China Packing List – What to Bring (And What NOT to Bring)
Pack light. The less you carry, the happier you'll be climbing subway stairs, navigating train stations, and squeezing through crowded night markets. China has excellent convenience stores on every corner — if you forget toothpaste, you'll survive. If you forget your VPN and power bank, you won't.
This checklist covers the non-negotiables, the nice-to-haves, and the things you should absolutely leave at home.
Interactive Packing List Generator (Coming Soon)
Select your destination cities, travel season, and trip type — the generator produces a customized checklist. In the meantime, use the static version below.
China Travel Essentials – Complete Checklist
📄 Essential Documents
| Item | Why | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Non-negotiable | 6+ months validity, 2+ blank pages. Photocopy kept separately |
| Chinese visa (if required) | Entry denied without it | Print a copy. Keep with passport. Visa guide → |
| Visa-free eligibility confirmation | If using visa-free or transit policy | Print the official policy page from the Chinese embassy website |
| Printed hotel confirmations | Required for immigration + hotel registration | All hotels, all dates. Chinese address version for taxi drivers |
| Printed flight itinerary | Immigration may ask | Round-trip or onward ticket confirmation |
| Travel insurance documents | Recommended | Policy number, emergency contact, coverage details |
| Emergency contact card | Peace of mind | Your embassy, insurance, hotel address in Chinese, emergency phrase card |
| Passport photos (2 extras) | For visa extensions | 48mm × 33mm, white background |
📱 Electronics & Apps
| Item | Why | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VPN installed & tested | ⚠️ DO THIS BEFORE DEPARTURE | Gmail, Google, WhatsApp, Instagram all blocked. VPN guide → |
| Smartphone | Your payment, map, translator, ticket | The single most important thing you'll bring |
| Power bank (10,000+ mAh) | Dead phone = stranded | Charge nightly. Bring a cable. You cannot function without your phone |
| Universal power adapter | China uses Type A, C, I (220V) | Buy before departure. Airports sell overpriced ones |
| Pre-installed apps | Do this on home WiFi | WeChat, Alipay, DiDi, Pleco, Google Translate (offline pack), MetroMan, Baidu Maps or Amap, Trip.com. Payment setup → |
| Offline maps downloaded | For when data fails | Google Maps allows offline downloads. Star your hotel |
| Translation app + offline Chinese pack | Essential | Google Translate + Pleco. Language guide → |
| Camera (optional) | Phone cameras are excellent | If you bring a DSLR, carry it in your hand luggage. Tripods: allowed but bulky |
👗 Clothing (By Season)
| Item | Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking shoes (broken in) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lightweight layers | ✅ | — | ✅ | ✅ (thermal base) |
| T-shirts / tops | ✅ | ✅ (light, breathable) | ✅ | ✅ (thermal + sweater) |
| Long pants / jeans | ✅ | ✅ (lightweight) | ✅ | ✅ (thermal lined) |
| Shorts / skirts | ✅ (warm days) | ✅ | — | — |
| Light jacket / cardigan | ✅ | — | ✅ | — |
| Rain jacket / umbrella | ✅ | ✅ (monsoon) | ✅ | — |
| Heavy coat | — | — | — | ✅ (north: -25°C) |
| Gloves, hat, scarf | — | — | — | ✅ (north) |
| Swimwear | — | ✅ | ✅ (south) | — (except Sanya) |
| Socks (moisture-wicking) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (wool, 2 pairs) |
| Sandals / flip-flops | — | ✅ | — | — |
| Scarf / sarong | ✅ (versatile) | ✅ (sun cover) | ✅ | ✅ |
💊 Health & Safety
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Anti-diarrheal medication (loperamide) | The most important medication. Chinese food is safe but your stomach may disagree initially |
| Painkillers (paracetamol / ibuprofen) | Familiar brands save stress. Available locally but labels are in Chinese |
| Prescription medications | In original containers + copy of prescription + doctor's letter |
| Allergy card (in Chinese) | Essential for food allergies. Print and laminate. "我对花生过敏" = I'm allergic to peanuts |
| N95 / KN95 masks (3–5) | For high-pollution days (Beijing winter, Xi'an winter). Available locally but bring a few |
| Hand sanitizer | Public bathrooms often lack soap |
| Wet wipes / tissue packs | Public bathrooms rarely have toilet paper. Carry a small pack daily |
| Sunscreen | Available locally but expensive. Bring from home |
| Insect repellent | Summer in Guilin, Yunnan, rural areas |
| Basic first aid (band-aids, antiseptic cream) | Small cuts and blisters from all that walking |
🧴 Toiletries
| Item | Bring or Buy Locally? |
|---|---|
| Toothbrush + toothpaste | Bring a travel kit. Available everywhere |
| Deodorant / antiperspirant | ⚠️ Bring from home. Chinese deodorants are weaker than Western brands |
| Shampoo / conditioner | Buy locally (hotels provide basics) |
| Sunscreen | Bring from home — expensive in China |
| Contact lens solution | Bring enough. Larger cities have it but rural areas don't |
