Packing List for China

My packing lists are pretty straightforward and hardly deviate no matter my destination, but I did put a little extra thought into packing for China because I was so unsure of what to expect! Now that I have been I can say- its not that deep. China has pretty much anything you forget, since most of it is made in China anyways, and also easy to obtain. However, there were some tiny tidbits I learned and wanted to impart. 

What’s in my Lululemon cross body: 

I keep this on me every day, every place I go, at all times. 

Passport. You’ll be surprised how many venues it is needed to enter, keep it on your person at all times! Cash and cards. A few baby wipes in a baggie- LIFE SAVER! I use these as toilet paper but also to wipe my face/hands/phone or any other surface needed. A couple of folded up tissues. Chapstick. Gum. A tiny container of Vaseline for dry skin especially on the plane. A tiny bottle of Lavender essential oils because people stink in cramped areas and it also relieves nausea. A couple ginger chews and 1 peppermint tea bag for nausea also. A package of 2 Tylenol. 1 back up hair tie. 1 pen which I use a lot on airplanes for customs forms but not much else. 

Whats in my backpack: 

I leave this in the hotel with my rolling suitcase but empty it and use it for long day excursions if needed. Otherwise I carry it onto the plane with the essentials and check my rolling bag. 

Laptop. Chargers in a charger organizing case. Adapter for other countries and power bank (although this was confiscated in China so maybe not this). Noise cancelling head phones. A good eye mask with cooling gel. Slippers! A big soft scarf that packs small but can unfold to double as a blanket, for cold days and long flights. A ball cap. Sometimes I have a neck pillow, although I have yet to find the perfect neck pillow and end up throwing them away after each use. Snacks like a peanut butter sandwich, some nuts and dried fruit, some pretzels, and a bit of dark chocolate. A smaller zippy bag with an airplane toothbrush and toothpaste, hand sanitizer, floss, melatonin, a couple face wipes, sunglasses, another pen, more tea bags, bandaids, and other first aid items. Medication is one of the hardest things to find like home, so things like anti nausea, rehydration packages like Liquid IV, and maybe some packages of Magnesium. Charcoal pills, pain killer, anti itch, etc. Just whatever works for you to keep your tummy and head happy- bring that. On long haul flights I pack a tiny shirt and leggings set in the backpack just in case I need a change of clothes. I don’t carry a reusable water bottle because they are heavy and I drop them too often, so I just buy plastic bottles along the way- I know, the HORROR. 

What’s in my suitcase: 

Packing cubes!! And one empty cube for dirty clothes as I go. Toiletry bag. Small package of baby wipes and tissues for refilling my cross body stock at night. 2 tank tops with built in bra, 1 regular t-shirt and 2 thin long sleeve shirts. 1 windbreaker. 1 warm sweater. 2 leggings, 1 pair of jeans, 2 pair of flowy pants. panties, socks and bras. If its a cold time of year then a winter coat and boots. Its literally so cold in the higher elevations and higher longitudes of China, you will need a serious coat. I did not experience warmth in China so I layered my leggings and flowy pants and multiple tops each day! However, Hong Kong was hot and humid so that added a fun twist to my immune system. Make sure what you bring is sweat wicking and breathable so you can adjust with the temperature. It’s very unusual for me to bring more than 2 pair of shoes. I only packed 1 pair of tennis shoes on this trip and did not regret it. I always pack capsule wardrobes that can layer and mix/match. Lots of white and black. Okay, mostly black, but still. That’s pretty much it, because as mentioned in prior posts: the SHOPPING! 

As far as packing lists go, this one is pretty straightforward. I would highlight keeping your passport and toilet paper on you at all times, and be sure you have plenty of medication options. Also don’t forget that the size of the country also leads to a diversity of weather conditions in a short span of time so plan for adapting from really cold to really hot. Overall, its easy to find what you need when you need it so don’t stress if you forget something:)