Packing for China is different from packing for most destinations because China has excellent supply chains for almost everything you might forget. Pharmacies, supermarkets, Decathlon, and convenience stores sell quality versions of the things travelers typically need. This means you can pack light and supplement on arrival without difficulty — and for several categories of items, buying in China is cheaper than bringing them from home.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
The Non-Negotiables: Bring These From Home
Power Bank (Portable Charger)
A power bank is the single item that creates the most problems when travelers don’t have it. Mobile phones are your maps, translator, taxi app, payment device, and entertainment in China. Battery drain is significantly faster than at home because you’re using data-intensive apps constantly.
Minimum: 10,000mAh (enough for 2-3 full phone charges) Better: 20,000mAh with USB-C fast charging
Why from home: The quality is more predictable from a known brand (Anker, Aukey, Mophie). Chinese power banks are fine but identifying quality ones requires knowledge of brands. However, if you forget yours, Xiaomi, Ugreen, and Romoss power banks from Chinese electronics stores are excellent value at ¥80-200 for 20,000mAh.
Airline restriction: Airlines limit power banks to 100Wh (approximately 27,000mAh) in carry-on baggage. Power banks over 100Wh must stay home. Never pack power banks in checked luggage.
Passport and Copies
Obvious, but: carry your actual passport everywhere in China (required by law, and needed for hotel check-in, SIM purchase, and some tourist site entry). Keep a digital photo of your passport stored in your phone’s camera roll and on cloud storage. Have 1-2 physical photocopies.
Your Specific Medications
Chinese pharmacies (药店, yàodiàn) are excellent and stock a wide range of medications. However, specialty prescriptions, specific brands, and medications with complex formulations are not reliably available. Bring:
- Any prescription medication in full supply for your trip plus 5 days’ extra
- Any OTC medication you rely on (specific allergy tablets, stomach medications, etc.)
- Blister plasters/moleskin if you’re walking a lot
Travel Adapter (But Not Bulky)
China uses Type A (2 flat prongs, same as North America) and Type I (3 diagonal flat prongs, same as Australia) plugs. Voltage is 220V/50Hz.
From North America: You need a plug adapter (Type A plugs work), but a voltage transformer for anything other than modern electronics From Europe/UK: You need an adapter; modern chargers work on 220V without a transformer From Australia: Type I plugs work directly; no adapter needed
A small, flat single-socket adapter is sufficient. You don’t need a bulky multi-socket travel adapter — your hotel room will have multiple sockets in various formats. Just bring a compact adapter for one device.
VPN App (Installed and Tested)
This is the digital non-negotiable. See our VPN guide for full details. Install before leaving home.
Things That Are Cheap to Buy in China
These items are either available at significantly lower prices in China or are easily replaced if you forget them. Consider leaving them home and buying on arrival:
Toiletries and personal care:
- Toothbrush, toothpaste — ¥5-20 at any convenience store or pharmacy
- Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel — hotel-provided or ¥20-50 at supermarket
- Sunscreen (SPF 50, larger bottle) — ¥30-80 at drugstores; Chinese brands like Anessa and Biore are excellent
- Wet wipes and hand sanitiser — universally available, ¥5-15
Electronics and accessories:
- Phone cables and charging bricks — ¥20-80 at electronics shops or Taobao pickup stores
- Earphones — decent quality from ¥30 at electronics markets
- Memory cards — cheaper in China; buy at official electronics retailers not street stalls to avoid fakes
Outdoor and travel gear:
- Trekking poles — Decathlon China sells collapsible poles for ¥80-200
- Lightweight rain poncho — ¥10-20 at any street vendor near mountain entrances
- Compact umbrella — ¥30-60 at convenience stores; useful for sudden summer showers
- Carabiner clips and cable locks for hostel lockers — ¥10-30 at outdoor markets
Clothes:
- Generic t-shirts, cheap clothes for sweaty sightseeing days — ¥30-80 at H&M, Uniqlo (excellent and cheap in China), or street markets
What to Bring: The Actual Useful List
Documents
- Passport (original, not just a copy)
- 2 printed passport photocopies
- Travel insurance card/policy information
- Hotel booking confirmations (printed or offline on phone)
- Emergency contact list (printed)
Technology
- Phone
- Power bank (10,000-20,000mAh)
- Charging cables (include a short cable for convenient use)
- Travel adapter for your country’s plug type
- Earphones (for long train journeys)
- Camera and extra batteries if relevant
Clothing (for Moderate/Summer Weather)
- 5-7 tops (mix of t-shirts and one slightly smarter shirt for nicer restaurants)
- 3-4 bottoms (trousers or shorts depending on season)
- 1 pair comfortable walking shoes with good grip
- 1 pair sandals or lighter shoes for evenings
- Underwear and socks for 7 days (laundry is easy to arrange at hostels and hotels)
- Compact rain jacket (essential in spring/summer)
- Light fleece or layer for cooler evenings and mountain areas
- 1 slightly smart outfit if doing business or nicer dining
Health and Safety
- Prescription medications (full supply + 5 days extra)
- KN95/N95 masks (3-5; for potential air quality days in northern China)
- Basic first aid: blister plasters, antiseptic wipe, pain relief
- Loperamide (Imodium) — for traveler’s stomach
- Electrolyte sachets — for hydration
- Insect repellent (DEET-based for Yunnan, Hainan; lower strength for cities)
Money and Admin
- Foreign currency for initial ATM ATM (or ATM withdrawal plan)
- Credit/debit cards (notify bank of China travel)
- Travel wallet or money belt for busy train stations
What to Leave Behind
Printed maps: Useless in China. Your phone with Amap offline data is infinitely better.
Travel pillows and neck pillows for planes: Nice but heavy. Buy a cheap one in China if needed for the long journey home.
Guidebooks: Useful for inspiration but their restaurant and accommodation listings go out of date fast. Use online resources. The exception: a good China history book for long train journeys.
Multiple pairs of formal shoes: Unnecessary unless you’re doing significant business travel. One pair of comfortable shoes that looks decent serves both sightseeing and dinner.
Laptop: Unless you’re working remotely or have specific needs, a phone does everything you need for travel in China. If you do bring one, VPN is mandatory before arrival.
Hair dryer: All hotels provide them. Even budget hotels invariably have a wall-mounted hair dryer.
Bulky first aid kits: Chinese pharmacies are everywhere and stocks modern medications. Bring your specific prescriptions and a few basic items; don’t pack a full clinic.
Season-Specific Additions
Winter travel (November-March in northern China):
- Thermal base layers
- Warm jacket (down is ideal — packable, excellent insulation)
- Warm hat, gloves, scarf
- Thick socks
Summer in northern/central China:
- Sweat-wicking fabrics (not cotton)
- Sun hat
- Additional sunscreen
- Small personal fan (USB-powered; ¥30-60 in China if you forget)
Mountain hiking:
- Refer to our separate hiking gear guide
Beach/Hainan travel:
- Reef-safe sunscreen (increasingly enforced at Hainan marine parks)
- Rash guard if you burn easily
- Snorkel mask (rental available on beaches but personal gear is better quality)
The golden rule for packing China: bring the things you absolutely rely on and can’t replace easily, and buy the rest on arrival. Chinese consumer goods quality has dramatically improved — you won’t be settling for inferior products.