Plan · Logistics
What to pack for China
Before you pack: the pre-departure digital checklist
China has unique tech requirements that differ from other destinations. Get this right first.
**Apps to install and configure before departure**: 1. **VPN**: Install two different paid VPN services. Open each, test connectivity on your home network, confirm they connect to a server. You cannot download or activate VPN subscriptions from inside mainland China. 2. **Pleco**: Chinese-English dictionary with OCR. Download the offline dictionary pack. 3. **Google Translate**: Download the Chinese (Simplified) offline language pack for offline camera translation. 4. **Google Maps**: Download offline maps for each city on your itinerary. 5. **Amap (高德地图)**: The most accurate Chinese navigation app. Download and open to verify it works. 6. **Didi**: Download the international version; register with your overseas phone number before arrival. 7. **Alipay**: Download, register, and link your foreign card. Verify with a small test transaction (if you have a Chinese contact who can receive a transfer, that's one way to test it). 8. **12306**: The Chinese rail app, for booking trains. Register before arrival — it accepts foreign passport numbers. 9. **Trip.com**: The English-language Chinese travel platform for hotels, flights, trains.
Offline backup: Screenshot your first hotel's address in Chinese characters, your flight confirmation, and your train tickets before departure. Have these accessible without internet.
Documents
| Document | What to bring | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport | Original | Valid 6+ months beyond your stay; 2+ blank pages | ||
| Visa or visa-free evidence | Printout or phone screenshot | Printout recommended for border crossing | ||
| Passport photocopy | One copy, in a different bag from the original | For police registration at small guesthouses; backup if original is lost | ||
| Travel insurance | Policy number + emergency phone | Digital copy in email is fine | ||
| Hotel bookings, first night | Printed address in Chinese characters | Border officers sometimes ask for accommodation details | ||
| Rail and flight tickets | Screen or print | QR codes in apps work, but print as backup | ||
| Travel health documents | Vaccinations for your itinerary | Yellow fever certificate if coming from an affected region | ||
| Emergency contacts | Home embassy number, local emergency numbers | Save to phone; also write on a card |
Tech: the essential kit
Power bank: Maximum 100Wh (approximately 27,000mAh, though the exact mAh rating varies by battery chemistry). Anything over 100Wh is confiscated at Chinese airports and rail stations without exception. Bring your bank's capacity specification on the label. Most carry-on power banks sold in Western markets are under 100Wh.
Adapter: Mainland China uses Type A (flat parallel pins, US-style), Type C (round 2-pin, European), and Type I (angled 3-pin, Australian) sockets — often multiple socket types in the same room on modern power strips. A universal adapter covers all bases.
Hong Kong uses Type G (3-pin UK plug). Macau uses Type G primarily, with some Type D and M at older properties.
Phone and backup charging cable: USB-C is now standard for most modern phones; bring at least one spare cable. A small multi-adapter (USB-C hub with USB-A ports) is useful if you have multiple devices.
E-reader: For long rail journeys (Beijing–Shanghai is 4.5 hours; some journeys are 10+ hours). Chinese HSR has no in-seat power on second class [VERIFY: current provision — May 2026]; on conventional overnight trains there is power but it may be limited.
Camera considerations: Bringing a DSLR or mirrorless camera is fine — no permit required for general tourist photography. In Xinjiang and Tibet, exercise extra discretion around anything security-related. Memory cards and batteries clear customs without issue.
Cash and cards
- CNY ¥1,000–¥2,000 in small notes (¥10, ¥20, ¥50). Get this from a Bank of China or ICBC ATM on arrival, not from the airport exchange counter (rates are less favourable).
- USD $300–500 or EUR equivalent in clean notes: emergency exchange if ATMs fail.
- Visa and Mastercard (one of each if possible, from different banks — some banks block transactions in China).
- Debit card from a bank with low foreign-ATM fees (Wise, Revolut, or similar).
