This chapter concerns ordinary domestic China Railway travel. Inventory everything entering the station, including food, tools and spare batteries; a suitcase's appearance or airline acceptance does not establish railway compliance.
What to have ready
Separate each person's allowance from item dimensions
The current cabin-luggage FAQ lists a free allowance of 20 kilograms for an ordinary passenger and 10 for a child, alongside per-item weight and outside-dimension requirements. The usual sum of length, width and height is limited to 160 centimetres, with 130 centimetres generally applying on EMU trains; do not apply the larger figure automatically to a high-speed suitcase. Rod-shaped items have additional instructions to check against the actual train. Specified folding wheelchairs used by travellers needing mobility aids and folding infant strollers have exclusion arrangements, but that does not make all sports equipment equivalent. Measure the actual outside dimensions, including wheels and protrusions, and count bags and shopping together in each person's load. Buying another seat does not automatically enlarge the permitted-item categories.
| Ordinary domestic railway check | Current general requirement |
|---|---|
| Ordinary adult's free total weight | 20 kg |
| Child's free total, including a free child | 10 kg |
| Weight of each item | No more than 20 kg |
| Sum of each item's outside dimensions | Generally no more than 160 cm; 130 cm on EMUs; check separate rod-shaped-item and specified aid rules |
Check power banks, alcohol and tools individually
The railway restricted-item catalogue sets a maximum rated energy of 100 Wh per clearly labelled power bank or lithium battery, with a relevant exception for batteries in electric wheelchairs. Read the original rating rather than treating a milliamp-hour number alone as watt-hours; ask official support about an unreadable or worn label before travel. Alcoholic drinks must be properly sealed and clearly labelled, with a cumulative 3,000-millilitre limit for drinks from 24 to 70 per cent alcohol. Other strengths or uses need checking in the catalogue. Aerosols, perfumes, disinfectants, knives and tools can have volume, blade or carry-versus-consign conditions, so inspect each item under railway rules rather than copying an airline list. Watch station notices for tighter checks in specified places or periods.
Pack for inspection and arrange a lawful alternative
An item barred from the cabin is not necessarily eligible for consignment. The catalogue distinguishes items prohibited from both carriage and consignment, those barred from the cabin, and those allowed only in limited quantities. Identify the relevant category first. Availability, deadlines and charges for legitimate baggage transport must also be confirmed for that station and route; do not arrive expecting an airline-style baggage desk at every high-speed terminal. Keep items needing inspection accessible, retain original packaging and labels, and do not disguise them in unmarked bottles. Pack food against leaks, strong smells and vehicle contamination, and stow luggage without blocking aisles, doors or another seat. Follow security instructions if something needs removing instead of bypassing checks or abandoning a bag to catch the train.
Worked example: recheck a bag after a flight
A traveller transfers from a flight to a mainland train carrying an aerosol, alcoholic drinks and a power bank. They set aside the airline cabin-versus-hold decision and inventory the bag again under the railway catalogue, checking Wh, alcohol strength and quantities before measuring the packed suitcase and weighing the full load. Compliant items retain their labels. An uncertain tool is checked with 12306 or the departure station instead of being carried to railway security merely because an airline accepted it in the hold. If the case does not fit the booked EMU's requirements, the traveller investigates an official transport alternative or reduces the load before departure and revises the local connection. They allow inspection time and secure and supervise the luggage after boarding.
Check every item under railway rules: acceptable weight does not establish permitted contents, and airline consignment is not proof.
Official information and enquiries
These are the reference and service entry points for this guide. Check current fees, eligibility, and schedules with the authority. The preparation date is not each source's official update date.