| I know it's a long list and I don't by any means | | | | get online comfortably at your hotel, then bring your |
| encourage you to bring lots of stuff. Different things | | | | own. |
| are important for different individuals. Use this list as | | | | 36. Ethernet Cable. |
| a reminder so you don't forget things. Remember | | | | 37. International Travel Plug Adapter. There are cases |
| always travel light, bring as little as possible, and save | | | | that the outlets in your hotel room doesn't fit your |
| the space to bring lots of goodies back from China! | | | | plug for your computer. It's very affordable to get |
| Things you SHOULD bring | | | | something like this, you'll need it in the future when |
| 1. Valid passport. | | | | you travel to other countries. |
| 2. Chinese visa. | | | | 38. Your embassy's contact information in China. |
| 3. Other legal documents that show you are allowed | | | | 39. Your camera. Bring the charger, most of the |
| to enter and stay in the country. | | | | camera chargers can be used worldwide without any |
| 4. A photocopy of all your legal documents. So you | | | | electric converters. |
| can carry these with you when touring. | | | | 40. USB connector for your camera. |
| 5. Air itinerary and schedule. | | | | 41. Extra memory cards. Just in case if you take too |
| 6. Your drivers license. | | | | many pictures and don't have enough place for |
| 7. Travel Insurance and its receipts. | | | | storage. |
| 8. Copy of your medical history. | | | | 42. Camcorder. |
| 9. Medical and Security Access. This is a MUST HAVE. | | | | 43. A small handy Chinese dictionary. |
| I recommend International SOS. | | | | 44. A Chinese phrase book. Just in case if you got |
| 10. Address of your destination in China (Both in | | | | lost and need to look for the bathroom ;) |
| English and Chinese if possible). | | | | 45. Allergy supplies. In a foreign country, you never |
| 11. If you had to submit a invitation letter for your | | | | know what you'll be allergic of. |
| visa, bring that letter with you. | | | | 46. Umbrella. |
| 12. Your hotel reservation. | | | | 47. Alarm clock. |
| 13. Important contact information. Most of the times, | | | | 48. Skin care products. China has all the major brands |
| people don’t use their home country cell phones | | | | such as Clinique, Lancome, Olay and Estee Lauder. |
| in China because the surcharge is very expensive. So | | | | But if you buy them from the Chinese department |
| if that’s something you are planning on doing, | | | | store, they are so much more expensive than you |
| then write down the numbers you need from your | | | | buy them in the US. I guess it's the tax that raised |
| cellphone, that way you can conveniently to make a | | | | the price so much higher. |
| phone call from China by using a phone card. | | | | 49. A pencil and a memo pad. |
| 14. A local map. If you are traveling on your own and | | | | 50. If you are traveling with a baby, make sure you |
| planning on taking public transportation or walking, this | | | | bring all the baby stuff. Such as diapers, wipes, baby |
| is quite important to have. | | | | food and medicine. |
| 15. Pocket tissue. This one you actually don’t | | | | 51. Multi-vitamins. |
| have to bring it from the US, but make sure you | | | | 52. Toothpaste. According to the FDA, some Chinese |
| have it handy while you are in China. It’s weird | | | | toothpaste could be dangerous to your health. |
| but in most of the public bathrooms (except upscale | | | | 53. Calculator. Could come handy for currency |
| restaurants or hotels) they don’t provide toilet | | | | exchange and bargain when shopping. |
| papers. | | | | 54. Super glue. In case if something falls apart during |
| 16. Credit Cards. Visa and MasterCard are common to | | | | your trip. |
| use in China. | | | | 55. Coffee. Most of the coffee you find in regular |
| 17. Traveler’s checks. Don't keep your receipts | | | | supermarkets are instant coffee in China. So if you |
| at the same place with the checks. | | | | are big on drinking coffee and don't want to spend |
| 18. Some cash in Chinese Yuan and in US dollars. Even | | | | too much money in Starbucks. Then bring your own |
| though most of the plazas and big restaurants now | | | | coffee maker and lots of ground coffee. |
| accept credit cards (not all of them accept | | | | 56. English magazines, novels and books. There are |
| international credit cards though), but the bargain | | | | English books in the big Chinese bookstores, but the |
