Packing for China

• Roy’s list of not-to-be-forgotten necessities
• Overall strategy
• Pack for cold AND hot weather
• Luggage: Some general airplane rules
• "What to Bring to China" (two students’ packing list)
• Where to buy

Overall Strategy:

• Thailand, in March, could approach 100 degrees;
• Vietnam might be either warm or somewhat damp and cloudy;
• Beijing in March will be like Washington DC at the same period—sometimes quite chilly, often windy, occasionally dusty--then warmer by late April, and in the 90’s by May;
• On our travels in mid-China, we will hit cool to warm weather (and very cold if we climb a mountain);
• Shanghai and Hong Kong in May/June will be in the high 90’s, with humidity to match.

• International flights will limit you to two check-in pieces and will also limit you (sometimes) to a combined luggage weight of no more than 44 pounds. As well, you can carry on two SMALL pieces and the airlines can sometimes be very sticky about the size of these pieces (although not the weight).

 

• For domestic traveling IN China (after we get settled in at our university), as well as for our travels in SE Asia, you will want ONE of your two check-in pieces of luggage to serve as an all-purpose, travel-anywhere-in-China piece--perhaps turning into some sort of medium-sized back pack. This piece will see all sorts of situations--placed on dirty floors, dropped onto airport tarmacs, stuffed into too-small storage areas--and may also serve as either a chair or a pillow. Choose this piece with some care.

 

• Carrying ALL of your luggage by yourself for some distance might be necessary. Make certain that you can pick it all up at once and actually walk with all of it at the same time--say, a block or two.

What to Bring to China by Tauna Szymanski and Michael Hasenstab

Mainland China has quickly gone from the stark, rigid, tightly controlled Communist country of the 1960s to the much more individualistic, open, and almost-capitalist country we see today. Even during our six months there, we witnessed change. Perhaps by the time you read this, a lot of the advice will no longer be applicable, but at least it will give you some idea of living and travel conditions and hopefully will enable you to plan your trip with more knowledge and detail.

Basically, try to bring as little as possible. Pack lightly rather than heavily. Not everything is readily available in China and up to Western quality standards but pretty much anything can be bought in China if you know where to look. Also, either pack with extra room in your luggage or bring items that you know you’ll be discarding or distributing as gifts along the way. There’s no doubt that you’ll buy lots of things, from books to clothes to antiques to jewelry. And if you don’t do this, you will at least be loaded down either with gifts or with packages from Chinese friends who’ll want you to mail them to relatives in the states.

We recommend leaving a list of your favorite brands of items with a person in the U.S. If you run out of something or need something new all of a sudden, you can e-mail them and they can send a package international mail. This can get pricy, but there’s not much more you can do besides searching all the major stores in the large cities.

• Luggage If you plan to travel in China, essential is a sturdy, large, soft-sided internal frame backpack with several compartments to fit all your things. Don’t bring anything too expensive as it may get damaged, but durability is a must. This is one item that is very hard to replace in China. Remember that as you travel, you yourself will be carrying all your luggage. When you are away from the group, in train and bus stations there are usually mad rushes to get the available seats and unless you don’t mind standing for 36 hours as you ride the trains across China then it would be smart to keep yourself fairly mobile. If you’re just going to study or teach then suitcases are fine, but before you leave be sure to ascertain the airline’s weight or baggage limit. Label everything with tags inside and out in English and Chinese. Bring sufficient luggage locks--the combination kind are easier to deal with, perhaps not as sturdy, but you won’t have to deal with a pile of keys. The key kind and bike lock-type things to lock your bag(s) to racks on buses are available in train stations and department stores.

• Passport Bring three to four photocopies of the first page and the visa page.

• Emergency card with a U.S. contact, address, and phone number.

