Last updated: 1 June 2025
When you are going on a trip to China, be sure to pack the appropriate travel plug adapter that fits the local sockets. But what do those electrical outlets look like? China has standardized on a hybrid socket that accepts the Australian type I plugs, as well as the American type A and the European type C plugs.
The voltage in China is 230 volts and the frequency is 50 Hz.
The official Chinese hybrid socket.
In the past, China did not have an official plug and socket system and a wide range of different plugs and sockets were used within its borders. For a long time, the Chinese government thought this was the perfect solution (one socket for a huge variety of plugs), but heightened awareness of electrical safety hazards (universal sockets are notoriously unsafe) lead to the adoption of a national standard.
In 2009, the Chinese government eventually decided on a specific type of (safe) hybrid socket that accommodates Australian type I, American type A and European type C plugs. However, for grounded equipment, only the three-pronged type I plugs can be used. So, in other words, type I could be considered the “preferred and future-proof standard” of mainland China.
In Australasia and Argentina, type I receptacles typically have the earth contact positioned downwards, whereas in China sockets usually have the earth contact at the top.
Click here for a global map showing the spread of the different plug types used around the world.
Click here for a detailed list of the countries of the world with their respective plug and outlet types, voltage and frequency.
