The short version

This is a general primer on carry-on liquid rules for independent travelers moving through the major hubs of Southeast Asia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan. It is not authoritative guidance for your specific trip. Visa requirements, prescription medication rules, religious-item exemptions and country-specific medical or dietary exceptions are out of scope here and should be checked with the relevant authority or your airline before you fly.

Across most of the airports covered on this site, the rule that catches travelers is broadly the same: liquids, gels, creams, pastes and aerosols in your carry-on must be in containers of 100 ml (3.4 oz) or less, all packed into one clear, resealable plastic bag of about 1 liter, and one bag per passenger. Larger containers go in checked luggage, or you surrender them at the security checkpoint. That single framework covers most of what independent travelers actually get stopped for.

Where it gets messy is the edge cases: connecting flights, duty-free bottles bought mid-trip, the gray zone of what counts as a “liquid,” and the small but real differences between how the major hubs enforce the rule. A few jurisdictions in the target scope — notably mainland China, Japan and South Korea — have documented nuances on domestic liquid screening, powder rules and battery watt-hour limits that go beyond the standard 100 ml / 1 L framework, so treat any claim of universal uniformity with caution.

What counts as a “liquid” at airport security

The rules apply to anything that can spill, pour, spray, spread or pump. That includes the obvious shampoo and toothpaste, but also:

  • Gels: hair gel, gel deodorant, aloe vera
  • Creams and lotions: face cream, sunscreen lotion, body butter
  • Pastes: toothpaste, lip balm in a jar, thick face masks
  • Aerosols: hairspray, shaving foam, spray sunscreen, deodorant sprays
  • Liquid cosmetics: mascara, foundation, lip gloss, liquid eyeliner
  • Spreadable food: jam, peanut butter, yogurt, hummus, cheese spread, maple syrup
  • Liquid-based hand sanitizer

Not considered liquids for this rule (so they don’t have to go in the 100 ml bag):

  • Solid stick deodorant
  • Stick lip balm / chapstick
  • Powder makeup
  • Solid bar cosmetics
  • Powdered or crystallized items

When in doubt, the practical test is: if a screen tipped it over, would it run? If yes, treat it as a liquid.

The 100 ml rule in plain language

Across Changi (SIN), Kuala Lumpur (KUL), Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Hong Kong (HKG), Taoyuan (TPE), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Beijing Capital (PEK), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), Ho Chi Minh City (SGN), Manila (MNL), Denpasar (DPS), Narita and most other international hubs in the region, the basic framework is:

  1. Each container must be 100 ml / 100 g (3.4 oz) or less.
  2. All containers must fit inside one clear, resealable plastic bag of roughly 1 liter (about 20 cm × 20 cm, or a standard quart-size bag).
  3. One bag per passenger.
  4. The bag must come out of your carry-on at the security checkpoint and go into a tray by itself.
  5. Anything over 100 ml in your carry-on must go in checked baggage or be left behind.

Two practical points people miss:

  • The limit is on the container, not the remaining liquid. A half-used 200 ml shampoo bottle is not allowed, even if it’s nearly empty. If the printed size on the label is over 100 ml, it’s over.
  • The bag must be transparent and resealable. Solid color, fabric pouches, and zipped hard cases don’t count. Cheap zip-lock freezer bags from a convenience store work fine.

How it’s applied at the hubs readers actually use

For an independent traveler moving through Southeast Asia and China, the differences between countries are smaller than they look, but they are not zero. A few documented exceptions in the target scope are worth flagging before you treat the rule as one shared global standard.

  • Changi (SIN), KLIA (KUL), BKK, SGN, MNL, DPS: standard 100 ml / 1 L bag. Screening is generally consistent, but on some intra-ASEAN low-cost carrier routes, gate-side checks on liquids (especially larger toiletries repacked at the gate, or drinks carried down the jet bridge) can be enforced inconsistently. Don’t count on a friendly boarding.
  • Hong Kong (HKG): standard 100 ml / 1 L rule at the main screening point. Liquids bought airside in the sealed, tamper-evident bag are accepted through to your final destination. The HKG–MFM heli-ferry connection is treated like a transfer within a secure environment, so a sealed duty-free bag purchased in either direction is accepted on the heli-ferry specifically; the same bag is not guaranteed if you leave the secure area elsewhere.
  • Taoyuan (TPE): standard 100 ml / 1 L rule. Taiwanese screening tends to be strict on bag flatness and seal visibility.
  • Mainland China — PVG, PEK, CAN and other CAAC-monitored hubs: the 100 ml / 1 L rule applies at international and most domestic terminals. The real point independent travelers miss is that domestic legs inside China still screen liquids at most major airports, with the same 100 ml / 1 L framework enforced through the security check. Don’t assume a domestic hop is the soft option. Travelers should also be aware of the separate rules China applies to powdered substances and to lithium batteries carried in personal electronic devices, which sit outside the 100 ml liquid framework.
  • Narita / Japan: standard 100 ml / 1 L rule, with screening run by airlines under the Civil Aeronautics Act. In practice this means rules can vary slightly by carrier, so follow your airline’s guidance if it differs from the airport page. Japan has its own nuanced approach to powder screening and to battery watt-hour limits that can differ from the broader Asian pattern.
  • South Korea: the standard 100 ml / 1 L rule applies, but South Korea introduced tighter restrictions on lithium power banks and spare batteries in 2024, with stricter watt-hour limits and the possibility that devices failing the new thresholds can be refused at the gate. Check your carrier’s current battery guidance before you fly.

