Scrolling through Reddit threads and travel forums, the same items appear over and over โ things that catch foreigners completely off guard. Not because they're exotic or complicated, but because most travel advice focuses on documents and electronics while skipping the physical everyday items that make or break your daily experience.
This isn't another generic packing list. It's the specific things real travelers say they wish they'd packed after landing in China and realizing they forgot them.
China is demanding on your phone battery. Navigation apps, translation tools, WeChat payments,ๆ็ ง (photo-taking) โ your phone is your lifeline, and it dies faster than you expect. But here's what most guides don't mention:
โ ๏ธ CCC Certification Requirement: If you bring a power bank from home with capacity above 27,000mAh (100Wh), it will be confiscated at security or at the border if discovered. Chinese regulations require all rechargeable lithium batteries to have CCC (China Compulsory Certification) marking for sale and import.
Even below that threshold, customs officers at some ports have been known to question high-capacity units. The safest approach:
๐ก Real traveler feedback: "I went three days before realizing my 30,000mAh Amazon power bank was technically illegal. I was terrified every time I used it. Should have just bought one there." โ Reddit user, r/travelchina
This seems obvious to anyone who's traveled in Asia, but it consistently appears as a "I wish I'd known" on every China travel forum. Public restrooms in China โ even in major cities โ often do not provide toilet paper. This isn't just a rural issue. It's common across airports, train stations, tourist sites, and restaurants.
And it's not just about comfort. At some tourist sites, the only restrooms are external buildings that go through their tissue supply quickly. Running out mid-visit is more than inconvenient โ it's genuinely awkward.
What to actually pack:
The tissue packet goes in your day bag, not your checked luggage. You'll need it multiple times daily.
You'll need your passport for essentially everything in China โ hotels, train tickets, museum entry, police checks. But carrying only the original is risky. Here's what experienced China travelers do:
Why in WeChat? Because WeChat is always accessible (once you have VPN working), and having it in your "chat with myself" means you can show it even if your physical copies are lost. Police accept WeChat photos of passports as secondary ID in most situations.
๐ก The WeChat trick: Send a photo of your passport to yourself in WeChat. Star the message. Pin it to the top of your chat. You now have instant access to a copy from any device.
Based on aggregated Reddit and travel forum posts, here's what keeps appearing in the "I wish I'd brought that" category:
China involves serious walking. Subway stations can have 1km of tunnels, tourist sites span kilometers, and cities are designed for pedestrians. The shoes you wear on the plane will be your primary shoes for the entire trip. They need to be broken in, supportive, and appropriate for walking 10-15km days.
Hotel sinks in China often don't have drain stoppers โ or the stoppers don't work. If you need to hand-wash anything (underwear, small items), you'll want a universal sink plug that fits most drains. Packable silicone ones weigh almost nothing.
Pickpocketing is not the main concern in most tourist areas (China is generally very safe), but crowded tourist sites attract opportunistic thieves. A cross-body bag with hidden zippers is more about peace of mind than paranoia. Also useful for storing your tissue packets, hand sanitizer, and daily essentials.
Internet in China requires VPN, and VPN may not work at critical moments (arrival, border, subway). Download an offline Chinese phrase book (like Pleco with offline dictionaries) before you arrive. At minimum, have these phrases written down somewhere offline: hotel address, "I need a doctor," "where is the bathroom," and your hotel name in Chinese characters.
If you take any prescription medications, bring them in their original labeled containers. Chinese customs can be strict about medications, and having the original packaging with your name and the prescription clearly shown avoids complications. Also bring a signed note from your doctor listing your medications and why you need them.
Western-style deodorants exist in China but are significantly more expensive and harder to find outside major cities. If you're used to having it available, pack more than you think you'll need. China is hot and humid in summer, and you'll be walking more than usual.
China's weather is unpredictable. Rain appears suddenly in most cities, particularly in summer (June-August) and transition seasons. A compact, wind-resistant umbrella in your day bag costs almost nothing and saves you from being caught in sudden downpours. Bonus: also useful for sun protection.
If you wear contacts, bring enough solution for your entire trip โ the brands available in China may not match what you're used to, and some formulations aren't sold. Also bring your glasses as a backup. You don't want to be navigating a foreign city with blurry vision because your sole pair of contacts failed.
Domestic flights within China can have limited food options. High-speed trains have dining cars but the food is hit-or-miss and expensive. International travelers coming from long flights often arrive starving. Pack some granola bars, nuts, or similar non-perishable snacks in your carry-on. Also useful if you have dietary restrictions that make Chinese food challenging.
Even though Alipay and WeChat Pay dominate, certain situations still require cash: small rural temples, some local restaurants, tips for hotel luggage carriers, and emergency purchases in places without mobile payment. Bring enough USD/EUR/GBP to exchange ยฅ500-1000 equivalent, in small denominations (ยฅ10, ยฅ20 bills). Large bills are harder to use in markets.
Some hotels and hostels in China have safes that require a padlock (you provide the lock, they provide the compartment). Many train station luggage lockers also work this way. A small TSA-compatible padlock costs almost nothing and is useful more often than you'd expect.
Google Maps doesn't work reliably in China. Apple Maps works better but is still inconsistent. Before you arrive, download offline maps of your destination cities in whatever map app you plan to use (Maps.me, Here WeGo, or similar). This means you can navigate without internet โ critical for finding your hotel when you first arrive with no VPN working yet.
Just as important as what to bring is what not to bring:
Before you leave for the airport, run through this quick checklist:
Yes โ Chinese voltage (220V/50Hz) is compatible with most international electronics. You only need a physical plug adapter (Type A or I), not a voltage converter. Most modern laptop and phone chargers handle 100-240V automatically.
No โ do not drink tap water in China, even in major cities. Tap water is treated but the pipes are old, and it's not considered safe for foreign digestive systems. Use filtered or bottled water for drinking and brushing teeth. All hotels provide complimentary bottled water.
Major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu) have everything. 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and other convenience stores are everywhere and carry basic necessities. For specific items, Taobao (Chinese Amazon equivalent) delivers within hours in most cities. If you're in a smaller city, your best bet is to ask your hotel concierge to help source it.
Yes, for any situation outside of 4-5 star hotels. Budget hotels, restaurants, tourist sites, train stations โ none of these are guaranteed to have toilet paper. It's not about being fussy; it's about being prepared. A small tissue pack in your day bag is a few grams that you'll use daily.
Store them in three places: (1) in your main wallet, (2) in a separate day bag pocket, (3) as a photo in your WeChat starred message. Some travelers also keep an email copy to themselves and a photo in their hotel safe. The WeChat method is particularly useful because you can access it even without VPN once you land.