What to Pack for China: The Complete Checklist (2026)

Pack light, but pack the right things — China is easy to travel in if you’ve got your passport, power, and apps sorted.

The modern China trip is mostly a phone-based trip: pay by QR code, hail cars by app, translate menus with a camera. The checklist below covers the few physical things you genuinely need, plus the digital setup that matters more than any gadget.

Documents — the non-negotiables

• Passport with at least six months validity, and check whether you need a visa or qualify for visa-free entry.
• A printed copy of your visa page (if you have a visa) or the visa-free rules — a printout helps at check-in desks and if anyone asks.
• A digital copy in your email or cloud in case the physical passport is lost.
• Your hotel booking confirmations and train e-tickets — you can show these on your phone.
• A not-photo copy of your ID: for hotel registration and rail gates you need the actual passport, not a picture.

Power and electronics

• Plug adapter: China uses Type A and Type I sockets at 220V. One universal adapter is usually enough.
• Power bank: essentials — but it must go in carry-on, and most airlines cap it at 100Wh (about 27,000mAh). Larger banks are prohibited.
• Charging cables and a power strip if you carry multiple devices; hotel outlets can be scarce.
• A phone with eSIM support or a spare handset — see our eSIM guide for staying online cheaply.
• Offline maps and translator language packs downloaded before you fly.

Money and payment

• A small amount of cash — ¥200 to ¥500 in small notes — for markets, small shops, and as a fallback if a network hiccups. Merchants are required to accept cash.
• Alipay and WeChat Pay already set up with a foreign card — see our paying in China guide and Alipay setup.
• Your international credit/debit card for hotels and ATM withdrawals.
• A money belt or secure pocket for the passport and card — pickpocketing is rare but not unheard of in crowds.

Toiletries and comfort

• Standard toiletries; hotels usually provide basics, but smaller guesthouses may not.
• Hand sanitizer and tissues — some public restrooms lack soap or paper.
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat, especially in summer; many cities get very hot.
• A light layer for air-conditioned trains and metros — they’re kept cold.
• Comfortable walking shoes — you’ll walk far more than you expect.
• An umbrella or light rain jacket; summer brings sudden downpours in many regions.

Medications and health

• Personal-use medications in original packaging, with a prescription or doctor’s letter in English. Controlled substances are restricted — confirm with the embassy.
• A basic first-aid kit: plasters, pain relievers, antiseptic, and anything you use at home.
• Motion-sickness tablets if you’re prone — long coach and mountain-road journeys happen.
• Don’t rely on finding your exact brands locally; Chinese pharmacy ranges differ.
• Tap water is not generally drinkable — carry a reusable bottle and drink boiled or bottled water.

What to leave at home

• Meat and fresh fruit — customs restricts them on entry.
• Anything illegal in China, including drugs and some vapes/products; penalties are severe.
• Drone batteries over a threshold and drones themselves, unless you’ve checked China’s drone rules — registration is required.
• Large amounts of cash — declare anything over about USD 5,000 equivalent.

The digital checklist (do this before you fly)

1. Install Alipay, WeChat, Didi, a maps app, and a translator.
2. Bind a foreign card to Alipay and WeChat Pay and verify your passport.
3. Register Didi and add payment.
4. Download offline translation and offline maps.
5. Set up your eSIM and, if you need Western services, a VPN (see our VPN guide).
6. Download any train tickets into a wallet or app — our train guide shows how.

If you’ve got the passport, the power, and the apps, everything else is negotiable. Visit Beijing or Shanghai with a day bag and you’ll be set.

Last updated: August 2026. Customs and airline rules change — confirm power-bank limits with your airline and customs rules with your embassy before you go.