What changes from hub to hub is mostly:

  • How strictly the bag size is enforced. Some checkpoints reject a slightly overstuffed bag; others let you squeeze it through.
  • Whether you have to remove the bag. Most checkpoints still ask you to. Newer CT scanners in several major hubs, including parts of the EU and an increasing number of Asian airports, now allow liquids and laptops to stay inside the bag — but the 100 ml limit still applies, and not every lane at every airport is upgraded. Check current signage at your departure airport.
  • Local exceptions. A few countries allow modest exceptions for certain medications or religious items, but you should not assume this at the door.

For a self-pack trip, treat the framework as the baseline and layer in the regional exceptions above. You won’t go far wrong if you pack to the lowest common denominator and double-check your specific carriers for batteries and powders.

Packing order that actually saves time at the checkpoint

If you do a lot of flying, your packing order inside the bag matters more than which brand of zip-lock you buy.

A workable system:

  • Outer pocket of your carry-on: the transparent liquid bag, ready to slide out in one motion. Pack it so the flat side faces up and the seal is visible — screeners can see what’s inside without you rearranging it.
  • Top of your carry-on: laptop, tablet and any large electronics. These usually go in their own tray. Keep them on top so you’re not digging past your clothes at the scanner.
  • Middle: a change of clothes or packable layer. Solid items, no liquids.
  • Bottom: shoes, books, anything dense. Heavy at the base keeps the bag stable when you lift it into the overhead bin.
  • Personal item: chargers, power bank, headphones, medication in its original labeled box if possible, and anything you want quick access to without opening the main bag.

A small kit that travels well:

  • One clear 1 L zip bag (or two, in case one tears)
  • Travel-size toothpaste, deodorant, skin care
  • Reusable water bottle — empty through security, filled after
  • A small foldable tote for duty-free or overflow

Electronics, power banks and the “liquids” gray zone

Liquids are one half of the security conversation. Electronics are the other. A few rules that catch people out:

  • Laptops, tablets and large electronics usually have to come out of the bag and into their own tray. Keep them near the top. Where CT scanners are in use, this step may no longer apply — watch the signage at your lane.
  • Power banks and spare lithium batteries must go in your carry-on, never checked. They are governed by airline dangerous-goods rules and have size and quantity limits that vary by carrier and by country. South Korea’s tightened lithium battery limits are a current example worth checking before you fly.
  • E-cigarettes and vaping devices are carry-on only. Do not pack them in checked luggage, and do not use them on board.
  • Wet wipes, solid deodorant, stick sunscreen, lip balm sticks are not “liquids,” so they can sit anywhere in your bag.

If you’re on a long-haul with a tight connection, pack your laptop and liquids where you can reach them without unpacking the whole bag. The few seconds saved at the scanner add up across a trip.

Connecting flights: when does the bag get re-checked?

This is where independent travelers get caught, especially on multi-country tickets.

If your itinerary is one ticket, one PNR, even with a layover, your sealed bag is usually re-screened as a unit and you do not re-clear security in many hubs. But there are exceptions:

  • Changing terminals in China or Hong Kong can mean going through security again. The 100 ml rule applies at every checkpoint.
  • Connecting in Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur often means a fresh security screen for liquids, especially on separate tickets or when moving between low-cost carrier terminals.
  • Connecting on intra-ASEAN low-cost carriers (where gate-side checks on liquids can be inconsistent): treat every boarding as a fresh checkpoint. A bottle that got through the main screening can still be flagged at the gate.
  • Connecting from a non-sterile to a sterile area in any country can require pulling out the liquid bag again.

The practical answer: treat every checkpoint as if it’s the first one. If your liquids are over 100 ml and you don’t have access to a checked bag, you’ll lose them at the connection. Pack the legal limit, even on short hops.

If you must travel with expensive skincare, prescription liquid medication or large bottles of specialty toiletries, put them in checked luggage in a sealed zip bag inside a sock or wrap, in case of pressure leaks.

