It is hard packing for a China trip, especially if you haven’t been before. Packing everything under the sun can result in a heavy bag and no room for souvenirs, while packing too light can result in you being uncomfortable or being forced to spend your precious time in China looking for the one item you forgot.
Use this check-list here when packing for a China trip:
Main bag and a small day pack.
We leave our big bags at the accommodation, so you’ll need to keep your valuables with you in a day pack or give it to your teacher. For your big bag, a suitcase or hold-all is fine, but you may find a large rucksack more convenient, especially if your trip goes to more than one city in China.
Necessities
Passport with visa
Details of emergency numbers
Chinese currency (optional)
Photocopies of passport photo page and passport visa page, bankcard (optional) and any personal insurance policies taken out.
Toiletries
Insect repellent – a must for summer months
Hand sanitizer
Packets of toilet paper – not provided in public toilets!
Sun cream and after sun – another must for spring or summer
Moisturiser – useful for travelling during the cold, dry winter
Any medication and a list of the medication you take
Deodorant and tampons are hard to find in China so please pack accordingly
Clothes
Temperatures vary between cities in China so check the average weather for the months and places you plan to go and pack clothes accordingly.
As a summary, however, China has four distinct seasons:
Spring – short and pleasant but windy (so no skirts!)
Summer – hot and often humid
Autumn – generally pleasant and warm
Winter – very chilly!
We recommend you bring the following:
• Trainers/sport shoes/sensible walking shoes
• Walking trousers
• Jeans (or knee-length skirts or shorts for hot weather)
• A towel
• T-shirts
• Jumpers or fleeces
• Sunglasses
“Rolling your clothes instead of folding them means they take up less room”
Outdoor wear
Waterproof or warm coat (if travelling between September and May)
Umbrella (spring)
Electronics
Bring electronic products at your own risk – some students do travel with kindles and smartphones
• Adaptors – Chinese electrical outlets are 220 volt and use the US standard plug shape. Please check your specific devices’ voltages to be sure if they will work with 220 volts
• Chargers for your phone, camera or any other electrical
• Camera (and spare memory cards)
Travel
Earplugs and an eye-mask
A jumper (it can get a little chilly on long-haul flights or in airports during stop over)
See our blog post here on how to beat long haul flights
Extras
Trip specific (these depend on your itinerary so check with your itinerary and teacher first)
• A swimming costume (to wear in the mud baths)
• Some Hong Kong Dollars
• Small gift for charity or orphanage visit (this may be organised by your
school) Key rings, fridge magnets and postcards are all suitable gifts.
Do I need a first aid kit?
All of our Adventure Leaders have a fully equipped first aid kit with them at all times, but of course there is no harm in bringing your own small one along. We would advise that you bring your own antihistamine, anti-diarrhoea, and painkillers if you think you’ll need them.
Finally…
Make sure you leave room in your luggage – there are plenty of souvenirs you might want to pick up.!
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