| shopping areas, street food stands, taxis, ticket | | | | choices are very limited. |
| offices etc., only accept Chinese cash. Also, try to | | | | 57. Hair coloring. If you DIY, you'll only find darker |
| avoid airport currency exchange, they definitely have | | | | colors in the supermarkets. You can get all sorts of |
| the crappiest rate. Go to your local bank and ask for | | | | hair colorings in salons though. |
| your options. | | | | 58. Moisturizer. |
| 19. Deodorant with anti-perspiration. This is quite hard | | | | 59. Hand Sanitizer. |
| to find in China, especially in the small cities. The place | | | | 60. U-shaped pillow for the long ride on the plane. |
| I can think of that carries such thing is the | | | | 61. Mp3 player and charger. |
| supermarket named “Watson’s” | | | | 62. Business cards. |
| 20. Razors. Back in 2005 when some of my foreign | | | | 63. Your home keys. This is so embarrassing, but one |
| friends came to China, we looked for shavers | | | | time I left my home keys in China and could not get |
| everywhere and could not find them anywhere! | | | | back in my apartment for a while after arriving the |
| Things might have changed, but just in case, bring | | | | US. |
| your own. | | | | 64. Plastic Zip-Loc bags. You'll need to put small sized |
| 21. Shaving cream. | | | | lotions in there for airport security. |
| 22. Shampoo and conditioners. I use Pantene, and | | | | 65. Sunglasses. |
| even though this brand is everywhere in China, but I | | | | 66. Jet Lag remedy. Jetlag can be annoying, |
| feel the quality is different. It’s definitely more | | | | sometimes it takes up to one week to feel |
| watery and my hair feels drier after using the | | | | completely adjusted and normal again. If you are |
| Chinese brand. So if you are picky with your hair, | | | | doing a trip less than a week, than I highly |
| bring your own. | | | | recommend you consider this option. |
| 23. Sunscreen. You can actually find lots of sunscreen | | | | 67. Back up batteries for your electronics. |
| protection lotions in department stores and | | | | 68. Reusable grocery bag or plastic bags. In big cities, |
| supermarkets. But the SPF factor and other functions | | | | now you have to pay for plastic bags in |
| are limited (SPF doesn’t go as high as here in the | | | | supermarkets and grocery stores. |
| US). Tanning sunscreen is defiantly not available since | | | | 69. Some gifts if you have friends or a host family to |
| everyone tries to keep the skin white. | | | | visit. |
| 24. Insect repellent. The brands in China are mostly oil | | | | 70. A smile :) |
| based and quite inconvenient to apply. If you go in | | | | 71. Hats. |
| the summer, of course depends on where you are, | | | | 72. Ear plugs. When you are on the plane for a long |
| you’ll probably need it for mosquitoes. | | | | time and hope to get some sleep. This really helps. |
| 25. Medicine. Even though the Chinese pharmacies do | | | | 73. Contact lenses and solution. |
| offer western medicines, it’s definitely a good | | | | 74. English Movies and DVDs. |
| idea to bring your own! Especially make sure to bring | | | | 75. Tic Tacs. I love them and couldn't find them in |
| your prescription medicines, antibiotics, diarrhea | | | | Beijing. |
| medications, birth control, pain reliever, and | | | | 76. Favorite snacks from your home country. |
| anti-bacterial ointment. | | | | 77. Appetite to eat delicious Chinese Food. |
| 26. Dental floss. I know they are available in China | | | | 78. Cereal. China has very limited choices. |
| and people do use them. But don’t expect | | | | Things you SHOULD NOT bring |
| they’ll be guaranteed available next to the tooth | | | | 1. Hairdryer. Unless your hairdryer can convert to |
| paste section in any grocery stores. | | | | different voltage. Most of the hotels provide |
| 27. Mouth wash. Same as above. | | | | hairdryers in the room. |
| 28. Tampons. You can find them in some | | | | 2. Iron/steamer. Again most of the hotel has these. |
| supermarkets but quite limited. So bring the brand | | | | If you need your own, it's cheap to buy one in China. |
| you prefer. Pads are readily available everywhere in | | | | 3. Weapons. That is an absolute NO. |
| China. | | | | 4. Bicycles. It sounds funny but some foreigners |
| 29. Your own clothing, underwear and socks. You will | | | | actually have tried to check their bikes in at the |
| find bargain priced clothing items in China, if you are a | | | | airport. You can defiantly find a pretty good quality |
| tall or wear extra large in the US, then sizes you find | | | | mountain bike in China for around US$20 or so. |