| Feminine hygiene products | Available in cities. Bring enough for rural legs |
| Razor | Available everywhere |
| Lip balm (with SPF) | Bring. Dry northern winters will crack your lips |
🎒 Other Essentials
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Day pack / small backpack | For daily carry. Not a shoulder bag — you'll walk too much |
| Reusable water bottle | Tap water is NOT safe. Boil hotel water or buy bottled. Filter bottle: ideal |
| Small padlock | For hostel lockers |
| Ziplock bags (assorted sizes) | For snacks, wet items, organizing. Weirdly useful |
| Earplugs | Chinese cities are loud. Train stations, hotel corridors, honking |
| Eye mask | Overnight trains, bright hotel curtains |
| Laundry detergent sheets | For sink-washing in hostels |
❌ What NOT to Bring
| Item | Why Leave It |
|---|---|
| Too much cash | Alipay/WeChat Pay cover 95% of transactions. ¥300–500 in small bills is plenty. Payment guide → |
| Unregistered drone | Drones must be registered with the CAAC before flying in China. Unregistered drones can be confiscated at customs. Check current regulations |
| VPN that you haven't tested | Free VPNs almost never work in China. Install and test a paid VPN before departure |
| Hardcopy books (more than 1) | Heavy. Use Kindle / tablet. Download content before arriving (Kindle store works in China) |
| Excessive toiletries | Everything is available at Chinese convenience stores. Pack for 3 days, buy the rest |
| Expensive jewelry / watches | You won't need them. China is extremely safe but why risk it |
| Large suitcase | Metro stairs, train station platforms, narrow hutong lanes. A 40–60L backpack or carry-on roller is ideal |
Seasonal Packing Comparison
| Spring | Summer | Autumn | Winter (North) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy coat | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Thermal layers | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Rain jacket | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Sunscreen | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| N95 mask | ❌ (check AQI) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (North) |
| Insect repellent | ❌ | ✅ (rural) | ❌ | ❌ |
| Swimwear | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Gloves/hat | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
City-Specific Packing Tips
| City | Extra to Pack | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beijing | N95 masks (winter), heavy coat (Nov–Feb), lip balm | Coal heating season: AQI can reach unhealthy. Dry cold cracks lips |
| Shanghai | Umbrella (year-round), light rain jacket | Sudden rain common in all seasons. Summer: oppressive humidity |
| Chengdu | Light rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes | Frequent drizzle. Flat but you walk a lot |
| Harbin | Thermal everything, hand warmers, insulated boots, power bank | -25°C kills phone batteries in 10 minutes. Chemical hand warmers are sold everywhere |
| Guilin | Insect repellent (summer), rain jacket, swimwear | Humid, buggy in summer. River activities |
| Kunming | Light jacket (evenings year-round), sunscreen | 1,890m altitude = stronger UV. 15–22°C but evenings cool down |
| Hong Kong / Macau | Lightweight clothing, deodorant, sunscreen | Hot and humid year-round. Separate visa policy |
Downloadable PDF Checklist
A one-page printable PDF checklist is coming soon. It'll include all essential items in a checkbox format, a pre-departure to-do list (VPN, apps, insurance, bank notification), and city-specific add-ons. Subscribe to our newsletter → for launch notifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack for a trip to China?
The non-negotiables: passport (6+ months valid), visa or visa-free documentation, VPN (installed and tested before departure), smartphone with WeChat + Alipay pre-installed, universal power adapter, power bank, comfortable broken-in walking shoes, prescription medications + copies, and ¥300–500 in small bills. Everything else is nice-to-have or available locally. See the full checklist above.
What plug adapter do I need for China?
China uses Type A (two flat prongs, like the US), Type C (two round prongs, like Europe), and Type I (three flat prongs, like Australia). A universal adapter covers all three. Voltage: 220V. Most modern electronics (phone chargers, laptop adapters) handle 110–240V — check the label.
What apps should I download before traveling to China?
WeChat (messaging + payment), Alipay (payment), DiDi (ride-hailing, English mode), Pleco (offline Chinese dictionary), Google Translate (download Chinese offline pack), MetroMan (metro maps), Trip.com (train/hotel booking), and a VPN (Astrill or LetsVPN — install and test before departure). Full app guide →
What should I not bring to China?
Large amounts of cash (Alipay/WeChat cover everything), an untested free VPN (won't work), unregistered drones (may be confiscated), hardcopy books (heavy, use Kindle), excessive toiletries (buy locally), expensive jewelry (unnecessary). See the full "Do NOT Bring" list above.