China Travel Packing List: What to Pack & What NOT to Bring

Contents

• The One Thing Nobody Tells You (but Everyone Learns)
• Tech That Actually Matters
• The Daily Carry
• Clothes: Real Talk by Season
• Toiletries and Health Stuff
• What NOT to Pack (Seriously, Just Buy It There)
• The Complete Cheat Sheet (Download-Style)
• FAQ

I’ve been traveling to China for over a decade — long enough to have packed a suitcase stuffed with “just in case” items I never touched, and forgotten the one thing I actually needed on at least four separate occasions.

The first time I went, I packed three textbooks’ worth of Chinese phrasebooks. I used exactly zero of them. The thing I actually needed? A packet of tissues in my pocket, because the first public bathroom I walked into in Beijing had no toilet paper, no soap, and an experience I will not forget.

So here’s a packing list built from actual mistakes. Not a generic “bring comfortable walking shoes” list — the specific stuff that matters in China specifically.

If you’re still figuring out your route, grab our 2-Week China Itinerary or the full step-by-step trip planning guide first — they’ll tell you where you’re going, and this list tells you what to bring.

The One Thing Nobody Tells You (but Everyone Learns)

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Always carry tissues and hand sanitizer.

I cannot emphasize this enough. China’s public restrooms — at metro stations, tourist attractions, even some restaurants — often do not provide toilet paper. It’s not a cleanliness thing, it’s just not part of the setup. I learned this the hard way at the Forbidden City in 2017, did a frantic waddle to the gift shop, and have carried a pocket tissue pack ever since.

A small bottle of hand sanitizer too. Many of those same bathrooms don’t have soap. A pack of wet wipes is even better — doubles as a napkin, face wipe, and emergency cleaning solution when you eat something particularly messy at a street stall.

I also travel with a small portable bidet bottle now (yes, really). After a couple of weeks eating the glorious, spicy food of Sichuan and Yunnan, you’ll understand.

Tech That Actually Matters

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A VPN — Downloaded Before You Leave

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This should not be your first rodeo, but here we are. Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and a bunch of other services you probably use daily don’t work in China without a VPN. And you cannot download a VPN app once you’re inside the country — Chinese app stores don’t carry them, and the websites are blocked.

I review the ones that still work in my Best VPN for China 2026 guide, but the short version: get one installed and tested on your phone before you land. ExpressVPN and Astrill have been the most reliable for me over the years.

An eSIM or SIM Card Setup

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Having internet access the second you step off the plane is a game-changer. You’ll need it to call a DiDi, pull up navigation, or send a WeChat message to your hotel. I’ve tried three different eSIM providers, and my full comparison is in the China eSIM Guide, but the quick take: Airalo works okay, Holafly is solid for data-only, and local Chinese SIMs at the airport are cheapest if you don’t mind the registration process.

Power Bank (10000mAh Minimum)

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China runs on phones. You’ll use yours for payments (Alipay/WeChat Pay), navigation (Baidu Maps or Apple Maps), translation, DiDi ride hailing, and train ticket checks. A full day of sightseeing will drain any phone by 3 PM.

I carry a 20000mAh Anker. It’s heavy but I’ve never worried about battery. Also — and this is a niche tip — power bank rentals are everywhere in China (street stalls, convenience stores, restaurants, even some subway stations). You scan a QR code on the rental station via Alipay, pay a small deposit, and return it anywhere. But I still prefer having my own.

Power Adapter (the Real One, Not the Travel One)

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Here’s the thing about China’s power outlets that nobody explains well. Most outlets accept two-prong flat plugs (Type A, like the US) or two slanted flat pins (Type I, like Australia/New Zealand). But here’s the catch — the outlets are often recessed, so your laptop’s chunky power brick with the ground pin won’t fit. And many outlets are two-prong only — no ground pin slot.

I use this specific universal adapter with USB-C PD pass-through. Don’t grab a cheap $5 one from Amazon — they fall out of the wall, they don’t charge fast, and I’ve seen one get worryingly hot. Spend the $20-30 on one with GaN technology and multiple USB ports.

Voltage is 220V at 50Hz. Most modern phone and laptop chargers handle this fine (check the brick: it’ll say “100-240V”), but any single-voltage appliances (curling irons, electric razors) will fry. More on that below.

