How to Pack for China – The Ultimate China Packing Essentials Checklist: Important Things to Pack When Travelling to China.

how to pack for china

How to pack for China – we believe this is the ultimate China packing essentials checklist. It’s a big call, isn’t it? But we think we’ve got this one covered.

With China tour design and travel in our DNA, we know a thing or two about China packing essentials.

When you’re a first-time traveler on a multi-day China tour, it’s good to have a comprehensive list of China packing essentials to make sure you’ve thought of everything you might want to bring.

After all, nothing ruins a day of sightseeing like blurry tour highlights because you forgot to pack your glasses. Not to mention showing up to spring snow in Beijing with nothing for footwear except sandals.

How to pack for China – the essentials

When you forget to pack the essentials, you risk ruining the opportunity to create a truly memorable China travel experience.

Want to avoid disastrous packing mishaps? Here’s everything you need to know to start your memorable travel experience from the moment you begin to pack your luggage.

China packing essentials: covering the basics

China is anything but small, covering over 20 000 kilometers of different terrains and climates. If your plan is to set foot in multiple regions of China, it’s important to pack accordingly. Think layers for all seasons.

Regardless of which season or region you travel to, your suitcase should at least include these China packing essentials:

  1. A valid passport (plus some copies), airline tickets, the necessary visas, related health certificates, and other important documents.
  2. Your travel itinerary and contact details from your tour operator, including direct phone numbers for ‘just in case’.
  3. Credit card(s), traveler cheques, a certain amount of Yuan, and some emergency cash.
  4. Travel insurance.
  5. All necessary chargers, a converter, and a plug adaptor (you can buy these in China, but we recommend buying one prior to travel).
  6. A pen, so you’re prepared to fill out customs forms on the plane.
  7. Technology, including headphones and camera (or your smartphone)
  8. A basic first-aid kit that includes hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes (you’ll need these everywhere you go in China!)
  9. A daypack for carrying the essentials while you’re out and about.

China clothing essentials: pack light and smart

Traveling to different regions of China doesn’t mean over-packing. On the contrary, our tip here is: pack light and smart. Make quick-dry fabrics your best China tour friend. Include clothing that can be worn on your active adventures, but also easily dressed up for a night out with a different pair of shoes or a scarf.

Wondering how to pull it all together. We’ve done the hard work for you. Check out our China clothing essentials list right here:

  • 3 pairs of comfortable pants
  • 1 or 2 pairs of shorts
  • 3-5 short sleeve shirts
  • 1-2 long sleeve shirts
  • 1 “dressy” outfit
  • A warm jumper or hoodie
  • 3-4 pairs of underwear
  • 4-6 pairs of socks
  • 2 jackets, one fleece, and one windbreaker/rain jacket
  • Sun-blocking hat
  • Swimsuit
  • A pair of good walking shoes
  • Flip flops
  • A pair of adventure sandals (optional)
  • A pair of comfortable, casual shoes (optional)
  • Waterproof and winter-proof boots (optional)

And there you are! Your China tour packing list is done and there is no longer any need to be concerned about how to pack for China – share this knowledge around!

One side note on clothes in China. In Chinese culture, pale skin is synonymous with nobility and wealth and therefore considered more beautiful. This is why so many Chinese men and women cover their skin with long sleeves and pants. While Western travelers will always stand out on tour in China, you can blend in more seamlessly by covering up, just like the locals.

Whether you’re soaking up the dramatic landscape of the Three Gorges, or the city-allure of Beijing, keep these China packing essentials in mind.

Depending on when and where you go, you can simply adjust this basic China packing list by season and region. And for those inevitable items you’ll forget, there’s no need to worry. You can get almost everything you need in China.

Still not sure about how to pack for China? Talk to one of our travel consultants today. They’ll take care of every detail, so you can experience the real China.

Come and tour with ChinaTours.com

ChinaTours.com is a leading provider of China tours, serving travelers who want an experience of real China for over ten years. ChinaTours.com offers small group, family tours and private tours in China and the surrounding region.

