What to pack for China

Moving to China means having access to some incredible new things. But packing wisely means you don’t have to say goodbye to anything either!

There are certain things that are worth bringing over as they may be harder to come by or more expensive (depending on what city you are living in).

Here is our list of 9 things we suggest you definitely bring.

Lots and lots of deodorant

Due to their genetics, most Chinese people’s sweat doesn’t smell, so deodorant is not needed. You can buy the Chinese brand stuff, but it’s not quite as effective as what’s available in your own country.

You will also be able to purchase this off the Chinese, Amazon-equivalent online marketplace, Taobao – but it is more expensive.

Documents

ALL of your documents! Don’t forget your authenticated degree, TEFL and police check. If you think you should bring it – pack it!

Travel adapters

You can always buy them in the country, but it’s convenient to have one with you when you first arrive.

A VPN

The Great Firewall of China is a real thing, and if you want to still access sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Netflix, shop around for a VPN. Ensure that the VPN works well in China; do your research so you don’t waste your money!

An unlocked phone

This means that you’ll be instantly able to get your Chinese SIM card up and running, with no issues.

Underwear

Take it from us, generally shopping for underwear is a headache; the styles are different, it can be poor quality OR super expensive, and sizes tend to be smaller. Bring as much as you can.

Food you love from your country

You may want to bring some specific spices, or a certain brand of chocolate. If you’re from England, you may want to stock up on Dairy Milk!

Tampons / menstrual cup (for women)

You can only seem to buy pads in China, so if you’re not keen on that we recommend investing in a menstrual cup or packing a few boxes of tampons.

RMB Cash

Bring over some RMB cash! It can take a while to set up a bank account, and most shops and restaurants will not recognise Visa or Mastercard. The Chinese have never even heard of them. They use Union Pay, WeChat, Alipay or cash for all their purchases. However, you will be able to draw out cash from many ATMs.

We hope this list helps you when packing for China!