• Extra passport photos (at least three to four)

• Nalgene one-liter see-through hard plastic water bottle This was one of the most valuable things I brought to China. The water can’t be drunk straight out of the tap in China so most places have boiling water available. It takes a really long time to cool in those big thermoses they offer but not long at all in the Nalgene. These bottles, once filled and sealed with the boiling water are also good hot water bottles in the winter. They are also odor proof.

• Other ID International Student ID may be helpful (they have several types of insurance too). Bring one or two IDs which aren’t important to you or which are easily replaceable. These may come in handy when you need to deposit an ID at a hotel or for renting bikes and you don’t want to give up your passport.

• Neck or waist pouch which you can wear under your clothes. This is to keep travelers’ cheques, passport, and other important papers very safe and together. This is the safest way to go when you’re traveling.

• Travelers’ cheques US$500-800 for four months should be enough for extra travel on the weekends, gifts, or travel after the program. Double or triple this amount if you plan to stay longer, depending on your circumstances. Travelers’ cheques are pretty secure so bring more than you’ll need. Go American Express.

• A credit card (Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are recognized) may be a good idea for security especially if you plan to travel on your own for a long period of time.

• Cash cards are still not widely used in China, and almost every cash machine you will find requires you to have an account with the Bank of China (not a good idea).

• Lonely Planet China Guide Despite some of its faults, the LP is really great for getting around a town. It also gives interesting historical backgrounds on cities and provinces. This is almost an essential if you’re going to travel around on your own.

• Ziplock bags are a basic that are wonderful. They are reusable, very dependable, and clear. Bring lots of sizes to fit your shoes, clothes, toiletries, etc. When you travel it’s a good idea to wrap everything in your pack in its own bag. When a man lost his lunch in a rickety long-distance bus in Yunnan all over one of our packs that was on the floor, the bags saved our stuff.

• First Aid kit Medical facilities are not reliable or of the highest quality in China, and if you don’t speak Chinese, seeking help will be even more troublesome. This is very important. You don’t want to ruin your trip or have to cut it short because of illness. It’s best to prepare as well as you can for your stay by bringing any antibiotics or other medical supplies you might possibly need. Visit your doctor to get some prescription medicine for respiratory infection, colds, stomach problems. Pain killers and Tylenol for fevers will be helpful. Alka-Seltzer Cold Plus worked great for us, and Sudafed and medicated throat lozenges saved us. Also bring a supply of various sizes of bandages and Neosporin or other anti-infectant cream. Bringing a large supply of alcohol pads may be smart for medical purposes and for cleaning chopsticks (or just bring your own). Syringes are a must, also in various sizes (an injection with a Chinese needle is a serious game of roulette, playing your odds between hepatitis or AIDS). An ACE bandage may be smart. Since most foreigners encounter stomach trouble of various degrees of severity, you should bring antacids (Rolaids), anti-diarrheals, laxatives, antibiotics and whatever else may come in handy. Finally, bring enough of any medications you require and birth control if you think that might be relevant (Men: condoms are sized differently in most of Asia.)

It’s better to bring fewer clothes than too many. There are many department stores and markets that carry Western-style clothes. In Beijing there are several locations, such as Silk Alley, which carry cheap, good quality items. Also, decent winter coats are sold all over the place. However, if you are big or tall you may have difficulty finding your size.

Chinese tend to dress quite casually and you will be stared at no matter what you wear, so any type of clothes you bring will probably be okay. Bring at least one nice outfit for important meetings, banquets, and holidays. Appearances definitely impress in China.

• Underwear. Cotton feels better but takes forever to dry in Asia’s humid climate. When you travel there will most likely be no washing machines and you will keep your stuff clean by washing it in the sink. Bring synthetic, silk, or (best) Cool/Max underwear.

• Swimming suit. Ditto for bathing suits, which you very much will want to have. Synthetic and light weight, since everything takes a long time to dry and nothing is worse than carrying (and wearing) a moldy wet suit. (Remember…in Asia’s high humidity, moldy clothes generate awful crud on the western body.) Blue jean cutoffs and baggy cotton trunks just don’t work. For women, too brief will set you apart; for men, long baggies look odd in Asia, take forever to dry.

