Short answer
Mainland China runs on 220V at 50Hz, with three plug families in use: type A (two flat pins), type C (two round pins) and type I (three flat pins, the Chinese national standard).
The good news is the wall itself. Most hotel sockets are combination sockets: the top opening takes flat pins or round pins, and the bottom slot takes the Chinese three-flat-pin plug. Plugs from North America, Japan and most of Europe fit at least one of those openings. UK three-square-pin plugs fit nothing and need an adapter.
An adapter is usually all you need. Phone, laptop, camera and tablet chargers say 100-240V on the label and work on Chinese voltage directly. A converter is only for single-voltage 110-120V appliances such as a North American hair dryer, kettle or travel iron — and those are better left at home.
The three socket families you will meet
China's own standard is type I, which is the flat three-pin plug also used in Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. Hotels broaden it with combination sockets so guests from anywhere can plug in without asking for anything.
| Plug | Shape | Where it is normal | Fits a Chinese combination socket? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type A | Two flat parallel pins, ungrounded | USA, Canada, Japan | Yes, in the top ungrounded opening, often slightly loose |
| Type B | Two flat pins plus a round earth pin | USA, Canada | No. The earth pin has nowhere to go |
| Type C | Two round pins, ungrounded, the Europlug | Most of Europe aside from the UK | Yes, in the round holes of the same top opening |
| Type F | Two round pins with side earth clips (Schuko) | Germany, France, Spain, Nordics | Usually yes, ungrounded |
| Type G | Three rectangular pins | UK, Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore | No. Needs an adapter |
| Type I | Three flat pins in a triangle | China, Australia, New Zealand | Yes, in the grounded lower slot |
Older buildings and a minority of rooms are wired to type I alone. In those, US and European plugs have nothing to grip, which is the one situation where the adapter you packed earns its place.
Voltage and frequency: 220V, 50Hz
The supply is 220V at 50Hz anywhere in mainland China, city or countryside, with no regional variation. Hong Kong and Macau are also 220V but on UK-style sockets, and Taiwan runs 110V, so a multi-city itinerary can mix systems.
Two numbers from the label on your charger decide everything. Look for the input range, usually printed in small grey type near the plug.
| What the label says | Example devices | What it needs in China |
|---|---|---|
100-240V, 50/60Hz | Phone, laptop, tablet, camera and power-bank chargers | Plug adapter only |
100-240V, 50/60Hz | CPAP machines, electric shavers with a switching supply | Plug adapter only — check the power brick, not the device body |
120V, 60Hz only | North American hair dryer, travel kettle, travel iron, some curling irons | A converter rated above the device's wattage, or leave it at home |
230V, 50Hz only | European single-voltage appliances, UK kettles and irons | Nothing for voltage; the plug still needs an adapter |
Adapter or converter? The line between them
Backpackers mix the two words up constantly, and the difference costs equipment.
- An adapter changes the shape only. It passes the same 220V through to your device. Every phone and laptop charger is built for that.
- A converter changes the voltage from 220V down to about 110V, and it has a wattage rating that matters. A hair dryer drawing 1600W needs a converter rated above 1600W, and those units are heavy, expensive and rare in travel shops.
- Frequency is not converted by a travel converter. Cheap converters step the voltage down but leave 50Hz alone, so anything with a mains clock or a simple AC motor runs slightly slow. Digital clocks on battery are unaffected.
The practical conclusion: if a device runs on 100-240V, one adapter covers it. If it does not, the cheapest and lightest fix is to not bring it.
What to pack, in the order it matters
- One universal or type I adapter per travelerA universal adapter accepts most plug shapes on one side and presents type A and C pins on the other, which fits every socket type you will see in mainland China.
- A 250V-rated power stripHotel rooms have two to four sockets. A short power strip with a
250Vrating turns one wall socket into three or four and saves juggling plugs at the desk. A strip rated only for 120V is not safe on Chinese mains. - Your usual chargers, with the cables you actually useChargers are the one thing worth carrying two of. USB-C wall chargers sold in China work fine, but replacing a laptop charger mid-trip is a hassle you can skip.
- A USB power bankCharged, and carried in hand luggage. Phone battery is the thing that fails first on a long sightseeing day, when the whole day runs on a mapping app and a payment QR code.
