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China plug type: A complete guide to power plugs in China
Type I plugs are the most common plug type in China, though you may find type A, type C, and type G plugs as well.
Planning a trip to China soon? Make sure you’ll be able to keep your devices charged and avoid unexpected headaches during your trip. Type I is the standard plug type in China, though some older buildings may still have type A plugs. If you’re travelling from Australia, that works in your favour: Type I is the same plug you use at home, so your devices will fit China’s most common sockets without an adapter.
Follow along to learn all about the most common plug types in China, whether or not you need a travel adapter, and how to stay connected throughout your stay.
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Type I (Three flat pins)
Type I is the most common plug type in China. It has three flat pins: two pins turned at a 30-degree angle, forming a V shape, and a grounding pin in the middle. Some type I plugs don’t have a grounding pin, in which case, it’s just two flat pins forming a V shape.
This is the plug type you’ll most commonly find in public spaces such as libraries, cafes, and airports throughout China.
It’s also the plug you already use. Australia’s plug and socket standard, AS/NZS 3112, is the same Type I design, so an Australian plug will physically connect with a Chinese Type I socket. The two standards aren’t identical, but the fit works in this direction, which is the one that matters when you’re travelling from Australia.
Type A (Two flat parallel pins)
Type A plugs feature two flat parallel pins, usually with holes at the end of each pin. This plug shape is fairly common in Taiwan and Hong Kong, but has been mostly phased out of mainland China. You may still find it in some older hotels and buildings, but you shouldn’t rely on these plugs as your only power source. This is also the one case where you’ll want an adapter on hand: your Australian Type I plug won’t fit a Type A socket, so if you’re staying somewhere older, a universal adapter covers you.
Type C and Type G plugs
Plug type C (European standard) and plug type G (UK standard) are rarely used in China. However, such power sockets can sometimes be found at high-end hotels catering to internationaltravellers, making life easier for their customers.
Type C plugs feature two round pins, while type G plugs have three flat pins — two horizontal flat pins at the bottom and a vertical flat pin at the top.
Standard voltage in China
The standard power supply voltage in mainland China is 220V/50Hz, which is also the standard voltage in Hong Kong. That’s close to home: Australia runs on 230V at the same 50Hz frequency, so your devices will work on China’s mainland (and Hong Kong) supply without a voltage converter. In Taiwan, the standard voltage is 110V/60Hz.
Most chargers, such as the ones for your phone or laptop, are dual-voltage rated appliances rated at 100-240V, which means that you will be able to use them regardless of whether the voltage is 220V or 110V.
That said, you should check the voltage of your devices before plugging them in. If the voltage doesn’t match the standard one in China, you should use a voltage converter to avoid damaging your devices and appliances.
Do I need a plug adapter in China?
If you’re travelling from Australia, you may not need a plug adapter for China at all. Your plugs use the same Type I design as China’s most common sockets, so in most hotels, cafes and airports you can plug straight in. It’s still worth packing a compact universal adapter as a backup, though: some older buildings still use Type A sockets, which a Type I plug won’t fit, so you can’t count on a single plug type for the whole trip.
Without a reliable way to keep your devices charged, you may not be able to use your phone in China freely. So, even if you have an eSIM, a travel SIM card for China, or even pocket WiFi for China, you won’t be able to access mobile internet in China if you don’t have a reliable way to keep your devices charged.
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