Published: August 30, 2026
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links; if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
China runs on 220V at 50Hz, and its sockets take three different plug shapes: Type A (two flat pins, like the US), Type C (two round pins, like Europe) and Type I (three flat pins set in a V, like Australia). Most hotel rooms built after about 2010 have a multi-socket that swallows all three. Older guesthouses, sleeper trains and anything in a third-tier city often do not.
That mix is why a US-only adapter gets you into trouble. Your two-pin phone charger will slot into a Type A socket in Shanghai and then meet a Type I-only socket in a Xi’an hostel the same week.
The six adapters below all cover Type I, which is the one travellers to China most often miss. I have grouped them by the job they do rather than ranking them one to six, because the right pick depends on how many devices you carry.
Quick picks
| Pick | Best for | Plug types | Sockets / ports |
|---|---|---|---|
| TESSAN Universal 28W | Best overall | A, C, G, I | 1 AC + 3 USB-C + 2 USB-A |
| EPICKA TA-105 Pro | Heaviest device loads | A, C, G, I | 1 AC + 5 USB |
| Ceptics 35W Kit | Travellers with US plugs | EU, UK, CN, AU, JP | 2 US sockets + USB-C PD |
| Ceptics Type I 3-pack | Cheapest, and a spare | I only | Passive, grounded |
| NEWVANGA All-in-One | Smallest in a daypack | US, EU, UK, AU | 1 AC + USB-C + USB-A |
| Ceptics 12-plug Set | Multi-country trips | A through M | Passive, 12 plugs |
TESSAN Universal Travel Adapter 28W — best overall
Plug types: A, C, G, I · Ports: 3 USB-C, 2 USB-A · AC sockets: 1 · Voltage conversion: none
This is the one I would put in most people’s bags for a China trip. The four sliding plug types cover the mainland plus Hong Kong (Type G) and a Europe layover, and five USB ports means a couple sharing a room can charge two phones, a watch, a power bank and a camera off one wall socket.
The 28W total output is the number that matters. Split across five ports that is enough for phones and small devices, but it will not fast-charge a laptop. Treat the AC socket as your laptop’s home and the USB ports as everything else.
Watch out: like every adapter here, it changes the plug shape only. It does not step 220V down to 110V.
EPICKA TA-105 Pro — for heavy device loads
Plug types: A, C, G, I · Ports: up to 5 USB (USB-C and USB-A) · AC sockets: 1 · Safety: 10A fuse, plug lock, safety shutters
EPICKA’s TA-105 line is the one you see most often in airport lounges, and the Pro adds higher USB output. The built-in fuse and the plug lock are the practical differences: the lock stops a half-seated plug from working loose in a worn Chinese socket, which is a genuine annoyance in older buildings.
Pick this over the TESSAN if you are travelling with more than one camera battery charger, or if you want the spare fuse.
Watch out: the TA-105 is sold in several colour and bundle combinations under different ASINs. Check you are buying the single unit and not a two-pack unless you want both.
Ceptics 35W Travel Adapter Kit — if you carry US-plug gear
Plug types: EU, UK, China, Australia, Japan · Ports: USB-A, USB-C with 35W PD · AC sockets: 2 US · Extras: surge protection, USB-C cable
The two US sockets on the face are the reason to buy this one. If you are coming from North America with a laptop brick, a camera charger and a US power strip habit, you plug your existing gear straight in without adapting each item.
The 35W USB-C PD port will actually charge a laptop, which none of the others here will do properly.
Watch out: surge protection is not voltage conversion. A 110V-only US hair dryer plugged into this on a Chinese socket will still be destroyed.
Ceptics Type I 3-Pack — cheapest, and the one to buy anyway
Plug types: I only · Ports: none · Grounded: yes · Quantity: 3
These are passive plug shells. No electronics, no USB, nothing to fail. You put a US plug in one end and it comes out as a grounded Chinese Type I.
Buy a three-pack even if you already own a fancy universal adapter. They cost very little, they weigh almost nothing, and the failure mode of a single all-in-one adapter on a two-week trip is that you have no way to charge anything. One lives in the daypack, one in the suitcase, one stays in the hotel safe.
Watch out: grounded Type I is three flat pins. Some cheap Chinese sockets in older buildings only accept the two-pin version, so a Type A pass-through is a useful backup.
NEWVANGA Universal Travel Adapter — smallest in a daypack
Plug types: US, EU, UK, AU (Type I) · Ports: USB-C, USB-A · AC sockets: 1 · Design: slide-out, all-in-one body
The plugs retract into the body, so there is nothing to lose and nothing to catch on the lining of a bag. It is the one I would take on a day trip to the Great Wall where the bag is already full.
The AU plug setting is what covers China. That is not obvious from the packaging, which is worth knowing before you assume it is not compatible.
Watch out: a single AC socket and lower total wattage than the TESSAN. This is a one-or-two-device adapter.
Ceptics 12-Plug Set — for a multi-country trip
Plug types: A through M · Ports: none · Grounded: yes · Quantity: 12
If China is one leg of a longer run through Japan, Korea, Thailand and Europe, a plug set costs less than buying a universal adapter for each region. Twelve passive shells cover essentially everywhere.
Watch out: no USB ports at all. Pair it with a multi-port USB charger you already own rather than treating it as a charging solution.
What actually matters when you buy
Adapter is not converter. An adapter changes the shape of the plug. A converter changes the voltage. Look at the small print on your device’s power brick: if it says 100-240V, an adapter is all you need. Laptops, phone chargers and camera chargers almost always say this.
Single-voltage devices are where people get hurt. US-market hair dryers, straighteners and electric shavers are often 110V only, and 220V will destroy them, sometimes loudly. Leave them at home and use the hotel’s.
Type I is the one to check for. Plenty of “universal” adapters sold in the US cover EU, UK and US plugs and stop there. That combination is useless in a Type I-only socket. Confirm Type I or Australia is on the box.
Buy grounded where you can. Anything with a metal body or a three-pin plug at home should stay grounded abroad.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a voltage converter for China?
Only for single-voltage devices. Check the brick for 100-240V; if it is there, an adapter alone is fine.
Will my US two-pin charger fit a Chinese socket?
Often yes, because Type A sockets are common. Not always, which is the reason to carry an adapter rather than gamble on it.
Is Hong Kong the same as mainland China?
No. Hong Kong and Macau use Type G, the UK three-pin. An adapter covering both Type G and Type I saves you buying twice.
Can I buy one after I land?
Yes, and they are cheap in any Chinese convenience store or on the local marketplaces. The problem is the first night, when you land at 11pm with a phone on 4% and nothing open.
Before you go
Power is one of three things that catch people out on a first China trip. The other two are connectivity and payments, both of which need setting up before you land rather than after. Our China Digital Survival Guide covers VPNs, eSIMs and WeChat Pay, and the China travel guide has the rest of the planning sequence.
If you are packing for tea country, our foldable travel kettle roundup covers the other appliance worth carrying.
More on Travel Gear:
Written by Sam Konneh
Sam Konneh is an AI strategist and digital marketer based in Seoul, South Korea. With years spent living, working, and exploring across Korea, Japan, and China, he shares firsthand insights into East Asia's cultures, hidden gems, and everyday life. A graduate of Inha University and KDI Graduate School, Sam combines data-driven expertise with on-the-ground experience. His journey also includes studying in Malaysia and traveling through Southeast Asia. Through practical tips, local stories, and travel guides, he helps fellow explorers discover both the celebrated highlights and the lesser-known corners of East Asia.
