Short answer
China Railway lets each adult carry 20 kg of luggage for free, and no single item may weigh more than 20 kg. On high-speed (G, D and C) trains, each bag's length + width + height must be 130 cm or less. On conventional overnight trains the limit is 160 cm. A typical large rolling suitcase fits inside 130 cm, but a very big one does not — measure before you fly.
There is no bag drop and no baggage car on high-speed trains. You carry everything on yourself and put it on the rack above your seat or in the luggage stack at the end of the carriage. Boarding early matters more than anything else, because rack space is first come, first served.
If you want to leave a suitcase behind for the day, large stations have left-luggage counters (行李寄存) and smart lockers, usually near the entrance or on a lower floor. Rates are set locally and vary by station and bag size — expect a per-day charge at a counter and a per-hour charge at a locker, and confirm the price on the spot.
The free allowance, in numbers
These figures come from China Railway's published passenger regulations and the luggage notice on its official 12306 site. They are written rules, enforced by the station X-ray.
| Passenger | Free carry-on allowance |
|---|---|
| Adult (ordinary passenger) | 20 kg |
| Child, including a child travelling free of charge | 10 kg |
| Diplomat with identification | 35 kg |
| Folding wheelchair used by a passenger with limited mobility | Free, and not counted against the allowance |
| Folding baby stroller for an accompanying infant | Free, and not counted against the allowance |
The 20 kg applies per passenger, and each individual item also has its own 20 kg ceiling.
Size limits: 130 cm on high-speed, 160 cm on conventional trains
The size rule is the sum of external length + width + height — the same way airlines measure a checked bag.
| Train type | Max L + W + H per item | What that means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| EMU / high-speed (G, D, C) | 130 cm | A large but not oversized suitcase. A big trekking backpack is fine; a huge family trunk is not. |
| Conventional (Z, T, K and numbered trains) | 160 cm | Noticeably more room. Rod-shaped items such as a folded tripod or ski bag may go up to 200 cm. |
| Cross-border high-speed to/from Hong Kong West Kowloon | 130 cm | The same limit applies, and no baggage consignment service is offered on these trains. |
What you cannot bring, and what is limited
China Railway publishes a national list of prohibited and restricted items, jointly issued by the National Railway Administration and the Ministry of Public Security. It is enforced at the station X-ray, and the rules that catch visitors most often concern everyday things.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Power banks and lithium batteries | Allowed only if clearly marked, and each unit must be 100 Wh or less. An unlabelled or scratched-off power bank can be refused. |
| Alcohol (24%–70% ABV, sealed and labelled) | Cumulative limit of 3,000 ml per passenger. Anything above 70% ABV, or with an unclear label, is banned outright. |
| Perfume, cologne, spray, gel | Non-aerosol containers up to 100 ml each, one item per product type. |
| Nail polish and remover | Cumulative limit of 50 ml. |
| Aerosols: hairspray, mousse, insecticide, air freshener | Container up to 150 ml each, one per product type, 600 ml total. |
| Safety matches / ordinary lighters | Up to 2 small boxes of matches and 2 lighters. Lighter fluid is banned. |
| Cigarettes | Up to 50 cartons; more requires official documentation. |
| Everyday knives with a blade over 60 mm | Banned from the cabin. These can be consigned as baggage on trains that offer it, but you cannot carry them on. |
| Live animals | Not permitted in the cabin. The exceptions are a documented guide dog, and seafood packed as food in a sealed container. |
Smoking is banned outright on all high-speed trains and inside the carriages of conventional trains; a limited number of older conventional trains have a smoking area by the door or in the vestibule.
Where your bags actually go on the train
On a high-speed train there is nowhere to check a bag and nobody to help you lift one.
- Overhead racks run the length of the carriage above the seats. They take a carry-on-sized bag or a soft duffel, not a large hard-shell suitcase.
- Luggage stacks at the ends of each carriage are where big suitcases go. They are shared by the whole carriage, which is why boarding early is genuinely worth it.
- Between the seat backs on some layouts there is a gap that fits a small daypack or a handbag.
- Nobody will move your bag for you, and station staff are not porters. If you cannot lift your own suitcase onto a rack, you have packed too much.
