Do You Need a Travel Adapter for China?
China uses Type A and Type I sockets at 230 V, 50 Hz. Phone and laptop chargers from the US, Australia, Canada and Japan plug straight in. From the UK and Europe you need a Type I adapter. Single-voltage hair dryers from the US, Canada and Japan also need a voltage converter.
Check your own plug
Verdict by where you are travelling from
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| From | Phone, laptop or USB charger | Hair dryer or straightener | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| The US | Works | Converter | Step-down converter (amazon.com) |
| The UK | Adapter Type I | Adapter Type I | Type I adapter (amazon.co.uk) |
| Europe | Adapter Type I | Adapter Type I | Type I adapter (amazon.de) |
| Australia | Works | Works | Nothing |
| Canada | Works | Converter | Step-down converter (amazon.ca) |
| Japan | Works | Converter | Step-down converter (amazon.co.jp) |
Phone, laptop, USB and camera chargers are dual voltage, so they only need the right plug. Single-voltage hair dryers, straighteners and kettles need a converter unless rated for 220–240 V; electric shavers and CPAP machines vary by model. Read the INPUT line on the label. Adapter or converter?
More about sockets in China
No other country or territory in Asia has exactly this mix of sockets (of 35 in the region). The national plug standard is GB 1002-2024.
Type C no longer meets national standards since GB/T 1002-2021 came into effect; firms stopped producing, selling or installing Type C and A/C hybrid sockets, but A/C hybrid sockets can still be found in legacy installations.
Standard and note from Wikipedia, Mains electricity by country (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 8 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What plug does China use?
China uses Type A and Type I sockets. Type A: two flat parallel pins. Type I: two flat pins in a V shape and a flat earth pin. Type C sockets are also reported occasionally.
What is the voltage in China?
China runs on 230 V at 50 Hz.
Can I charge my iPhone or laptop in China?
Yes. Phones, laptops and USB chargers are dual voltage (100–240 V), so 230 V is fine. Chargers from the US, Australia, Canada and Japan plug straight in. From the UK and Europe you need a Type I plug adapter.
Do I need a voltage converter for China?
Only for single-voltage appliances made for 100–127 V countries, such as many hair dryers, straighteners and kettles. Anything marked INPUT 100–240 V works with a plug adapter alone.
Route guides
Other countries in Asia
Socket types: Type A Type I · Voltage by country
Data verified 8 September 2026 against the IEC World Plugs dataset, WorldStandards and Wikipedia. How this data was verified.