The actual essentials
Short list, because this is the part people get wrong:
- Your passport, valid well beyond your stay, plus a photocopy kept separately.
- A power bank — but read this carefully if you have any domestic flights. Since 28 June 2025 the Civil Aviation Administration of China has banned power banks without a valid 3C (China Compulsory Certification) mark from domestic flights, along with any whose label is unclear, damaged or from a recalled batch. A power bank bought outside China will not carry a 3C mark, so assume yours will be refused at domestic security and plan to buy a certified one locally if you are flying internally. On international flights into and out of China the usual airline rules apply: carry-on only, never in checked luggage.
- A universal adapter. China uses 220V and sockets take Type A (two flat pins), Type C (two round) and Type I (three angled). Most hotels accept several. Two-pin European and US plugs often fit directly; UK and Australian plugs do not.
- Any prescription medication in its original labelled packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Some classes are controlled in China — check before you fly.
- A reusable water bottle. Tap water isn't drinkable, but hot-water dispensers are everywhere, including on trains and in stations.
- Comfortable shoes you've already broken in. You will walk 15–20 km a day without meaning to.
Set up before you fly, not after
These are not objects, but they belong on the list, because they're much harder to arrange from inside China:
- Alipay installed and a card linked
- WeChat registered and verified
- A travel eSIM installed
- Offline maps and an offline Chinese translation pack downloaded
- Attraction reservations booked
- Your hotel address saved in Chinese characters
Don't bother
- Toiletries, beyond a day's worth. Convenience stores and supermarkets are everywhere and cheap. Deodorant is the one genuine exception — it's barely used in China and hard to find.
- Lots of cash. Carry ¥300–500 for the small number of places that need it; everything else is QR payments.
- An umbrella. ¥15 from any shop the moment it rains.
- Heavy guidebooks. Out of date before they printed.
- Towels, adapters for every country, a travel kettle. Hotels have them.
Seasonal
- Northern winter (Beijing, Xi'an, Harbin) is genuinely cold — Harbin reaches −25°C. Thermals, a proper coat, gloves, hat.
- Southern summer (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Guilin) is hot and extremely humid. Light, loose clothing, and more of it than you expect, because you'll change.
- Rain is common in the south from April to September. A light shell beats an umbrella in wind.
- Sun protection. Sunscreen in China is widely sold but often whitening-formulated; bring your own if you're fussy.
Clothing and modesty
No real restrictions in cities — dress as you would at home. Cover shoulders and knees in temples and mosques. Hiking in Zhangjiajie or Huangshan means proper footwear, not fashion trainers; the staircases are long and wet.
Documents to have offline
Saved as files on your phone, not in a cloud service you might not be able to reach:
- Passport photo page
- Visa, if you have one
- Flight and hotel confirmations
- Attraction bookings
- Travel insurance policy and emergency number
- Your embassy's address and phone number
- Your readiness checklist and phrase cards