The Ultimate Travel Packing Checklist for China - What Should I Pack? (2025)
This is my packing list for a 7 day trip + arrival and departure days. If you’re staying longer, you can either pack more, buy extras in China, or book a hotel with laundry facilities.
Some hotels have self-service washing machines. Ideally, it should be a washer-dryer or look for rooms that have clothes lines. In summer, having the air conditioning on overnight should dry it over a couple of days, in my experience. Remember they will only dry before you leave if you still have enough days in the same hotel.
If you forget anything, this is THE country where you have almost nothing to worry about. China has lots of fancy designed products that you’ve never seen before. Chances are you will find either the exact same product or a close alternative. China is the manufacturing capital of the world after all.
Clothing (you should adjust this according to the seasonal climates of all cities you will be visiting)
☐ 8 tops/shirts/T-shirts depending on personal preference and season
☐ 2-3 pairs of outdoor trousers (you might find out you prefer to wear trousers in the South of China, even in hot weather. I always get mosquito bites if I’m wearing shorts)
☐ 1 pair of comfortable trousers
☐ 1 pair of shorts (pack more if that’s your thing but beware of the annoying mosquitoes)
☐ 1-2 sets of nightwear
☐ 8 sets of underwear and socks
☐ 1 outerwear (a jacket or sweater)
☐ 1 rainproof jacket (optional - if you’re an umbrella person)
☐ 1 winter coat (optional - check if you’re visiting any city during a season with temperatures below 15C. If you’re going to freezing cold places (e.g. Harbin), you should consider coats suitable for extreme temperatures)
☐ 1 sunglasses (optional - to help protect against UV light if you’re outdoors a lot)
☐ 1 sunhat (optional)
☐ 1 swimming gear (trunks/suit) (optional - depending on your places and activities)
Remember, you can cut down the quantities and buy new ones in any Chinese mall when you have some free time. Most malls are open until late evening (9pm-10pm). If you thought clothing was cheap in your country, wait until you see the prices in China. So, definitely don’t worry if you don’t bring enough.
Footwear
☐ 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes
☐ 1 pair of hiking boots
☐ Disposable sandals are provided by most hotels but bring your own if you prefer
Toiletries
☐ 1 toiletry bag
☐ 1 toothbrush with charger (if electric)
☐ 1 toothpaste
☐ 1 shaver with charger (optional)
☐ 1 facial cleanser (optional)
☐ 1 body towel
☐ 1 face towel
☐ 1 mouthwash
☐ 1 sun lotion
☐ 1 antiperspirant/perfume (optional) (you won’t be able to find it in every supermarket, but it’s still quite easy to find in major cities)
☐ 1 hair stuff (optional)
☐ 1 makeup set (optional)
☐ 1 nail clipper (optional)
☐ 1 cosmetic scissors (optional)
☐ 1 glasses with case (if applicable)
☐ 1 contact lens supply for the whole trip (if applicable)
Health
☐ Relevant vaccinations before arrival (if any)
☐ First aid kit + pain relief
☐ Sufficient medication in clearly labelled original packaging for at least double the trip length + evidence of prescription for backup (if applicable)
☐ Mosquito repellent (especially for southern China. For mosquito bites, I personally found Mopidick or Ricqles Peppermint Cure to be very effective for itch relief)
☐ Gender-specific items (if any)
☐ Health-specific aids (if any)
Documentation
☐ Passport + visa (if you’re not a visa-free country or eligible for the visa-free transit)
☐ Photocopy of passport (leave the photocopy in a safe place in your hotel room)
☐ Travel insurance policy with your full name and the insurer’s contact details
☐ Printed copy of flights and hotel bookings (in the unlikely event that you have no Internet)
☐ Credit card + bank card
Subscription
☐ eSIM/data roaming plan/VPN (you don’t have to buy all of these but you must ensure that the package is for China, don’t just buy a random one. Read my Phone and Internet section)
Apps (bare minimum - check my key apps for more)
☐ Alipay (account registered and verified with passport)
☐ WeChat (account registered and verified with passport)
☐ Trip
Everyday Bag
☐ 1 toilet paper or 2 packs of tissues (you can grab the toilet roll from your hotel room if you prefer)
☐ 1 phone + charging cable
☐ 1 power bank (if you are taking any domestic flights in China, I recommend you buy a new one after arrival because they have to meet the CCC standard)
☐ 1 universal travel adapter (I use Momax 1-World Universal 5-Port 65W, which has been perfect for my China travels)
☐ 1 room key (after you arrive)
☐ 1 bottle of water (if you’re heading to the countryside)
☐ Emergency cash (suggest 200rmb per person, in case payment fails on both WeChat and Alipay)
Extras
☐ Laptop/tablet/iPad + charging cable (optional)
☐ Backup hard drive for photos and videos (optional - you might prefer cloud storage, but check they’re being uploaded successfully)
☐ Spare SD cards (optional)
☐ Earphones (optional)
☐ Selfie stick / phone tripod (optional)
For the minimalist version, please see here.
Everything has been subtracted to compulsory items and quantities only.
