What should I pack for China?

Short Answer

Travel packing flat lay with passport and essentials

Pack smart: focus on essentials you can't easily find in China, and leave room for souvenirs

Deep Dive

Documents and Money

• Passport: Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Carry physical copies AND photos on your phone.
• Visa: Check if you need one. Many nationalities can get 144-hour transit visas or visa-free entry under certain conditions. Apply for tourist visas (L visa) well in advance -- processing takes 4-7 business days.
• Travel insurance documents: Print or save digital copies. Make sure your policy covers medical evacuation.
• Flight itinerary: Printed copies for immigration.
• Hotel confirmations: Have addresses written in Chinese to show taxi drivers.
• Cash: Bring some RMB (500-1000 RMB) for arrival, though ATMs are everywhere. Notify your bank you're traveling to China.
• Credit/debit cards: Visa and Mastercard work at ATMs but are rarely accepted at shops. UnionPay is more widely accepted.
• Copies: Keep digital copies of all documents in cloud storage and email a set to yourself.

Clothing by Season

• Layers are key: light jacket, long sleeves, t-shirts
• Light rain jacket or compact umbrella (spring showers are common)
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Temperatures: 10-25C depending on the city

• Lightweight, breathable clothing (cotton or moisture-wicking)
• Shorts, t-shirts, sundresses
• Hat and sunglasses
• Light cardigan for aggressive air conditioning indoors
• Rain jacket or umbrella (summer is monsoon season in southern China)
• Temperatures: 25-40C, very humid in the south

• Similar to spring: layers, light jacket
• Long pants, light sweaters
• Temperatures: 10-25C

• Heavy coat, thermal underwear, warm layers
• Scarf, gloves, warm hat (especially for northern China where it drops below -10C)
• Thick socks, waterproof boots
• Southern China (Guangzhou, Shenzhen) is milder: 5-15C, a medium jacket suffices

• Chinese people dress modestly. Very short shorts or revealing tops may attract unwanted attention in smaller cities.
• Pack one smart outfit if you plan to visit upscale restaurants or clubs.
• Shoes should be comfortable and easy to slip on/off (you'll be removing shoes frequently in homes and some temples).

Electronics

• Universal power adapter: China uses Type A, C, and I plugs. Most hotel rooms have universal outlets, but bring an adapter just in case. See our power adapter guide.
• Power bank: Essential for long days of sightseeing and using maps/translation apps. Must be under 100Wh (about 27,000mAh) to fly with.
• VPN: Install before you arrive. Google, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and most Western apps are blocked in China. Popular VPNs: Astrill, ExpressVPN, Mullvad. Download the app and test it before departure.
• Portable charger/cables: Bring your own. While you can buy them in China, finding the exact cable you need can be frustrating.
• E-reader: Load books before you go. Kindle works in China but the store may be inaccessible without VPN.
• Camera: China is incredibly photogenic. A smartphone camera is sufficient for most people, but a dedicated camera with a wide-angle lens is great for landscapes.

Toiletries and Medications

• Prescription medications: Bring enough for your entire trip plus a few extra days. Keep them in original packaging with the prescription label. Some medications that are legal elsewhere may be restricted in China.
• Basic medications: Bring your own painkillers (ibuprofen, paracetamol), anti-diarrhea medication (Imodium), antihistamines, and any motion sickness pills. Chinese pharmacies stock equivalents but finding the right one without Chinese is hard.
• Sunscreen: Available in China but often contains whitening agents. If you prefer regular sunscreen, bring your own.
• Tampons: Hard to find in many parts of China, especially outside major cities. Pads are everywhere.
• Deodorant: Available in large cities (Watsons, imported goods stores) but not always easy to find. Bring your own if you're particular.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste: Available everywhere, but bring travel-size for your first day.
• Hand sanitizer and tissues: Carry both. Public restrooms often lack soap and toilet paper.
• Insect repellent: Essential for southern China and rural areas, especially in summer.

Things You Can Buy in China (Don't Overpack)

• Umbrellas: Cheap and everywhere (15-30 RMB)
• Basic toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap -- all available at convenience stores
• Phone chargers and cables: Abundant at electronics markets and convenience stores
• Snacks and water: Convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart) are on every corner
• Tissues and wipes: Every convenience store and pharmacy
• Cheap clothing: If you forgot something, H&M, Uniqlo, and Taobao have you covered
• SIM card/eSIM: Buy at the airport or order an eSIM before departure. See our SIM guide

Packing Checklist Summary

• Passport + visa
• Phone with VPN installed
• WeChat and Alipay set up
• Universal adapter
• Medications
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Small backpack or day bag
• Tissues and hand sanitizer

• Power bank
• Reusable water bottle
• Snacks from home (for the flight or if you're picky)
• Earplugs (Chinese hotels can be noisy)
• Sleep mask
• Photos of your hotel address in Chinese

• Full-size toiletries (buy at destination)
• Guidebooks (use your phone)
• Too many clothes (laundry services are cheap: 5-15 RMB per item at hotels)