Yes. You can take ordinary drinks and many everyday liquids through security at a Chinese railway station. Unlike airport security, Chinese railway security does not apply a general 100-millilitre limit to bottled water, tea, juice, or other ordinary non-flammable drinks.

However, alcohol, perfume, sprays, gels, and some liquid toiletries have special restrictions. Security staff may also ask you to open a bottle or take a sip to confirm what it contains.

Can I Bring Bottled Water onto the Train?

You can normally carry bottled water, soft drinks, juice, milk, tea, and coffee onto a Chinese train. These drinks can be larger than 100 millilitres.

You may also carry a reusable water bottle or thermos. Keep it easy to reach when you go through security. Staff may ask you to open it for inspection.

Do not be surprised if a security officer asks you to drink a small amount from your bottle. This is a routine check at some stations, especially when the container is already open or its contents are not obvious.

You can also buy drinks after entering the station. Most large railway stations have convenience shops, vending machines, and hot-water dispensers.

How Railway Security Differs from Airport Security

Airport liquid rules are designed for air travel. They should not be automatically applied to Chinese railway stations.

At a railway station, you normally put your suitcase, backpack, and smaller bags through an X-ray machine. You then walk through a security gate. China Railway confirms that all passengers and their belongings must undergo security screening. China Railway 12306

Put suitcases, backpacks, and other bags on the X-ray belt

Ordinary water and non-alcoholic drinks are generally allowed. The restrictions mainly concern liquids that are flammable, pressurised, corrosive, toxic, or otherwise dangerous.

Can I Carry Alcohol on a Chinese Train?

Alcohol is allowed only under certain conditions.

According to China Railway’s current restricted-items list, alcoholic drinks containing at least 24% but no more than 70% alcohol may be carried if:

• The original packaging is properly sealed
• The label is clear
• The alcohol content is clearly shown
• The total quantity does not exceed 3,000 millilitres

Alcoholic drinks containing more than 70% alcohol are prohibited. Drinks with unclear labels or homemade alcohol in an unmarked container may also be refused. China Railway 12306 restricted-items list

If you buy Chinese baijiu as a souvenir, keep it in its original sealed box or bottle. Do not pour it into a reusable water bottle.

What About Perfume, Sprays, and Toiletries?

Many ordinary toiletries are permitted, but products containing flammable ingredients have quantity limits.

Perfume, floral water, sprays, and gels

For non-pressurised toiletries containing flammable ingredients, each container must not exceed 100 millilitres. Only one item of each type is permitted.

An oversized bottle of Liushen Florida Water was confiscated at the security checkpoint.

This category may include:

• Perfume
• Floral water
• Some liquid sprays
• Some sanitising gels
• Other flammable cosmetic gels

The limit refers to the container’s stated capacity, not the amount remaining inside it. A partly used 150-millilitre perfume bottle may therefore still be refused.

Aerosol and pressurised containers

For products such as hairspray, hair mousse, hair dye, insecticide, and air freshener:

• Each container must not exceed 150 millilitres
• Only one of each type is allowed
• The combined amount must not exceed 600 millilitres

Many spray sunscreens and facial mists are also sold in pressurised containers. Check the size printed on the can before leaving for the station.

Nail polish and nail-polish remover

The combined allowance for nail polish and remover is 50 millilitres.

These limits come from the official railway catalogue of prohibited and restricted items, which took effect on July 1, 2022 and remained the current published standard when checked on September 12, 2026. National Railway Administration policy explanation

Can I Bring Hand Sanitiser?

This depends on the product.

Alcohol-based liquid disinfectant may be rejected because of its high alcohol content and flammability. Small alcohol wipes are generally a safer choice. Government travel guidance has specifically stated that wipes containing 75% alcohol may be carried, while liquid disinfectant alcohol is prohibited.

If you need sanitiser during your journey, bring individually packed wipes or buy a clearly labelled travel product that complies with railway rules. Do not carry an unmarked bottle of liquid alcohol.

Medicines, Baby Milk, and Special Liquids

Ordinary liquid medicines and baby drinks are generally treated differently from dangerous liquids. However, security staff may inspect them more closely.

Keep medicines in their original labelled packaging when possible. If you carry an unusual medical liquid, bring a prescription or short medical note, especially if the container is large or the contents are not clearly identified.

Parents should keep baby milk, formula, and feeding water easy to reach. Do not bury them at the bottom of a large suitcase, as you may need to show them during screening.

What Should I Do at the Security Check?

Before reaching the X-ray belt:

• Close all bottles tightly
• Keep open drinks upright
• Place liquids where you can reach them
• Leave toiletries in their original containers
• Check alcohol and aerosol labels
• Remove any leaking or unmarked bottles

If staff question an item, stay calm and show them the label. A translation app can help if the explanation is only given in Chinese.

Security staff have the final decision at the checkpoint. If a product’s ingredients, alcohol content, or container size are unclear, they may not allow it through.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not assume that every liquid is permitted simply because trains have no general 100-millilitre rule.

Common problems include:

• Carrying perfume in a container larger than 100 millilitres
• Packing a large aerosol sunscreen
• Bringing unlabelled homemade alcohol
• Carrying alcohol stronger than 70%
• Packing liquid disinfectant with a high alcohol content
• Forgetting to tighten bottle caps
• Trying to use a spray inside a high-speed train

Sprays should not be used aboard a high-speed train. They may activate the train’s smoke-detection system.

Ruqin’s Practical Tip

You may bring ordinary drinking water onto a Chinese train. Keep the bottle easy to reach, as security staff may ask you to open it or take a sip.

More China Travel Questions and Guides

Do I Need to Collect a Paper Train Ticket in China?
How Early Should I Arrive at a Chinese Railway Station?
Can I Take a Large Suitcase on a Chinese High-Speed Train?
How to Travel by Train in China
How to Buy Train Tickets in China Online as a Foreigner
Public Transport in China: A Foreigner’s Guide
Beijing to Xi’an High-Speed Train: Tickets, Tips & What to Expect