Feeling the travel bug and think a China tour might fix it? There’s no better place to start than by connecting with a China travel agency who can provide you with an unforgettable China experience. Traveling to 20 unique and exciting destinations, including BeijingXi’an, and Shanghai, we at ChinaTours.com designed our tours to meet the needs of people who enjoy structure and flexibility when they travel. 

About the author

ChinaTours.com

The ChinaTours.com blogger team brings you the best and most interesting information and China tour news gathered by our travel consultants, local travel guides, and partner providers. With our mission to create beautiful travel memories on your China tour, our travel guide provides ideas, tips, and insights to help bring your holiday alive.

Featured Tour

16 Days China Highlights with Yangtze and Pandas


Destination
Beijing Xi’an Chengdu Guilin Yangtze River Shanghai
Tour Type
CustomPrivateSmall Group

16 Days China Highlights with Yangtze and Pandas

16 Days China Highlights with Yangtze and Pandas
Scott G
1 contribution
Once in a life time. Don’t miss it!

Oct 2025 • Friends • Couples

We love China Tours, and glad we chose them.

So far, we’re having a wonderful experience with our tour guide, Helena, in Hong Kong. She is incredibly knowledgeable, speaks excellent English, and shared so much fascinating information about every place we visited. She took us to many interesting and beautiful locations that we might never have discovered on our own. Throughout the day, she was patient, kind, and always ready to help with anything we needed. Her professionalism and friendly personality made the tour both enjoyable and memorable. We are very grateful for her guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone visiting Hong Kong, and we can’t wait to visit China too!
Read more Read less

Written

Emmanuel B
1 contribution
An unforgettable experience in Xi’an!

Oct 2025 • Couples • Couples

This is the fourth time I write this review because tripadvisor keeps saying it was made using AI. As a non-native English speaker, I used AI to give Cathy the highest praise I could for taking care of us during our trip to Xi'an. She's the best and takes care of every single detail. To Cathy my biggest thanks and to tripadvisor and its insipid AI I hope you detect a drop in content creation due to this.
Read more Read less

Written

Donna B
1 contribution
White Glove Treatment

Sept 2025 • Solo • Couples

I was a little nervous- never been to Asia, never used this company etc but WOW. I was completely blown away by the service. I booked the two week tour that included Beijing- Xi-an Yangtze cruise- Zhangjiajie and Shanghai. The hotels were fabulous. The transportation included two high speed trains, plane, and private driving service. The guides were top notch and stayed with us until we were on the train and another met us at the other end when we stepped off. Our group was small so we were mobile and able to navigate easily. There wasn’t any shopping stops.
Read more Read less

Written

Austp
1 contribution
Excellent Tour Organisation

Oct 2025 • Family • Couples

great organization of tours, excellent tour guides and communication was always spot on. Would book again with China Tours
Read more Read less

Written

Venture39067238865
1 contribution
Great time in China

Sept 2025 • Solo • Couples

I traveled through China with China Tours from Sep. 11th to 25th and had a great time. I visited Beijing, Xian, Chongqing, Yangtze river cruise, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai. Everything went smoothly and the tour guides are really helpful and professional. It would be fair to mention their names, just to give them their due: Lee in Beijing, Helen in Xian, Winnie in Chongqing, Lucy in Zhangjiajie and John and Cici in Shanghai. There are many highlights in a country like China, but from a foreigner's point of view maybe Chongqing stands out clearly, if only for unusual, and touring with Winnie, with her deep knowledge of the city made for a great experience.
Read more Read less

Written

Tripadvisor Tripadvisor

Email subscription

Create even more great travel memories by staying up to date with the latest ChinaTours.com tour packages by subscribing to our exclusive Explore + Uncover travel magazine, China’s best travel guide.

For the very best in China tours

Filter our search options to find the best suited tour

Destination

Tour Durations

Reveal Tour Options

Quick Question

Expected reply 24 - 48 hours

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.