- A voltage converter, only if a specific device needs itIf a single-voltage appliance is genuinely part of your trip, match the converter's wattage to the appliance's draw with headroom, and confirm it handles 50Hz if the device has a motor or a clock.
Power on trains, planes and in cafés
High-speed trains in China generally have a socket at each seat row or under the seat, with the same 220V supply. Long-distance aircraft seats on Chinese carriers usually have a socket or a USB port, though older aircraft may have neither. Airports and rail stations have charging points in the waiting areas.
Cafés, restaurants and hotel lobbies increasingly put USB ports or shared sockets near the seating. Ask before assuming, and keep your adapter in your day bag rather than in the suitcase if you plan to work or charge while out.
Packing your power kit is the easy half of arrival day. The harder half is the phone itself: a data eSIM set up before you fly means maps, translation and payment work the moment you land, and the apps worth installing first covers the rest of the setup order.
Frequently asked questions
What plug type does China use?
Mainland China uses three plug families: type A (two flat parallel pins), type C (two round pins) and type I (three flat pins in a triangle). The official Chinese standard is type I, and the sockets installed in hotels are usually combination sockets that accept all three. The supply is 220V at 50Hz.
Will my US plug work in China?
A two-flat-pin US plug goes into the ungrounded top opening of a standard Chinese combination socket. A three-prong US plug with the round earth pin does not fit, because the Chinese grounded slot is shaped for three flat pins. Even where the two-pin plug fits, it often sits loosely, so a small adapter is worth the pocket space.
Do UK plugs work in China?
No. UK type G plugs are square-pinned and three-pin and do not fit any Chinese socket shape. A type G to type A or C adapter is required, and it is also the plug type used in Hong Kong, which is a separate system from the mainland.
Do European plugs work in China?
The two round pins of a type C Europlug fit the round holes in most Chinese combination sockets, and a Schuko plug usually fits the same way, ungrounded. Older rooms wired to the Chinese standard alone have flat-pin sockets that accept neither. A slim type C to type A adapter covers both cases.
Do I need a voltage converter in China?
Only for single-voltage devices rated at 110-120V, such as a North American hair dryer, travel kettle or travel iron. Anything with 100-240V on its label, which covers phone, laptop, camera and most shaver chargers, needs a plug adapter and nothing else.
Will my hair dryer work in China?
A 120V-only hair dryer needs a converter rated above its wattage, and those are heavy and uncommon. Most Chinese hotels provide a hair dryer in the room or hand one over from the front desk. Availability varies by property, so check the official channel for the hotel or ask at check-in.
Is the 50Hz frequency a problem?
For chargers, laptops, phones and cameras, no: those use switching power supplies that tolerate 50Hz and 60Hz equally. Mains-powered clocks and devices with simple AC motors can run slightly slow on 50Hz coming from a 60Hz country, which shows up as a clock that loses a few minutes a day.
Can I buy an adapter after I arrive in China?
Yes. Airports, electronics markets, supermarkets and convenience stores sell them, and many hotel front desks keep a small loan stock for guests. Buying at home is cheaper and removes the risk of a loose fit, but landing without one is not a crisis.
How many outlets are there in a Chinese hotel room?
Typically two to four sockets split between the desk and the bedside, and newer rooms often add USB ports at the desk and next to the bed. That varies widely by property and by room class, so check the official channel or the room photos before relying on a specific count.
Are Hong Kong and Macau sockets the same as mainland China?
No. Hong Kong uses the UK type G three-square-pin socket and Macau uses type G and type D, both at 220V. A round trip that includes either city needs a second adapter, since mainland plugs are flat-pin and will not fit a Hong Kong wall.
Related reading
Charging is also a data question: a China eSIM decides whether your phone is useful the minute you clear arrivals, and the apps to install before you fly covers what to load onto it.
Compiled from national plug and socket standards references, electrical safety guidance for travellers and hotel socket reports, cross-checked 30 September 2026. Socket fit varies with the age of the building and the individual make of the outlet, so treat the compatibility table as a guide and test before you rely on a device. Nothing on this page is electrical safety advice for a specific appliance.