China Train Baggage Allowance and Transportation

Different from traveling by plane, passengers will not face strict limits on their luggage size and weight during their train travel in China, actually. Although there are numerical regulations, the railway staff will not weigh or measure everyone's baggage precisely during the security check at railway stations, and most baggage can be taken into carriages as long as they are not extremely large or heavy and don’t contain prohibited items. So, there is no need to worry much about your luggage.
 

Adult: ≤20 kg (44 pounds)

Child (including those traveling for free): ≤10 kg (22 pounds)
Diplomat: ≤35 kg (77 pounds)
 

On high speed trains: ≤130cm (51 inches) by length+width+height per luggage

On normal trains: ≤160 cm (63 inches) by length+width+height per luggage

Rod-shaped items: ≤200 cm (79 inches)

 Kind Reminders:
1. The above baggage restrictions are not applicable to wheelchairs or foldable strollers, which are not counted in the China train baggage allowance and can be brought onboard for free.
2. It would be better to disperse heavy items in several suitcases or backpacks, and share all luggage with family or friends when going through the security check.
3. If your luggage is found to be severely overweight on the train, you just need to pay some shipping fees for the overweight portion, which changes in travel distance and regulations of railway bureaus.1. Pets, excluding guide dogs. Note: The pets weighing less than 20kg (44.1 pounds) with quarantine and health certificates can be consigned.
2. Foldable bicycles, balance bikes and scooters; unless they are properly packaged with hard materials. 
3. Items that do not smell well: durian, stinky tofu, kipper snacks…
4. Toxics: pesticide, rat poison, infectious pathogen…
5. Corrosives: sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, mercury…
6. Sharp and dangerous objects: daggers, swords, extended cleavers… Note: Knives or scissors with blades shorter than 60mm (2.4 inches) are allowed to be brought.
7. Explosives and Combustibles: hydrogen balloons, fireworks, firecrackers, medical and industrial alcohol as well as drinking alcohol in loose packing, decoration paint, gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, bananas water…
8. Weaponry and police arms: guns, including toy guns giving off “bullets”, tear gas guns, fire fighting guns, and nail guns; bullets; gunpowder; bombs; grenades; signal flare; defibrillator; police batons; bows; arrows… Attention: Models of the above are forbidden too.
9. Magnetic material that may influence the running signal;
10. Radioactive materials: uranium, plutonium…1. Lighters: at most 2. But lighter fluids cannot be taken onto trains.
2. Matches: at most 2 small boxes.
3. Cigarettes: at most 50 cartons. 
4. Drinking alcohol: at most 3,000ml (101.4 fl oz) with 24% or more and 70% or less vol. The bottles must be well packed with clear labeling. 
5. Flammable items such as perfume, toilet water, gel…: Each passenger can only carry one item of each type, with a volume of less than 100ml (3.4 fl oz).
6. Nail polisher, deluster: at most 50ml (1.7 fl oz).
7. Aerosol spray cans containing hairspray, hair dye, styling mousse, insecticide and air freshener...: at most 600ml (20.3 fl oz) in total. Each passenger can only carry one item of each type, the volume of which can not exceed 150ml (5.1 fl oz). If you want to pack sun protection items, it is advised to replace sunscreen spray with sunscreen cream.
8. Charging bank, lithium battery: less than 100Wh (≈27,000mAh) of each and with clear labeling. Lithium batteries of electric wheelchairs are excluded.

*Note: The labeling on product packaging is the only gauge for its capacity.

In seat class carriages, passengers can put their carry-on baggage on the racks above the seats on two sides of the carriages. If no space is left, one can put them in the luggage closets at the connections of two carriages or behind the last rows of seats on bullet trains, or under the tables or seats on normal types.

In sleeper carriages, luggage racks are usually inside the compartments except the hard sleepers, whose racks are above the aisles outside the compartments. As well, there is extra luggage space under the lower berths or tables.

Luggage Rack Pictures(26)

 

 

Go through Security Check at Railway Stations

If you don't want to carry all your luggage with you while taking the train to save some energy, you can choose to check it in at the luggage office of the railway station before entering the waiting hall. But please note: (1) Mostly, only train stations operating normal speed trains offer this service. You need to contact the station where you plan to depart in advance to confirm; (2) Your luggage may arrive several hours or even a day later than you. So you are suggested to handle it 2 - 3 days ahead of departure. 

The consignment fee is not included in the ticket price. It is charged based on the traveling distance, baggage weight and baggage types. But in general it is much cheaper than the delivery service. For instance, to consign a regular bike from Beijing to Shanghai, it costs about CNY 50.

In fact, express delivery can be more convenient and efficient than railway consignment. Delivery service points can be seen anywhere in China, and it's not difficult to find one near your hotel. Besides, door-to-door services are available. Accordingly, the cost will be slightly higher than railway transportation. In general, you can receive your luggage within 2 - 3 days after sending it out.

Q: Can I take my bike onto China trains?
A: Generally, bikes are not allowed onboard. Passengers can use the consignment or delivery service to transport your bike to the destination. If you insist, you will need to dismantle and box the bicycle to take it onboard as a regular piece of luggage.

Q: Can I take my pet?
A: No. But the pet can be consigned as a checked luggage as long as it weighs less than 20kg (44.1 pounds). The thing is it needs to be caged and consigned four hours prior to the departure time with quarantine and health certificates. This does not apply to guide dogs, which can get onboard with required documents like their work permit and animal health immunization certificate. Unluckily, if you boldly keep offensive animals as pets such as snakes, scorpions, centipedes, bees, etc., you may be disappointed because they cannot be transported by train. 

Q: Can I take alcohol wipes on China trains?
A: Yes. Although it is a little troublesome to take alcohol or things containing it on the train, alcohol wipes are freely allowed. So you do not need to throw them away before starting your trip.

Q: Where to put my wheelchair?
A: The coach no.5 on high speed trains usually has a special area to park your wheelchairs and you can recharge your electric wheelchairs for free there. One of the toilets in this coach is designed for the disabled. Besides, this coach is usually close to the platform lift to the arrival hall or waiting hall.

The normal types do not have a special area for wheelchairs. You are recommended to ask help from the staff and they will be glad to find you space and take care of you during the trip.