Clothing: region and season guide
Packing for China without knowing which part you're visiting is like packing for 'Europe' without knowing if you're going to Reykjavik or Athens.
**Northern China in winter (Beijing, Xi'an, Harbin, Pingyao)**: - Thermal base layer (merino wool is excellent) - Mid-layer fleece or down sweater - Insulated outer jacket (down jacket to −20°C capability for Harbin) - Warm hat (covering ears), gloves, scarf - Waterproof, insulated boots - For Harbin Ice Festival specifically: expedition-grade boots and hand warmers
**Southern China in winter (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Hong Kong)**: - Long-sleeve shirts, light sweater, a medium jacket - One warm layer for unexpectedly cool evenings - Sanya / Hainan: T-shirt, shorts, swimwear
**Spring and autumn (most regions)**: - Layering is the principle: T-shirt + light fleece/cardigan + waterproof shell - One pair of smart-casual trousers or a mid-length skirt for nicer restaurants and temples - Comfortable walking shoes; one pair of smarter shoes
**Summer (most regions)**: - Lightweight cottons (synthetics stay sweaty; cotton breathes) - Sun hat with a brim - UV-protective sunglasses - SPF 50+ sunscreen - Long-sleeve lightweight shirt for the evening AC (restaurants and trains are often aggressively cold)
**Tibet and high-altitude (Lijiang 2,400m, Shangri-La 3,276m, Lhasa 3,656m, EBC 5,200m)**: - Thermal base layers (even in summer — altitude temperature swings are extreme) - Wind-resistant and waterproof outer layer - Warm hat and gloves (even for a June Lhasa trip) - UV-protective sunglasses rated for high altitude - Sun hat (UV radiation at 3,500m is significantly higher than at sea level)
**Hiking sites (Great Wall, Mt Huangshan, Mt Emei, Mt Wuyi)**: - Proper hiking shoes with ankle support — not trainers. Huangshan's stone steps when wet are genuinely slippery. - Trekking poles (available to hire at Huangshan; worth bringing for knees on long descents) - Rain jacket (year-round; mountain weather changes fast)
Health and hygiene
- Prescription medications: Bring your full supply plus 20% extra. Include originals of prescriptions for any controlled or unusual medications. See the dedicated medication guide.
- Acetazolamide (Diamox): If visiting Tibet or any altitude above 3,000m. Prescription required in most countries; get it before departure.
- Loperamide: For traveller's diarrhoea — symptom control for a day of travel when stopping isn't an option.
- Oral rehydration salts (ORS): More important than loperamide. Small sachets, highly effective.
- Hand sanitiser (travel size): Useful at rural sites and before eating at street stalls.
- Pocket tissues: Essential. Many Chinese public toilets do not provide paper. Carry them always.
- Insect repellent with DEET: For southern China in summer (Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong), particularly near rice paddies and river areas.
- Plasters / blister pads: Walking 10+ km per day on cobblestones and stone steps is the norm at Chinese heritage sites.
- KN95 masks: Carry 4–6. Useful for high-AQI days in Beijing/Chengdu, and may be required in some transportation contexts.
Footwear
Comfortable walking shoes that can manage 8–15 km per day are the single most important packing decision. Chinese heritage sites have extensive grounds, often on uneven stone surfaces. Cobblestone streets in old towns are picturesque and ankle-unfriendly in heels.
A second pair of light sandals or slip-on shoes for evenings and indoor restaurants saves wear on your main shoes.
What to leave behind
- Any medication containing pseudoephedrine or codeine above a small quantity without full documentation — Chinese customs can and does confiscate these.
- Drone with camera: Drone regulations in China are strict, particularly around urban areas, near airports, and in Tibet/Xinjiang. A drone without a registered permit is likely to be confiscated. Check current import rules before packing one.
- Excessive cash: More than USD $5,000 must be declared on customs entry.
- Political literature or materials deemed sensitive under Chinese customs law.