind. Arrive early so you have time to sort it out if your bag is borderline.
Official Sources
- 12306 FAQ (English) — China Railway’s official English FAQ covering luggage rules, prohibited items and passenger regulations: https://www.12306.cn/en/faq.html
- Railway passenger transport rules — the national luggage weight and size limits come from the Railway Passenger Transport Regulations (铁路旅客运输规程), revised and effective as of 2023.
- Prohibited & restricted items directory — the item-by-item limits (alcohol, power banks, aerosols, lighters and more) come from the Catalogue of Items Prohibited and Restricted to Be Carried and Checked by Railway Passengers (铁路旅客禁止、限制携带和托运物品目录), effective July 1, 2022.
These numbers reflect the national standards as of 2026. Enforcement can still vary slightly between stations — when in doubt, ask station security or check the 12306 app before you travel.
Final words
More reading and next steps
That is the main thread of the article. Keep the links below handy, and use the related posts to continue exploring the same topic from a different angle.
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