The Daily Carry

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This is what’s in my pockets or daypack every single day in China:

A quick note on cash: yes, China is basically a cashless society. I go weeks without touching physical money. But you still need some. A few years ago in a tiny noodle shop in Xi’an, the card machine was down, Alipay wasn’t working, and the owner pointed at a handwritten “CASH ONLY” sign. ¥12 for a bowl of biangbiang noodles that I almost couldn’t eat.

Clothes: Real Talk by Season

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People ask me all the time “what should I wear in China?” The answer depends entirely on where and when you’re going — China spans the same latitude as the entire United States.

Summer (June — September)

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It’s hot, it’s humid, and if you’re going to Shanghai or Guangzhou, you’ll be sweaty within five minutes of stepping outside.

• Light, breathable clothes — linen shirts, quick-dry tees, anything that doesn’t cling. Cotton soaks through visibly.
• Good walking shoes — you will walk 15,000-25,000 steps a day in any Chinese city. Do not bring new shoes. Bring ones that are already broken in. I learned this one in Chengdu after buying band-aids for blisters at three different pharmacies.
• UV protection — a hat, sunglasses, and light long sleeves if you burn easily. The UV index in Beijing and Lhasa is brutal.
• A light rain jacket or umbrella — summer is monsoon season in much of China. A ¥15 umbrella from any convenience store works fine, but I like having a packable rain shell.

And here’s the cultural note: Chinese people generally cover up in the sun. You’ll see women carrying parasols and wearing arm sleeves even in 35°C heat. Nobody will stare at you in shorts and a tank top in Shanghai or Beijing, but in smaller cities or temple areas, covering your shoulders and knees shows respect.

Winter (December — February)

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Beijing winters are cold. I’m talking -10°C to -15°C cold, with a wind that cuts through denim like it’s not there.

• Down jacket — not a fashion coat, a proper down jacket. Chinese people wear down jackets with zero pretense of style, and you should too.
• Thermal underwear — Uniqlo Heattech is the go-to for locals. I wear a base layer under everything from December to February.
• Warm hat, gloves, scarf — the Great Wall in January is amazing but your ears will hurt without a hat.
• Thick socks and insulated shoes — cold feet will ruin your day faster than anything.

Spring and Fall (March — May, October — November)

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These are genuinely the best times to visit China, and they’re also the trickiest to pack for because temperatures swing wildly. Beijing in October can be 25°C at noon and 8°C after sunset.

• Layers, layers, layers — a t-shirt + light fleece + a windproof jacket, and you add or remove as the day goes. A packable down vest is great for this.
• Long pants — jeans or travel pants. Most temples require covered knees anyway.
• One nice outfit — if you’re hitting a rooftop bar in Shanghai or a Peking duck dinner in Beijing, you’ll want something that isn’t hiking gear.

For Temples and Religious Sites

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Covered shoulders and knees. That’s the rule. A light scarf or shawl works in a pinch for shoulders, but long pants are better. The Lama Temple in Beijing and the Grand Buddha in Leshan both turned people away when I was there for being too exposed.

Toiletries and Health Stuff

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You can buy most toiletries in China (convenience stores are everywhere), but bring these specifically:

• Any prescription medication — bring enough for the whole trip plus a few extra days, in original bottles, with your doctor’s note if it’s a controlled substance. Chinese pharmacies have equivalents for most common drugs, but the pharmacists rarely speak English, and getting the exact medication you need can be a scavenger hunt.
• Immodium / Pepto-Bismol — street food is amazing. Your stomach may not agree at first. I keep a few doses in my daypack at all times. There’s a 7-Eleven or FamilyMart on almost every corner in major cities, so you can restock, but having it immediately is better.
• Motion sickness pills — the winding mountain roads in Zhangjiajie and Yunnan can hit hard, and the bus drivers do not slow down.
• Deodorant — this is surprisingly hard to find in Chinese convenience stores. Bring your own.
• Tampons — available in major cities at supermarket chains or imported goods stores (CityShop, Jenny Wang), but harder to find in smaller towns. Bring what you need if you’re particular about brands.
• Contact lens solution — you can get it in cities, but the brands are different and it’s not at every pharmacy. Just bring enough.

