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1. Essential Travel Items: Things to Bring to China
Passport:
Your passport is the most crucial document for entering China, as it contains your Chinese visa.
Before your trip, prepare several photocopies of your passport and store them in different places, such as your carry-on bag and luggage compartments. This way, you won't have to rummage through your carefully packed luggage.
Tibet Travel Permit (for Tibet travel):
An additional paper Tibet Travel Permit is required for travel to Tibet. This document can only be obtained through a travel agency and must be applied for at least two weeks in advance.
Asia Odyssey Travel is qualified to handle this for free. If needed, please contact us in advance.
International and Domestic Travel Tickets: Double-check all your bookings before your trip. If a travel agency made the reservations, contact them for confirmation.
Cards and Cash:
Visa credit cards are generally accepted in China. After landing, you can exchange currency for Chinese Yuan (RMB). Check How to Pay in China as a Foreigner ->>
However, most locals use electronic payment methods, which require downloading WeChat or Alipay (see the "Helpful Travel Apps" section).
Travel Insurance: It's highly recommended to have travel insurance to cover common issues like lost luggage or flight delays.
Personal Care:
| Essential Items | Lists | Why Prepare it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tolietries | Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap. | Many star-rated hotels, especially in cities like Beijing, have reduced these items for environmental reasons. | You can also purchase these items at local supermarkets, so there's no need to bring your entire bathroom. |
| Man's Products | Razors | Few hotels offer it. | Electric razors with no exposed blades are allowed on airplanes. Manual razors require the blades and batteries to be removed and packed in checked luggage. |
| Girl's Products | Cosmetics, Sanitary Napkins, Tampons. | / | Sanitary napkins are available in most supermarkets, but tampons are only found in larger chain stores like Watsons, Hema, Costco, and Lawson. |
Medications: Pack medications for colds, stomach problems, allergies, motion sickness, and Rhodiola (for altitude sickness).
VPN: The claims about needing to "wipe your phone" before entering China are exaggerated. Most of these claims are from VPN advertisements.
Simply download a reliable VPN with good speed before your trip to access platforms like Twitter/X and Instagram as usual.
2. Clothing - What to Pack for China’s Four Seasons and Regions
There are no "colors not to wear in China" restrictions. You can pack enough clothes based on the following seasons and regions. If you'd like to wear traditional Chinese clothing like Hanfu or Qipao, you can have them custom-made locally.
What to Pack for China Spring (March to May)
| Region | What to Wear |
|---|---|
| North China (Beijing) | Heavy Sweaters (2), Fleece Jackets (2), Jacket or Windbreaker (1), Fleece-Lined Pants (2) |
| Central China (Shanghai) | Light Sweaters (2), Long Pants (2), Coat (1) |
| South China (Guangzhou, Zhangjiajie, Guilin/Yangshuo) | Long-Sleeved T-shirts (2), Light Jacket (1), Rainproof Shoes (1) for rainy season. |
| Northwest China (Xi'an, Xinjiang) | Windproof Outer Shell (1), Fleece Inner Layer (1), Heavy Sweaters (2) |
| Southwest China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan) | Long-Sleeved Shirts (2), Light Cardigans (2), Windproof Jacket (1) for high-altitude areas |
Spring in China: Weather & Top 7 Places to Visit
What to Pack for China Summer (June to August)
| Region | What to Wear |
|---|---|
| North China (Beijing) | Short-sleeved shirts/shorts (3), thin shirts (2) |
| Central China (Shanghai) | Shirts (2), thin long skirt (1), sun hat (1) |
| South China (Guangzhou, Zhangjiajie, Guilin/Yangshuo) | Short skirts/shorts (3), sun protection clothing (1) |
| Northwest China (Xi'an, Xinjiang) | Quick-dry T-shirts (3), sun protection clothing (1) |
| Southwest China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan) | Breathable T-shirts (3), sun protection clothing (1), quick-dry pants (2) |
Summer in China: 16 Best Places to Visit in China During Summer
What to Pack for China Autumn (September to November)
| Region | What to Wear |
|---|---|
| North China (Beijing) | Jacket (1), Light Sweater (2) |
| Central China (Shanghai) | Sweatshirt (2), Pants (1), Light Jacket (1) |