Duty-free liquids: the one real exception

Liquids bought at a duty-free shop after the security checkpoint in an international terminal can sometimes be carried on board even if they’re over 100 ml. The conditions matter:

  • The item must be packed in a transparent, tamper-evident bag sealed by the retailer.
  • You should keep the receipt, ideally showing the date and place of purchase.
  • On a connecting flight, the bag must remain sealed through the connection. If you need to re-clear security and the screeners can’t verify the tamper-evident status, they may make you surrender the bottle.
  • The exemption is widely accepted at HKG, SIN, KUL, BKK and other major Asian hubs, but acceptance is never guaranteed at a secondary checkpoint.

A simple traveler’s rule: if the duty-free item matters to you, buy it at the last international airport before your final destination and don’t open the bag until you’re home. If you have a layover and need to leave the secure area, be prepared to give it up.

Common items that surprise people

A short list of things that get confiscated most often:

  • A nearly-empty 200 ml toothpaste tube “because it’s almost used up.”
  • A jar of face cream that’s technically 80 ml but the label says 3.4 fl oz in awkward units — read the label in ml.
  • Contact lens solution in a 300 ml bottle. Move it to checked or to a 100 ml travel bottle.
  • Large bottles of water or soda. Finish or discard before the checkpoint. Refill on the other side.
  • Gifts of wine, spirits or oil. If you didn’t buy them in a sealed duty-free bag post-security, they go in checked luggage or get left behind.
  • Snow globes. They count as liquids.
  • Thick body butter or solid coconut oil that melts in the cabin. If it can become liquid at warm temperatures, screeners may treat it as a liquid.

A packing checklist for a multi-country trip

Before you zip the liquid bag shut, run through this list:

  • Each container reads 100 ml / 100 g / 3.4 oz or less on the label.
  • The bag is clear, resealable, and roughly 1 liter.
  • The bag is not overstuffed so it can seal flat.
  • Any duty-free liquids over 100 ml are in a sealed, tamper-evident bag with the receipt.
  • Your water bottle is empty.
  • Power banks and spare batteries are in your carry-on, not checked, and within the watt-hour limits of your carrier and any country on your route.
  • For gifts and souvenirs containing liquids — wine, oil, perfume, large sauces — plan to check them or ship them separately rather than carry them on.

If you’re traveling for more than two weeks, refillable travel bottles (10 ml, 30 ml, 50 ml sizes) are usually cheaper than buying travel-size toiletries at the airport.

What to do if you’re stopped

Most confiscations are not confrontations. This is general education, not legal advice, and outcomes at any individual checkpoint depend on the officer on the day.

The typical process:

  • The screener will ask you to surrender the item, open the bottle, or send it through extra screening.
  • If the item is allowed but the bag is wrong, they may ask you to repack and re-screen.
  • If the item is medically necessary, you can ask for it to be inspected separately from your main bag.

If you think a rule was applied incorrectly, ask politely for the supervisor. Keep your boarding pass and the relevant country’s official page handy on your phone. Rules vary by checkpoint, and individual officers do have discretion at the door — but that discretion is theirs, not yours to predict.

Frequently asked questions

Do powders count as liquids? Most powdered items, including powdered makeup and protein powder, are treated separately and may get extra screening, but the 100 ml liquid rule generally does not apply to dry powders. Rules around large quantities of powder can be stricter in some regions — including parts of mainland China and Japan — so check the specific country if you’re carrying more than a few hundred grams.

Can I bring a 200 ml bottle that’s mostly empty? No. The rule is based on the labeled container size, not the remaining contents.

What about solid sunscreen sticks vs. cream? Stick sunscreen is treated as a solid. Lotion and spray sunscreens are liquids and follow the 100 ml rule.

Can I bring an empty water bottle? Yes. Empty bottles are allowed through security. Refill on the airside side at a drinking fountain.

Do these rules change for transit passengers? The 100 ml rule applies at every checkpoint you cross. If your connection requires re-clearing security, the same limits apply. This matters more than people expect on intra-ASEAN low-cost carrier connections.

What if I bought duty-free perfume in another country two days ago? If it’s still in a sealed, tamper-evident bag with the receipt, most major Asian hubs will accept it through to your final destination. If you need to re-clear security at a connection, the seal has to be intact or the bottle may be surrendered.

A final note for independent travelers

The 100 ml liquid rule is one of the few parts of international travel that is genuinely the same across most of the hubs covered on this site. The variation is mostly at the edges: tamper-evident duty-free bags, how strictly the bag size is enforced, what counts as a medical exemption, how consistently gate-side checks are run on budget carriers, and the small but real country-level rules on powders and lithium batteries. The CT-scanner rollout that lets liquids and laptops stay in the bag is moving unevenly from airport to airport, and a handful of jurisdictions in the region have tightened battery and powder rules recently — so “treat the rule as universal” is good starting advice, not gospel.

If you pack to the lowest common denominator, carry the receipt for any duty-free purchase, and keep your bag organized so the liquid pouch slides out in one motion, you’ll move through security on most trips without a problem. For anything that depends on your specific passport, ticket, medication or medical situation, check the official source below. Rules can change, and the checkpoint officer is always the final word on the day.

Sources