What to pack for China, and what to leave at home

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Packing for China is mostly normal packing. Two things make it different. First, the country is big enough that "what's the weather like?" has no single answer: Beijing in January and Guangzhou in January are different worlds. Second, your phone does far more here than at home. It's your wallet, your map, your train ticket and your translator, so anything that keeps it alive moves to the top of the list.

Below is how I'd think about it, split into what you sort at home and what you can happily buy after landing.

Start with where and when

The line that matters most is winter in the middle column. China's traditional dividing line for central heating, the Qinling-Huaihe line, runs roughly between the Yellow River and the Yangtze. North of it, buildings are heated through winter and you'll often be too warm indoors. South of it, including Shanghai, Chengdu and Chongqing, most buildings rely on air conditioners, and CGTN has noted that Yangtze humidity makes winters feel colder than the thermometer says.

That catches out people from northern Europe and Canada, who expect every room to be warm. Pack a warm layer to wear indoors, warm socks and something to sleep in. Hotels have heating through the air conditioning unit, but restaurants and older buildings may not.

For a north winter trip, think layers rather than one huge coat: thermal base layer, fleece, a windproof outer layer, hat and gloves. You'll be peeling off layers every time you go into a heated metro station or mall.

Phone and power: sort these at home

Plugs and voltage

China runs on 220V at 50Hz. Wall sockets are usually a combined panel: a two-pin slot that takes flat US/Japan-style pins (and often round European pins), plus an angled three-pin slot that fits Australian and New Zealand plugs as they are.

• From Australia or NZ: your plugs fit. No adapter needed in most places.
• From the US, Canada or Japan: two-pin plugs usually fit, but check the label on each device. Phone and laptop chargers marked 100-240V are fine. Hair straighteners and older hair dryers often aren't.
• From the UK: you need an adapter.
• From Europe: round pins fit many two-pin sockets, not all. Bring an adapter anyway.

A compact universal adapter with USB-C ports saves carrying a separate charger. The one I pack is in my kit.

The power bank rule that catches people

Since 28 June 2025, China's Civil Aviation Administration has banned power banks on domestic flights unless they carry the Chinese 3C certification mark, along with any from recalled models or batches, or with an unclear label. The rule came with two days' notice. In July 2025, Executive Traveller reported that thousands of travellers had power banks confiscated at Chinese airports, with discarded batteries piling up at security, and that some passengers on international flights out of Shanghai were also caught.

My take: if you'll take even one domestic flight, don't bring a power bank you'll be upset to lose. Most brands sold abroad don't carry the 3C mark. The simplest fix is to buy one after you land. Convenience stores and electronics shops in any city sell 3C-marked ones, and the label is printed on the casing. Shared power banks you rent by scanning a QR code with Alipay are also everywhere: in restaurants, malls and stations.

The usual airline rules still apply on top: power banks go in hand luggage only, never in checked bags, and anything over 100Wh needs airline approval. More airlines across Asia now restrict using them during the flight too, so check yours. Full details in our power bank guide.

Phone setup

• A roaming eSIM installed at home, switched off until you land. See eSIM vs local SIM.
• Alipay with your card linked and verified before you fly. See why Alipay won't take your card.
• The apps on our apps list, downloaded and logged in on home Wi-Fi.
• A short charging cable in your day bag. Shared power banks usually come with built-in cables, but not always the one you need.

Documents and money

• Your passport. You'll show it for hotels, trains, many museums and some attractions, so carry it daily, not just a copy.
• A photo of your passport saved offline and emailed to yourself. It won't replace the real one, but it speeds things up if it's lost. See what to do in an emergency.
• Printouts of your onward flight and first hotel, especially if you're entering visa-free.
• Two payment cards from different networks, kept in different places, plus a modest amount of cash in small notes for the odd place that won't take a foreign card. See cash tips.
• Travel insurance details saved on your phone. See insurance.

Medicine

Bring prescription medicine in its original packaging, with the label showing your name, and a doctor's letter in English listing what it's for. Keep quantities to what you'll reasonably need for the trip, in hand luggage.

Some medicines that are routine at home are controlled substances in China, including some ADHD stimulants and strong painkillers. If you take anything in that category, check with the Chinese embassy in your country before you travel rather than guessing at the airport.

For everyday things like painkillers, cold remedies and plasters, pharmacies are everywhere in cities and easy to find on a map app. Brands will be unfamiliar, so a translation app helps. If you need a doctor, see seeing a doctor in China.

Clothes and shoes

• Shoes you can walk in all day. Daily step counts here get silly: big stations, long metro transfers, the Great Wall, temple steps. Break new shoes in at home.
• Something with covered shoulders and knees if temples or mosques are on the plan. It's rarely enforced strictly, but it's polite.
• A light rain jacket for spring and summer in the south. Umbrellas are cheap and sold everywhere, including convenience stores.
• Sun protection in summer. Locally you'll see more sun umbrellas, hats and arm sleeves than sunscreen, and sunscreen can be pricier than at home.

Small things people forget

• Tissues. Plenty of public toilets don't supply paper. A pocket pack is the most useful thing on this whole page.
• Hand sanitiser, for the same reason, and for street food.
• Hotel addresses in Chinese, saved offline, to show taxi drivers.
• A small daypack that's quick to put through X-ray machines. Metro stations in many cities scan bags at the entrance.
• Earplugs and an eye mask for overnight trains and city hotels.

What to leave at home

• Power banks without a 3C mark, if you're flying domestically. Buy one here.
• Lots of cash. A small amount for backup is plenty.
• A full-size towel, toiletries and a hair dryer. Hotels from mid-range up supply them, and slippers too.
• Bulky guidebooks. Opening hours and booking rules change fast, so check the app or official account instead.

Adjust for your kind of trip

• Travelling with children: bring any specific baby formula or medicine brand they rely on. Nappies and snacks are easy to buy. A compact stroller helps, though stations and older streets have plenty of steps.
• Business trips: business cards still get used here, more than in much of Europe. Bring more than you think.
• Long stays of several weeks: pack less clothing and plan to use hotel laundry or the self-service machines many hotels have. Prices are low.
• Hiking and mountain trips: layers even in summer, since places like Huangshan or Emeishan are far cooler at the top than at the gate.

Quick questions

Can I buy everything I forgot?

Almost. Clothes, toiletries, adapters, cables, power banks and umbrellas are easy and cheap in any city. Specific medicines, larger shoe sizes and some cosmetics are harder, so bring those.

Do I need a mask for air quality?

Air is much better in most cities than a decade ago. If you're sensitive, check an air-quality app daily and bring a few well-fitting masks for bad days, mostly in northern winters. Pharmacies also sell them.

Should I pack a water bottle?

Yes. Don't drink tap water, but hotels, stations and many offices have hot and often cold drinking water dispensers, so a refillable bottle saves buying plastic all day.

The exact adapter, cables and day bag I travel with are in my kit.

Sources: Beijing government (CAAC power bank rule); Executive Traveller (power bank confiscations); WorldStandards (plugs and voltage); CGTN (north-south heating divide).

If something here has changed, email me. I re-check every guide and update the date at the top.

Affiliate disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Written by David, who lives in China. About me

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