| South China (Guangzhou, Zhangjiajie, Guilin/Yangshuo) | Light Sweatshirt (2), Pants (1), Umbrella |
| Northwest China (Xi'an, Xinjiang) | Fleece Jacket (2), Windproof Pants (1), Scarf |
| Southwest China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan) | Sweater (2), Coat (1) |
Autumn in China: Weather, 16 Spots, Festival, Avoid Crowds
What to Pack for China Winter (December to January)
| Region | What to Wear |
|---|---|
| North China (Beijing, Harbin) | Down jacket (1), quilted cotton pants (1), snow boots (1), hat, scarf, gloves |
| Central China (Shanghai) | Down jacket (1), thick sweater (2) |
| South China (Guangzhou, Zhangjiajie, Guilin/Yangshuo) | Overcoat (2), thermal underwear (2), fleece-lined pants (1) |
| Northwest China (Xi'an, Xinjiang) | Down jacket (1), thermal underwear (2) |
| Southwest China (Chengdu, Tibet, Yunnan) | Down jacket (1), fleece-lined pants (2), scarf, hat, gloves |
Winter in China: Weather, Festivals, Destinations & Tips
3. What to Pack for China Trip with Kids and Seniors: Additional Essentials
When scheduling a China family tour, it is advisable to pack the necessary items for children and seniors.
Packing List for Kids
Essentials: Diapers, baby carrier, baby formula, familiar comfort items such as a favorite toy or blanket.
Travel Necessities:
- Car seats suitable for children are not commonly available in Chinese vehicles. Consider bringing your own or researching rental options.
- Download books, magazines, games, and movies onto an iPad for entertainment.
13 Things to Do in China with Kids: Exploring China with Kids
Packing List for Seniors
- Portable Bag: Pack essential medications for chronic conditions, any needed medical documentation, tissues, high-calorie snacks for energy.
- Trekking poles (walking sticks).
- Non-slip shoes.
4. Helpful China Travel Apps: Used by Locals
WeChat/Alipay: You can use WeChat or Alipay for digital purchases or to chat with your guide or local friends. Check out "How to Use WeChat in China" for more information.
Didi: Similar to Uber.
12306: You can use this official Chinese ticketing app to purchase plane tickets, train tickets, bus tickets, and ferry tickets.
Meituan: Commonly used for ordering food delivery in China.
Dianping Global: You can use it to find highly-rated restaurants.
Translation App: Chinese people speak Mandarin and various dialects. You can use translation apps to communicate. You can try saying "Ni Hao, Qing Kan" (Hello, please look) while using a translation app.
5. Packing List for a Happier China Trip (Optional)
Portable Wifi: Heavy internet users can bring a portable Wi-Fi device for their trip.
Power Adapter: Electrical outlets in China may be different from those in your home country, so it's useful to bring a power adapter for convenient charging.
Neck Pillow and Earplugs: For long flights, these items can help you rest better.
Heat Packs: If you're traveling to China in winter, remember that while northern indoor areas have heating, southern areas do not. If your hands and feet get cold, you can purchase heat packs at supermarkets.
6. Things Not to Bring to China
Power banks over 20000mAh: Power banks with excessive capacity will be confiscated.
Flammable items: Lighters, shaving cream with flammable symbols.
Weapons: Guns, knives.
Animals and plants: They will be strictly inspected when going through customs.
Medications: You can only bring medications related to genuine medical conditions. It's best to have your doctor's prescription translated into Chinese for customs inspection.
Religious: Various religious-related printed materials.
Corrosive or Toxic substances: A Big No.
Plan Your China Trip with Asia Odyssey Travel
Instead of carrying a heavy travel book while exploring China, Asia Odyssey Travel offers the latest travel information, rarely found online, and the professional English and other foreign language tour guides. We can customize a China itinerary specifically for you.
You can choose your travel destinations based on your preferences:
- If you're interested in China's millennia-old culture and history, you can choose the Golden Triangle Trip (Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai).
- If you're interested in Tibet, you can head to Lhasa, Everest Base Camp, Mount Kailash, etc.
- Love pandas? Chengdu is the obvious choice.
- If you love nature, it's great to go to Zhangjiajie, Guilin, or Yunnan.
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