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Travel Guide

Luggage and Shipping: Carry-on Restrictions, Storage, and Courier

Long-distance trips in China often require traveling light when entering scenic areas. This article explains the carrying restrictions for trains and airplanes, the luggage storage services at stations and scenic spots, as well as the practical method of sending your luggage to the next destination in advance via express delivery.

Updated on 2026-10-28

Baggage Restrictions

Airplane

  • Economy Class Checked Baggage: Most domestic flights allow 20 kg per person (some low-cost airlines require separate purchase).
  • Carry-on: 5 kg, dimensions not exceeding 20×40×55 cm.
  • Liquids: Each bottle no more than 100ml, total not exceeding 1000ml.
  • Lithium batteries, power banks: Can only be carried on, not checked, must be clearly labeled.

High-Speed Rail

  • Adults 20 kg, children 10 kg. Sum of length, width, and height not exceeding 160 cm (for rod-shaped items 130 cm).
  • No 100ml liquid limit (but alcohol and flammables are still prohibited).
  • Security checks on Chinese high-speed trains are relatively lenient, but X-ray machines are still required.

Luggage Storage

  • Train stations and airports: Both have storage facilities, charged per item per day (10–30 CNY/day), most support facial recognition or ID retrieval.
  • Tourist Centers: Large scenic areas like Zhangjiajie, Huangshan, Jiuzhaigou have lockers for convenient light travel into the sites.
  • Hotels: After checkout, luggage can be stored for free (most hotels offer this, usually 1–3 days), which is the most cost-effective method.
  • Commercial Storage: Services like "Mini Warehouse" or "CunCun" exist in first-tier cities, billed daily.

Express Delivery: Send luggage ahead to the next stop

This is a very practical tip for traveling in China: on long trips, send unneeded luggage to your next city hotel and travel light yourself.

  • SF Express: Most reliable, inter-provincial 1–2 days, 20 kg costs about 60–120 CNY.
  • JD Logistics: Similar price, stable speed.
  • China Post EMS: Widest coverage (including remote counties), but slower.

How to do it: Ask the front desk at your hotel to send it for you (most hotels provide free pickup and dispatch), fill in the next hotel’s name, address, and "estimated arrival date and guest name". Upon arrival, the front desk will deliver the luggage to your room. Be sure to keep the tracking number.

Practical Tips

  • For long trips, use "one big, one small": Send or store large boxes, and keep small packages for daily necessities.
  • Foldable bags: Bring a large foldable bag that can serve as a second piece of luggage after shopping.
  • Storage bags for organization: If traveling long-term and changing cities frequently, organizing your items in storage bags can save a lot of time looking for things.
  • Keep valuables with you: Always keep your documents, cash, medicine, camera, and hard drives with you; never check them in or store them.
  • Volume of winter clothing: For winter trips to the northeast or highlands, down jackets take up a lot of space; consider renting locally (common in Harbin and Snow Village).