Pack the documents and the payment setup you cannot buy at the last minute: your passport, a confirmation of how you will enter (visa, 30-day visa-free, or 240-hour transit), at least one foreign bank card that works with Alipay or WeChat Pay, a little cash as a backup, and a Type-A (sometimes also Type-I or Type-C) plug adaptor. Clothing follows the season, not a universal packing cube. Almost everything else — toiletries, a cheap umbrella, a metro card — is easier to buy after you land. This is a starting list, not a promise that one bag works for every month and every city.
마지막 확인일 · 최초 게시 · 출처 2개
핵심 사실
| Documents | Passport with enough blank pages; any visa or confirmation of visa-free eligibility; hotel bookings under the same name |
|---|---|
| Payments | Set Alipay or WeChat Pay up at home. Carry a little cash. See our payment guides |
| Power | Mainland China uses 220 V. Sockets are commonly Type A (two flat pins); many hotels also take Type I or Type C. A compact multi-adaptor is enough |
| Medicine | Bring a small personal supply of any prescription you need, in original packaging, plus a copy of the prescription. Do not assume a foreign brand is on the shelf |
| You can buy later | Umbrellas, extra chargers, toiletries, and cheap rain jackets are widely available in any large city |
What you cannot easily replace
Your passport is the item that matters at the border, at the hotel desk, and at a railway station. Check the expiry date and that you have blank pages. If you are entering under the 30-day visa-free or 240-hour transit rules, know which one applies to your passport and your itinerary — the airline will ask, and so will immigration.
Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly, and test a small payment if you can. A foreign card in your wallet is still useful: some rails, hotels and a leftover taxi may take it, and it is a backup if an app declines. A small amount of Chinese yuan cash — enough for a metro ride and a meal — is insurance, not a spending plan.
Mainland sockets are 220 V. The common shape is Type A (two flat pins); many hotels also accept Type I (the Australian angled pins) or Type C (Euro two-round). A small multi-adaptor is enough. A power bank is allowed on Chinese airlines in carry-on, with capacity limits — check your carrier. Do not pack a large power bank in checked luggage.
Clothes follow the place and the month
There is no single China packing list. Harbin in January and Shenzhen in January are different countries in all but name. For Shenzhen, see our weather by month: a light layer in winter is usually enough; summer is hot, humid, and often wet. A compact rain shell earns its space from late spring through early autumn. Northern winter trips need a real coat, gloves, and shoes that can take salt and ice — buy those at home if you already own them; large Chinese cities sell winter gear, but sizing can surprise you.
Walking is the main activity. Comfortable shoes matter more than a formal outfit. A modest extra layer for temples, and something that covers shoulders if you visit a mosque, is courteous. We will not invent a dress-code table for every site.
What to buy after you arrive
Umbrellas, basic toiletries, inexpensive rain jackets, extra cables, and a local SIM or eSIM top-up are easy in any city. Convenience stores and pharmacies are dense in Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. If you take a regular prescription, bring enough for the trip in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription. Do not assume a foreign brand of allergy medicine is on the shelf — see our allergy and diet guide.
This list is a starting point. If you are travelling with children, or with reduced mobility, the extras are specific: see travelling with kids and accessibility.
자주 묻는 질문
Do I need a VPN in my packing list?
We do not recommend a product, and we do not walk through how to configure one. Some foreign apps are unreliable on mainland networks. Decide what you actually need (maps, translation, a way to reach family) and set it up before you fly. Hotel Wi-Fi is not a plan. See our eSIM and maps guides.
Is a paper copy of my passport useful?
A photo on your phone and one paper copy, kept separately from the passport, is a reasonable habit. You will still need the original for hotels, trains and, often, a ticketed site.
What about clothes for Shenzhen?
Shenzhen is subtropical. Winters are usually mild, summers hot and humid, and a rain shell is more useful than a heavy coat from May through September. See our month-by-month weather note. Northern cities in January are a different trip.
Can I buy clothes and toiletries easily?
Yes, in any large city. Sizes and brands will not always match what you wear at home. If you have a specific sunscreen, infant formula or medical item, bring it.