Flying to Bali with a layover in China - do you need to show Indonesia visa at boarding and how strict is Chinese airport transit control?

For a short connection in China, airport staff may meet passengers at the aircraft exit, give them a visible sticker, and escort them through checks without queues to the next gate. One report estimated that making the transfer independently takes about 40–45 minutes.

Allow sufficient time if you plan to leave the airport during a China transit: passengers may be denied exit when the connection is short. The discussion notes that attempting a city visit on a roughly four-hour layover is risky.

Recent experience on a China Eastern transit through Shanghai Pudong: a 20,000 mAh power bank without a CCC mark, but with clearly readable specifications, was allowed through. This is an individual experience, not a guarantee of passing screening.

On domestic flights within China via Beijing, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai, a 30,000 mAh power bank with a CCC mark received detailed scrutiny: the traveler was taken for secondary screening and paperwork was completed, but the device was ultimately allowed.

Regarding power banks in China: without CCC certification mark, they will definitely be confiscated on domestic China flights; on international transit there's a chance it may pass, but it's risky and not recommended.

One traveler flew via Shanghai with a 2-day stopover (ticket price was the same as a direct connection) and had no problems at the airport. Tip: check the simple rules on power banks and QR codes before transiting China. Staff communicate in English, and as a backup everyone uses a phone translator app, which locals rely on too.

Transit connections in China can involve a longer-than-usual security/immigration check - this is common at Chinese airports. Tip (half-joking): if you're running late for your connection, showing your boarding pass to airport staff along the way can help speed things up.

Several travelers who flew Chinese airlines with a transit through China to Indonesia multiple times report that no one checked for an Indonesia visa at boarding.

First-time flyers connecting through China often worry that Chinese border/security officers are extremely strict with no exceptions - but based on other travelers' experience, this isn't necessarily the case at every Chinese airport.