• Summer clothes It will get quite warm by late April, downright hot by early May. Light clothing that is easily washable and that dries easily. (Cotton underwear takes forever to dry in humid weather!!!)
• Long johns are important. Some cotton and silk kinds can be bought but if you want the really good synthetic REI kinds, you’ll have to bring them. I brought long spandex to double as jogging wear and bought a pair of very comfortable cotton ones on the street, which I also used to sleep in when it got really cold.

• Spring clothes LAYERING! Bring sturdy, warm, washable clothes. Nice scarves are available at Silk Alley (and not only silk items) and cheaper ones on the street. Bring a hat, too. Also bring wool socks. Bring a very warm winter jacket. Nice and inexpensive ones can be bought in Tianjin or Beijing and they look just like anything you’d buy in the States, but you may not want to trust your luck (or the weather to wait).

• Shoes These are difficult to buy if you have large feet, this means above a 6 or 7 for women or 8 or 9 for men, and they aren’t very good quality. Most stores also don’t let you walk around in the shoes before you buy them. Bring a good pair of walking shoes, sandals or Teva-type shoes, another pair that looks decent, and maybe one pair of dressy shoes, especially if you plan to teach. For the walking shoes we highly recommend bringing comfortable, waterproof hiking-type boots. You will need these when it gets cold and rainy and snowy and they can also be worn on trips in warmer weather. China is not a very sanitary place and you don’t want to have to worry about getting your shoes dirty all the time.

• Raingear Unless you have a nice gortex parka with hood, you don’t really need to bring special raingear. Decent, cheap ponchos sold everywhere may even be smarter because they keep all of you dry on a bicycle and can also go over your backpack to class or while traveling.

• Athletics Bring sweatpants or spandex and light weight shorts and court or running shoes if you think you’ll play basketball a lot or run. (Note: at UIBE, there will be outdoor basketball courts, outdoor track, weight room, etc.) For men, athletic supporters hard to find in right size; for women, sports bras still not widely available.

Generally, things that are available in China are quite a bit cheaper than their American counterparts. You can save money and room in your luggage by waiting to purchase these items in China. On the other hand, if you want guaranteed quality and assurance, then bring them with you.

• Vitamins Make sure you bring a good multi-vitamin and bring enough for your entire stay. Not commonly available in China.

• Food If you think you can’t live without certain Western foods, then bring a lot with you or have people send you periodic care packages. Nescafe packages are popular in China but you may want real stuff. Milk is another item that is not readily available. Several western-style markets carry a number of Western goods at Western prices. Merchandise includes some coffee, chocolate bars, Pringles, western cereal, ice cream bars, and also some milk. Bringing powdered milk might be a thought, though. Sugarless gum is difficult to find. More and more Western food is appearing in China, including specialized restaurants.

• Knife A Swiss Army knife was my third most valuable item brought, behind my backpack and my Nalgene water bottle. Mine has scissors which is a plus. The knife will be used to peel fruit. Smaller, cheaper knifes can be bought in China.

• Chopsticks Some restaurants in China are pretty hairy and bringing your own chopsticks may bring the worry off a bit. Either bring plastic ones (they are safer than the wooden ones to clean) or a lot of disposables. We also carried alcohol pads to clean the ones in the restaurants.

• Travel pillow REI offers a fold-up pillow that is really comfortable and washable. Or just get one of those blowup neck deals. Not available in China.

• Travel alarm clock These are difficult to find in China. Bring one that is battery-operated, small and sturdy.

• Music Battery-operated Walkman-like players are necessary if you listen to music at all, especially for long bus rides. It is also nice to have one that could operate without headphones with an internal speaker. Out-loud music makes your dorm room a lot more pleasant.

• Short-wave radio This is if you want VOA, BBC and the like. News is fairly difficult to keep up with, although we get Chinese TV in our dorm rooms (English news at 10 p.m.). If news is important to you, this might be a good idea, although from some rooms, the reception isn’t too great.