Left luggage at the station
If you have a late train and want to spend the day in the city without your suitcase, station storage is the standard answer. Big stations almost always have something; small ones often do not.
| Option | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Staffed left-luggage counter (行李寄存) | You hand the bag to an attendant, they tag it and give you a receipt. Usually near the main entrance, the exit hall or on a lower floor. Charged per bag per day, size-dependent. | Large or awkward bags; overnight storage; anything you would rather a human looked after |
| Smart lockers (智能寄存柜) | Self-service lockers operated by scanning a code, priced per hour by locker size. Common at high-speed stations, metro interchanges and malls. | Short storage of a few hours; small to medium bags |
| Your hotel | Almost every hotel holds bags free for guests, before check-in and after check-out, with no size limit. | Almost every situation where you are staying in that city |
| Airport storage counter | Located near arrivals or the terminal entrance, charged per day. | Long layovers |
Station and airport storage is safe: bags are screened, ID is recorded and the area is monitored. Smart lockers have a maximum period and charge extra if you overrun it.
Sending your bags ahead
China Railway runs a door-to-station and station-to-door luggage service, marketed as travelling light, at selected major stations.
- Door to station: your bag is collected from an address near the station, taken to the departure station, and left in a service locker or delivered to the platform. Bookings run from about 48 hours down to 4 hours before departure.
- Station to door: your bag is retrieved at the arrival station and delivered to an address in the city. Bookings run from about 24 hours down to 1 hour before arrival.
- Pricing is charged per piece, with a higher rate for platform delivery than for station delivery, and can vary with demand.
- The same weight and size limits apply — 20 kg for an adult, and 130 cm on high-speed routes.
- You book it inside the 12306 app, and cancelling before pickup is free.
Separately, conventional trains with a luggage car offer traditional baggage consignment (行李托运): the bag travels as freight and you collect it at the destination. The per-item ceiling is far higher than the carry-on limit, but it is not available on every route and does not exist on high-speed services.
Frequently asked questions
How much luggage can I take on a Chinese train for free?
20 kg per adult, 10 kg per child, 35 kg for diplomats. No single item may exceed 20 kg. A folding wheelchair and a folding baby stroller are carried free and are not counted against the allowance.
Can I take a large suitcase on a high-speed train?
Yes, if its external length + width + height is 130 cm or less and it weighs under 20 kg. A standard large rolling suitcase usually fits; an extra-deep one often does not. Measure the actual dimensions rather than trusting the inch label.
Is there a luggage car or bag drop on high-speed trains?
No. High-speed trains have no checked baggage. You carry everything on and store it in the overhead rack or the luggage stack at the end of the carriage. Conventional trains with a luggage car can consign baggage separately, but not every route offers it.
Can I store my bags at a train station?
At most large stations, yes, either a staffed counter or self-service lockers. Rates are set locally and vary by station and bag size, so check the posted price first. Smaller stations may have nothing, and hotels usually hold bags free.
Can I bring a power bank on the train?
Yes, if it is clearly marked and rated at 100 Wh or less per unit. Power banks with unreadable or missing markings can be refused at security. This is a hard rule under the national restricted-items list, not a station preference.
Can I bring food and drink on board?
Yes. Sealed food and drinks are fine, and bringing your own is far cheaper than the trolley. Sealed alcohol between 24% and 70% ABV is limited to 3,000 ml. Strong-smelling food can be refused.
What happens if my bag is over the weight limit?
You can be stopped at the departure station and refused boarding with that item. If the excess is found on the train, the railway charges the overweight portion as baggage freight, doubled for prohibited items.
Do I need to keep my passport with me, or can it go in the suitcase?
Keep it on you. Your passport is your ticket, you scan it at the station entrance, the departure gate and sometimes the platform gate. A passport inside a stored suitcase means you cannot board.
Related reading
Weight and size limits, the restricted-items list and consignment rules follow China Railway's published passenger regulations and the official 12306 luggage notices. Left-luggage pricing, locker availability and the travel-light service coverage vary by station and are set locally, confirm the details for your specific station before you rely on them.