What NOT to Pack (Seriously, Just Buy It There)

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After a decade of overpacking, here’s what I stopped bringing:

• Umbrella — ¥15-30 at any convenience store. Seriously, every 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson has them. I owned about eight umbrellas during my first year of China travel because I kept buying them and leaving them in hotels.
• Slippers — Chinese hotels (even budget ones) almost always provide disposable slippers in the room. But honestly, there’s a small shopping street near almost every major attraction in China — you can buy slippers for ¥10-20 anywhere.
• Hair dryer — every hotel has one.
• Shampoo, conditioner, body wash — hotels provide small bottles, and if you’re staying at anything above a ¥100/night hostel, they’re perfectly fine.
• Too many clothes — you’ll want to buy clothes there anyway. The shopping in China is incredible, and a cheap cotton t-shirt at a market stall costs ¥30-50.
• A huge first-aid kit — drugstores (药店) are everywhere. They stock band-aids, antiseptic, cold medicine, and basic supplies. Just bring the specific things above.
• Your phrasebook — just use Google Translate (with a VPN) or Pleco. Paper phrasebooks are heavy, outdated, and you’ll never open them.

The one exception: if you’re going somewhere remote (Tibet, Xinjiang, deep Yunnan), bring everything you might need, because convenience stores and pharmacies get sparse. But for the standard Beijing → Xi’an → Shanghai → Guilin route (check my Beijing-Shanghai first-timer itinerary for the exact route)? China has better infrastructure for shopping than most Western countries.

The Complete Cheat Sheet (Download-Style)

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Here’s a quick version you can screenshot or copy:

Must-pack (China-specific):

• ✅ VPN installed and tested before departure
• ✅ eSIM or connectivity plan sorted
• ✅ Power bank (10000+ mAh)
• ✅ Power adapter (universal, with USB-C PD)
• ✅ Pocket tissues / wet wipes / hand sanitizer
• ✅ ¥500 cash in small bills
• ✅ Passport + photocopy
• ✅ Reusable water bottle
• ✅ Sunscreen + hat

Check once:

• ✅ Passport valid 6+ months
• ✅ Visa or visa-free eligibility checked
• ✅ Alipay set up with international card
• ✅ WeChat set up with international card
• ✅ DiDi app + registration
• ✅ Gaode Maps or Apple Maps downloaded (offline maps)

Health bag:

• ✅ Prescription meds (full trip + 3 days)
• ✅ Immodium / stomach relief
• ✅ Motion sickness pills (if visiting mountains)
• ✅ Your preferred painkiller

If you have space:

• Light portable bidet bottle (seriously)
• Clothesline with suction cups (for sink laundry)
• Packing cubes (game-changer for staying organized)
• Earplugs (Chinese trains and hotels can be noisy)

I’ve got a more detailed breakdown of China connectivity in my China Apps Guide 2026 — includes the exact apps to download and how to set them up before you go. And if you’re still planning your route, the 2-Week China Itinerary walks through the classic route step by step.

FAQ

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Do I really need a VPN in China? Yes, if you want to use Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, or any major Western service. Without one, you’re limited to Chinese apps and websites that happen to be accessible. Full details in my VPN guide for China.

Can I use my credit card everywhere in China? No. China runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay. International credit cards work at major hotels and some high-end restaurants, but street food, taxis, small shops, and most everyday purchases require mobile payment. Set up Alipay with your international card before you go — it works better than WeChat Pay for foreigners.

Is tap water safe to drink? No. Drink bottled or boiled water. Every hotel room has a kettle. Train stations and airports have hot water dispensers. Your reusable water bottle will pay for itself in ¥3 bottles not bought.

Should I bring toilet paper? Just pocket tissues. A small pack in your daypack solves 95% of bathroom situations. The other 5% — squat toilets in rural areas — you’ll figure out.

What about laundry? Most mid-range hotels offer same-day laundry service for ¥30-80 per load. In budget places, hand-wash in the sink with travel detergent sheets. Quick-dry fabrics are your friend here.

Can I bring my drone? Technically yes, but the registration process is cumbersome and enforcement varies. Most tourist attractions have drone bans posted. I wouldn’t bother unless you’re shooting professionally and have the paperwork.

Do I need travel insurance? I’d recommend it — not because China is dangerous (read my China Travel Safety guide for the real story), but because a medical visit for something minor (like the stomach trouble from eating too much street food) can add up, and evacuation insurance is peace of mind for a few dollars. Most travel insurance policies run $30-80 for a two-week trip.

Still have questions about what to pack? I’ve got a full China Travel Tips guide with 15 things I wish I knew before my first trip — covers visas, food, language, and the cultural stuff no packing list can prepare you for. Or contact me — I answer every email personally.