• Batteries Just before we left China, Michael’s Walkman was seriously damaged by a Chinese battery that had leaked. Bring a large supply of Western batteries and maybe plan to have someone send you more half-way through the term. Also bring another camera battery as these are sometimes difficult to find in China, although they are showing up more and more. Watch batteries are available.

• Skin moisturizer The climate in northern China turns quite dry with the fall and winter so bring a lot of this. Some varieties of cream can be found in China but if you have a favorite brand, bring it. Nivea and some other Western brands are available in large department stores.

• Laundry detergent Unless you plan on not washing your clothes at all (some people choose this route in China and end up with some fascinating rashes) or on paying for everything to be washed in the dormitory, then you probably should bring some detergent. We chose to pay for our heavier (jeans, sweaters, long-sleeved shirts) items and hand-washed our t-shirts, underwear and shorts. If you think you’ll end up buying any silk (boxers, nice shirts, underwear are all popular) then you might want to bring some Woolite. Normal laundry detergent (White Cat brand) is available and is decent. Clothesline rope can be purchased easily and cheaply in China.

• Glue stick for closing envelopes and pasting stamps. Only really messy stuff of this sort is available in China. Airmail envelopes and rice paper with college logos on it are available in the dorm.

• Slippers are not required, although dorm floors can be pretty grimy. However, if you plan on traveling and staying in really cheap places, sometimes these aren’t provided. Just bring Teva-like sandals or flip flops along if you don’t want to have to put your shoes on to just go to the bathroom.

• Mosquito repellent If you bring this, you probably won’t need it very often. I used mine once (at Beidaihe), so bring a very small container of it. However, if you’ll be spending time in China during the summer or in the South, this might be a lifesaver. I’m not sure about availability in China of this stuff, but I have a feeling it’s not very good.

• Dust masks You don’t really need to bring a bandana for this. When the weather starts getting cold and the coal starts a-burnin’, the pollution gets pretty bad. Many Chinese wear cloth surgical masks when they go outside. These can be purchased for under Y5 in a pharmacy. You’ll also blend in more with the crowd wearing these.

• Towel One was sufficient for beach and bathing purposes, and especially important when on the road.

• Flashlight This was handy, especially when travelling in areas that don’t have plumbing facilities, or on trains in the middle of the night.

• Glasses It would be a very good idea to bring an extra pair of your prescription glasses.

• Sunglasses In mountainous areas, of which China has a lot of, or in the far west, these will be essential. The sun can get pretty bright in the summer months and with the snow, too. These are widely available in China.

• Stationery items Don’t worry about bringing letter-writing paper to China as you’ll have to use rice air mail paper (available on campus) and envelopes. Good quality mechanical pencils, wood pencils and pens are available.

• Tape China sells tape of course, but we’ve found it loses its stick rather quickly. Scotch tape and packing tape may be a good idea.

• Deodorant/anti-perspirant Because these are not used by Chinese in China, they are impossible to find here. Bring enough to last you through your stay. After all the garlic you’ll eat, you’ll need it along with an adequate supply of toothpaste.

• Kleenex packs These small packages, wrapped in plastic, are a great thing to bring to China. Bathrooms aren’t supplied with toilet paper and these are easy to carry and easily accesible. They are also handy as napkins (to clean yourself and the dishes) in restaurants and in the winter for their stipulated purpose. Bring a lot. China does sell some Chinese versions.

• Toothpaste Tartar control and Western brands not available so bring what you’ll need.

• Hard toothbrushes are available but not the high-tech American kinds.

• Shampoo Many brands, Western and Chinese, are available in China, but the Western ones can be even more expensive than they are in the States.

• Soap There’s a great sandalwood soap available in one of the stores on campus for rmb 0.70. Once we found this we stopped using the soap we had brought, but if you need moisturizing soap or have a favorite brand, bring it along. Also bring a good soap dish for traveling and living.

