Packing for China: The Ultimate Checklist for All Seasons

ByRui Yu Travel Essentials
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Most packing lists start with clothes. This one starts with your phone. Without Alipay set up before you land, you cannot pay for most things in China. Here is the full list, digital setup first.

Packing for China The Ultimate Checklist for All Seasons

Most China packing lists start with what to put in your suitcase. This one starts with your phone. Without Alipay linked to your foreign bank card before you fly, you cannot pay at most restaurants, buy metro tickets at most stations, hail a DiDi, or purchase tickets at many tourist sites. Without a VPN installed before departure, you cannot access Google, WhatsApp, or Instagram once you land. Without Amap downloaded, you will be navigating with Google Maps, which has significant data errors in China. Sort your digital setup first. Then pack your clothes.

Key Takeaways

  • Digital setup is the most important part of packing for China. Full app list here.
  • Power banks: carry-on only. Label must be readable. Rules here.
  • Always carry pocket tissues. Most public toilets have no paper. Toilet guide.
  • Universal travel adapter. China is 220V. Check devices are 100-240V.
  • N95 mask for northern cities in winter (October to March air quality).
  • Your original passport on you at all times. Required by law.

Digital Checklist: Do This Before You Fly

App / SetupWhy It MattersGuide
Alipay: install and link foreign cardPay for almost everything in ChinaAlipay guide
VPN: install and testAccess Google, WhatsApp, GmailVPN guide
Amap: set to English, download offline mapsAccurate navigationMaps guide
DiDi: download international versionSafe, trackable taxisDiDi guide
WeChat: install and verify identityMessaging, mini-programs, paymentsApps guide
Baidu Translate: download Chinese offline packRead menus, signs, packagingTranslation guide
Trip.com: account setupTrain and hotel bookingApps guide
Travel insurer emergency number: saved in phoneMedical emergenciesInsurance guide
Embassy emergency number: saved in phoneLost passport, arrestEmergency numbers
Your hotel addresses in Chinese: screenshottedShow to taxi driversMandarin guide

Documents

  • Original passport: legally required to carry. Needed for hotel check-in, train boarding.
  • China visa if required for your nationality.
  • Tibet Travel Permit original if visiting Tibet: checkpoints require the original, not a photo.
  • Travel insurance card and emergency number: printed copy.
  • Hotel bookings: accessible offline in email.
  • Two printed passport photo copies plus one stored in your email.

Tech Essentials

  • Power bank: in carry-on only. Label must be readable. Full rules.
  • Universal travel adapter: China is 220V. Check devices for 100-240V dual voltage.
  • Portable USB-C charging cable: at least one spare.
  • eSIM or Chinese SIM card: for consistent data coverage everywhere.

Clothing by Season

Spring (March to May)

Mild but variable. Pack T-shirts, a mid-layer (light fleece or thin down jacket), and a waterproof outer layer. Spring rain is common across most of China. A packable rain jacket takes up no space and solves most wet days.

Summer (June to August)

Hot and humid in most of China. Lightweight breathable fabrics, UV-protective long sleeves for outdoor sites with no shade, a wide-brim hat, and sunscreen (SPF 50+). A portable personal fan for cities. If visiting Yunnan or Qinghai in summer, add a warm layer for evenings at altitude.

Autumn (September to November)

China’s best travel season. Mild temperatures, low humidity. T-shirts and a mid-layer cover most situations. Northern destinations (Beijing, Xi’an) get cold by November. A warm jacket for the evenings.

Winter (December to February)

North China is genuinely cold. Beijing and Xi’an average -5°C to -10°C in January. You need: thermal base layers, a heavy down coat rated to -15°C, warm hat, gloves, thermal socks, and an N95 mask. South China (Guangzhou, Xiamen, Sanya) is mild and requires only a light jacket.

Health and Toiletries

  • Pocket tissues (multiple packs): for public toilets. Non-negotiable. Toilet guide.
  • Hand sanitiser: small bottle for your day bag.
  • Personal medications: enough supply for your trip plus a buffer. Carry prescription for controlled substances.
  • Basic travel kit: paracetamol, ibuprofen, loperamide, oral rehydration sachets, antiseptic wipes, plasters.
  • N95 / KN95 mask: for winter air quality in northern cities.
  • Sunscreen SPF 50+: imported brands are expensive in China. Bring from home.
  • Altitude medication (Diamox): prescription. Bring from home for Tibet or high Yunnan. Altitude guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

China uses 220V at 50Hz with Type A and Type I sockets, as listed in the IEC international socket database. US plugs (Type A, two flat pins) fit Chinese Type A sockets without an adapter. UK, European, and Australian plugs need a universal travel adapter. The voltage matters more than the socket: if your device says ‘110V only’ on the label, do not plug it in at 220V. Most modern electronics (phone chargers, laptop adapters, camera chargers) say ‘100-240V’ and work fine. Check the label on each device before packing.

Yes, but it must be in your carry-on luggage. Power banks are banned from checked bags. Under 100Wh: allowed without airline approval. 100Wh to 160Wh: airline approval required (usually granted automatically). Over 160Wh: not permitted. The label on your power bank must be readable. If security cannot verify the capacity, they take it. Full rules: Power Bank Rules in China.

Carry pocket tissues at all times. Most public toilets do not provide paper. Not sometimes. Most of the time. A pack of tissues in your day bag is the single most universally useful piece of China packing advice. Full bathroom situation: China Toilet Guide.

Thermal base layers, a heavy down coat (rated to -15°C), and an N95 mask for air quality. Beijing in January averages -7°C to 2°C. Wind chill near the Great Wall and outdoor sites is severe. The N95 mask is for winter coal-heating air quality, not just warmth. Indoor heating in Chinese hotels and restaurants is excellent. You only need the heavy gear outside.

Your original passport. Chinese regulations require foreigners to carry it at all times. Hotels need it for check-in. Train boarding may require it. Police can ask for it. Also carry: printed or digital copy of your travel insurance with the emergency number, and your hotel address in Chinese (screenshotted) for showing to taxi drivers. For Tibet: carry the Tibet Travel Permit original at all times.

For power bank rules on Chinese flights specifically, see Power Bank Rules. For the toilet situation in China, see China Toilet Guide. For the full apps setup, see Best Apps for China Travel.

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