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Dear Travellers,
We’d like to have the following travel guide to be always updated for the benefit of new visitors coming to Beijing and China.
If anybody having used the piece finds necessary updates, please leave a message or feedback. Thanks!
Before packing for your Beijing Tour or China Tour, it is necessary to have some basic knowledge of the electricity in China, its plug and socket system as well.
Kindly Reminder:
Now many of the small carry-on devices like cell phones, cameras, electric toothbrushes, hair dryers and electric razors are made with international standards using 110/220 (combining the two main standards for voltage and frequency in the world ) with two flat prong charger plugs. And you don’t have to use an adapter while travelling in China. In addition, you can use the two-pin sockets easily here in China with your two flat prong plugs.
Before leaving for China, make sure your electric appliances use 110/220 volts and your plugs have two flat prongs.
By the way, most of the chargers for lap tops are made with three-prong plugs which may not fit into the three flat pin sockets here in China and you need to buy a portable plug adapter at your home country or here in China.
In addition, check out the Voltage for your lap tops to see if they fit into 220 V. If not, you need to use a converter also.
If you have some questions with your plugs, sockets, and Voltage while travelling China, please read the full article.
What Voltage is Used in China?
Basically there are two main standards for voltage and frequency in the world. One is the standard of 110-120 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz （mostly used in USA）, and the other is the standard of 220–240 volts at 50 Hz (mostly used in Europe).
But basically you don’t have to worry about the voltage since most of your electric appliances use a wide range of voltage covering the two major standards for the voltage used in the world. So please check your electric devices and find if they are within the range of the voltage used in the country you are going to visit.
China uses generally 220V, 50HZ, AC (Hong Kong is 220V; Taiwan is 110V).
Just list some of the countries with different Voltage Frequencies:
| Argentina 220 V 50 Hz | Armenia 220 V 50 Hz | Australia 240 V 50 Hz |
| Austria 230 V 50 Hz | Belgium 230 V 50 Hz | Brazil 110/220 V 60 Hz |
| Brunei 240 V 50 Hz | Bulgaria 230 V 50 Hz | Canada 120 V 60 Hz |
| China, People’s Rep. of 220 V 50 Hz | China (Hong Kong) 220 V 50 Hz | Czech Republic 230 V 50 Hz |
| Denmark 230 V 50 Hz | England (UK) 230 V 50 Hz | Finland 230 V 50 Hz |
| France 230 V 50 Hz | French Guiana 220 V 50 Hz | Germany 230 V 50 Hz |
| Great Britain (UK) 230 V 50 Hz | Greece 220 V 50 Hz | Holland (Netherlands) 230 V 50 Hz |
| Hong Kong (China) 220 V 50 Hz | Hungary 230 V 50 Hz | Iceland 220 V 50 Hz |
| India 230 V 50 Hz | Indonesia 127/230 V 50 Hz | Ireland (Eire) 230 50 Hz |
| Israel 220 V 50 Hz | Italy 230 V 50 Hz | Japan 100 V 50/60 Hz |
| Korea, South 220 V 60 Hz | Luxembourg 220 V 50 Hz | Macau 220 V 50 Hz |
| Malaysia 240 V 50 Hz | Mexico 127 V 60 Hz | Netherlands Antilles 127/220 V 50 Hz |
| New Zealand 230 V 50 Hz | Northern Ireland 230 V 50 Hz | Norway 230 V 50 Hz |
| Philippines 220 V 60 Hz | Poland 230 V 50 Hz | Portugal 230 V 50 Hz |
| Romania 230 V 50 Hz | Russia 220 V 50 Hz | Saudi Arabia 127/220 V 60 Hz |
| South Africa 220/230 V 50 Hz | Spain 230 V 50 Hz | Swaziland 230 V 50 Hz |
| Sweden 230 V 50 Hz | Switzerland 230 V 50 Hz | China Taiwan 110 V 60 Hz |
| Thailand 220 V 50 Hz | Turkey 230 V 50 Hz | United Arab Emirates 220 V 50 Hz |
| UK (United Kingdom) 230 V 50 Hz | US (United States) 120 V 60 Hz | Venezuela 120 V 60 Hz |
| Vietnam 127/220 V 50 Hz |
Converters (Most laptops have international converters without any problem)
If you are from the countries where the standard of 110-120 volts at a frequency of 60 Hz is available, you need to have converters for your domestic electric devices to be used on your trip to China. You may prepare yourself a converter with a socket of your home country’s standard.
A converter is an implement that converts the input from 220V to 110V or 120V for your device.
Most laptops have international converters without any problem.
Power Plugs and Sockets in China
At present, there is no global standard for plugs and sockets. Traditionally the plugs and sockets are classified into several regional standards in the world like American standard, European standard, British standard, South African standard and Chinese standard.
The standard for Chinese plugs and sockets is set out in GB 2099.1–2008 and GB 1002–2008. Chinese power plugs and power sockets are similar to those in Australia.
A Chinese power plug may fit loosely in an Australian socket, but thick pins of an Australian plug may not fit easily in a Chinese power socket. In China, the sockets are installed upside-down compared to Australian ones.
A standard socket on a wall in China has two flat pins ( which also matches a two-round-pin plug for the devices used in Europe or elsewhere) on the upper part and earthed three flat pins on the lower part.
You may buy a portable power plug adapter at your home country or here in China. Most of your hotels in China offer free use of plug adapters.
A Chinese three flat prong Plug
A Chinese two-prong plug
Plugs and Sockets in use
Sockets and plugs in use
As you see, in China, some locally made electric devices have two flat prong plugs ( also suitable for two round pins for devices used in Europe and elsewhere) and three flat prong plugs.
If your devices cannot fit into the two-prong ( flat or round) or three-flat-prong plugs, you need to prepare yourself for a plug adapter or a converter with a socket of your country’s standard.
Kindly Reminder again:
Now many of the small carry-on devices like cell phones, cameras, electric toothbrushes, hair dryers and electric razors are made with international standards using 110/220 (combining the two main standards for voltage and frequency in the world ) with two flat or round prong charger plugs. And you don’t have to use an adapter while travelling in China. So, you can use the two flat pin sockets easily here in China with your two flat or round prong plugs.
Before leaving for China, make sure your electric devices use 110/220 volts and your plugs have two prongs.
By the way, most of the chargers for lap tops are made with three-prong plugs which may not fit into the three-pin sockets here in China and you need to buy a portable plug adapter at your home country or here in China. In addition, check out the Voltage for your lap tops to see if they fit into 220 V. If not, you need to use a converter also.
Further Readings
Top China Tours
Top 10 Places in China
10 Fascinating facts about China
Chinese Phrases for Travellers
Plugs and sockets in China
What to Bring for China Trip
How to recognize Chinese currency
Top 10 China Tourist Scams
How to get a Chinese Visa