• Shaving cream Not commonly available in China.

• Razors The ones manufactured in China are not of very good quality but more and more non-disposable Gillette Sensor blades and razors are seen around, although they’re comparatively expensive.

• Toilet paper Mostly the toilet paper in China is really rough and cardboardy. If you think you’ll miss Charmin, then you might want to bring a few rolls.

• Brush or comb Just bring one. If it breaks, these items are easily replaceable in many styles.

• Mousse, hair spray, gel, etc. Chinese versions available. Quality may vary.

• Women’s sanitary pads and tampons A Chinese pad is widely available and it seems to be of decent quality but tampons are nonexistent.

• Lip balm China gets dry in the fall so this is pretty important. Lip balm is also difficult to find in China.

• Contact lens cleaner stuff Very difficult to find in China. Neither of us wear contacts but China is pretty dusty and dry for the autumn season and it may be difficult to wear contacts. People did it on our program but they complained quite often about problems with it.

• Photos Bring pictures of yourself, your home, your family, and other things that may be of interest to someone who has never traveled before. Chinese we met loved photos!

• Books Although dictionaries are available comparatively cheaply, you may want to bring your own for the first few weeks before you know your way around and where these are for sale. Bring any books for your projects. Also, you may want to bring some reading that has nothing to do with China. I brought several books in English about Chinese history and culture and it really enriched my experience. We suggest bringing cheap or used editions in case you want to discard or trade them while in China. Books are also great gifts for Chinese friends who are learning English and have an interest in the Western world. We have been warned strongly about giving "sensitive" materials such as some of the titles above. Doing this probably wouldn’t put you in much danger but it might place your friend in an awkward situation, so we don’t recommend doing this. However, giving literature and books about the United States and coffee table picture books would all be safe and greatly appreciated.

• Gifts Gifts have an important place in most relationships in China, especially those involving foreigners. It would be a good idea to bring a variety of gifts for a variety of relationships: friends, teachers, employers, cabin-mates on trains, etc. This is a good way to express thanks or appreciation especially if you can’t do so verbally. Some good gifts to Chinese are: books (see above), tame American tapes (Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, U2, etc.), sweatshirts, T-shirts with American college logos or other American things printed on, stamps (many Chinese love stamps), maps, silver dollars, well-made American products (Maglite flashlights for instance), American magazines (Newsweek, Time)

• Teaching English materials If you think that you may want to teach English for a few hours a week while you’re here, then bringing some interesting teaching materials may be helpful. Some classes ask that you teach out of a specified book, but to make your Oral English class interesting you can bring items that say a lot about American culture. You can be presented with any range of English-speaking ability, so be prepared.
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• Camera and film China is a very photogenic place; not bringing a camera would be a shame. Fuji film and Chinese brands are widely available in China, as are Chinese manufactured Kodak brand. Also, speeds above 100 are difficult to find. Developing is available and relatively inexpensive, however the quality may not be on par with developing done back in the States.

One note of caution: When you first arrive in China, because of the unfamiliar setting you are placed in, it might be difficult to find the things on this list. You might want to bring several weeks’ supply of American goods that will help ease the transition. The last thing you want to have to do is go searching for shampoo the first few days you arrive in Asia. It took us several weeks and even several months to find back alleys, markets, and small shops that carried the goods we wanted (some of which have been listed above). Also, remember Asia is changing so quickly that the availability of consumer goods grows daily. Expect prices to be a bit higher, goods more accessible, and Chinese looking more Western than the descriptions from people who visited China over 6 months ago.

Another note: Chinese version means Chinese version. Although many Western items are available in China, the Chinese versions of certain products can be of lower quaility. Of course certain items are the same, take for instance clothes. Most clothes sold in the U.S. are made in China, but also remember the clothes in U.S. department stores are made for export. Clothes sold in China can have some interesting fashion twists and will not always fit the western frame.