| in China would most likely be too small. Unless if you | | | | 5. Any illegal drugs. This is very serious, if you are |
| go to a tourist-friendly shopping plaza such as the Silk | | | | caught to carry or sell any in China, you'll be in big |
| Market in Beijing. Women with larger breasts make | | | | trouble and your home country might not be able to |
| sure to bring your own bras. | | | | help. |
| 30. Big suitcases. From my experience, people who | | | | 6. Anything that can be politically sensitive to China. |
| come to visit China usually ended up buying another | | | | 7. Live animals. If you are thinking to travel with your |
| suitcase because they bought too many things during | | | | pet to China, DON'T! I have a dog and I did lots of |
| their visit. Things are cheaper and unique, so make | | | | research to see if I could ever bring her back Beijing, |
| sure to bring the biggest baggage you can find, and | | | | it's not impossible, but it's way too complicated. First |
| pack light on the way to China, so you leave plenty | | | | of all, there isn't really a document clearly states the |
| of empty space to bring things back. One thing to | | | | rules on this one. I even called the airport in Beijing, |
| note though, if you are taking domestic flights within | | | | they all had different answers. All I know is you'll |
| China, be careful with the weight of your baggage. | | | | have to leave your animal in the airport for a few |
| Just like in the US, international flights allow a much | | | | weeks for them to check. You'll have to pay lots of |
| heavier weight for check in baggage. Domestic flights | | | | money and your animal will suffer in the cage for a |
| usually only allow you to check in one baggage up to | | | | long time. The worst thing is if there is anything that |
| 20 kilograms in weight. | | | | doesn't look right, they have all the rights to send |
| 31. Backpack. It’s convenient especially if you | | | | your animal back immediately or kill it. |
| walk around everywhere. For girls, just bring your | | | | 8. Plants and soil. |
| own purse. | | | | 9. Insects. |
| 32. Shoes. Get some comfortable and reliable shoes | | | | 10. Food. |
| so you can walk, hike and run in them. For the | | | | 11. Lots of cash exceeding the legal limit. |
| summer, bring a pair of sandals as well. Also if you | | | | 12. Cashmere, dry clean clothing. It's a hassle to find a |
| consider your feet are big, then you probably won't | | | | dry clean shop in China, |
| find your shoe size in China. | | | | 13. Bedsheets. |
| 33. Electric converter. Voltage in China is 220. | | | | 14. Towels. If you are the type of person brings |
| Computers, cellphones and cameras don't need the | | | | your own towel anywhere you go, then sure, bring it. |
| converter because they are universal voltage. Check | | | | 15. Toilet papers. |
| the back of your electronics to identify which ones | | | | 16. Mailing envelopes. |
| needs the converter for. | | | | 17. Social security card. |
| 34. Your home country cellphone. If you are from | | | | 18. Clothing that writes bad things about China in |
| the US and your wireless carriers are AT&T or | | | | Chinese (or in other languages)! |
| T-mobile, bring your cellphone and cellphone charger | | | | 19. Military clothing. Can cause unnecessary |
| with you. Before you do that, call your phone | | | | misunderstandings. |
| company to ask them if you can unlock the phone. I | | | | 20. Tea bags. |
| did it once with T-mobile, it was easy and fast (you | | | | 21. Valuable jewelries. |
| might have to finish your contract first). When you | | | | 22. Soy Sauce. |
| arrive China, all you need is to buy a Chinese sim card | | | | 23. Purses without zippers or closed top. There are |
| (cost about ?100 for the card with prepaid minutes in | | | | thieves in China just like anywhere in the world. You |
| it) to replace your original sim card. If that's not an | | | | should be extra careful because it can be crowded in |
| option for you, you can also find an old modeled | | | | China, especially if you are going to a sightseeing spot |
| Nokia cellphone in China for around US$10. | | | | with lots of other tourists. Always carry your purse |
| 35. Your laptop. Though there are many Internet | | | | with the zipper zipped and in front so you can see. |
| cafes in big cities in China, and the cost to get online | | | | If you have other things to add, feel free to leave a |
| per hour is very cheap. If you want to use Skype or | | | | comment. |