When China Called: Entry Part 2
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| Qin Terracotta Army, Xi’an, Photo Credit: Mohamed Hakim |
The bags are checked-in within transfers, but after having luggage scanned... twice... This is counterintuitive for me because my experience, until then, has been to meet with an airline rep. first, give them my luggage, and security checks of said luggage is then done in the background. Furthermore, my experience, until then, was to see the lineup of airline agents outside the passengers' area, like what you'd see if you just walked into an airport, not here, on the inside! That said, it does make sense, if the intention is to ensure that you're going to make your transfer, because you are relinquishing your luggage before being allowed entry into mainland China, and the only way to retrieve them is to make your flight.
So, the line into the airlines' luggage check-ins area, in transfers, has two checkpoints. Yes, you heard me, at the transfers terminal you will be asked to have your bags checked when you first arrive in line, and then again when it is your turn to pass through the inspection checkpoint. The first checkpoint is for luggage only. There are no retractable stanchions or anything, just two attendants sitting behind a desk who will call you out if you didn't know to put your bag in the scanner stationed to the right side of the hall, which otherwise you'd think is left there to be picked up for maintenance! The second check is a standard security checkpoint, just remember to remove any battery banks and hand them in ahead of inspection. A number will be given to you to retrieve the battery bank later.
Given that China is a leading electronics manufacturer, I found it surprising that the use of portable batteries is heavily regulated. Evidently, if you possess a power bank, not only will you be prohibited from using it on domestic flights, but, as previously mentioned, you will be asked to give it up for safekeeping before you are asked to scan your bags, for the second time, and go through the security checkpoint. I imagine this practice is to prevent you from sneaking the battery into the check-in luggage.
Once cleared, proceed to the airline check-in staff available slightly to your right to check-in your bags.
Fair warning: the staff at the transfers' check-ins know little to no English.
Once the bag is checked in proceed towards the exit. And before heading out into the Beijing airport, collect your battery from the attendant at the table near the exit. Congratulations and welcome to China!
