We've just been handed an important news bulletin.

Our friends at Ctrip forwarded information of concern to everyone traveling during the Chinese National Day holiday (first week of October). Most major airports in China, certainly those in Beijing, Shanghai, Chendu, Shenyang, Changsha, Harbin and Hefei will feature tighter security. Airport security personel will be scrutinizing luggage more closely than usual. Be aware that:

 

• Security checks will take longer. Arrive at the airport at least two hours early to ensure you make your flight. 

• Your carry-on luggage should have no more than 100mL of fluid of any kind in it. This includes your favorite lip-hair remover, ladies, and your horse-hair protein scalp-nourishing baldness cream, gents. Those go in your check-in luggage.

• Carry-on bags must weight less than 5kg and dimensions must not exceed 20cm x 40cm x 50 cm.

• Do not carry lighters or matches on your person or in carry-on luggage. Airport smoking rooms have their own lighters if you need to smoke.

• Of course, the usual ban on C4, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, sawed-off shotguns, vials of anthrax, switchblades, battle axes and other potentially dangerous items remains. That list includes things you might pack inadvertantly and present a potential danger such as damaged lithium batteries, canisters of compressed camping fuel, tetrodotoxin-coated hunting arrows,  a badly sealed tupperware countainer filled with sulphuric acid, or a badly sealed tupperware container filled with fish you cooked badly... a week ago.
  
   

Be safe and happy travels!