How to Pack for Travelling to Any Region in China – When You Pack Well, You Can Travel Well!

Most people don’t have the budget nor the time to go shopping for an entirely new wardrobe to wear at the destination that’s being visited. Therefore, a good start to getting ready for travelling abroad is to do your research so that you can pack appropriate items such as clothing, footwear, and other gear to ensure that you’re well prepared for all that the foreign country is likely to throw your way.

Peter K Burian, Canal tour boat of a traditional style, Grand Canal, Suzhou, China, CC BY 4.0

Step One – What Bags to Take with You

It’s always a smart idea to have an extra bag or two with you when you travel. This applies to bags that you can check-in as baggage if need be on your return flight back home, as well as to bags such as backpacks, sling bags, and foldable bags. Duffel bags or other bags that can carry a reasonable volume of items are great for stuffing less valuable things like dirty clothes at the end of your trip. This way, you can make room in your main baggage for items that you may have bought during your time in China. Backpacks and sling bags are useful for when you want to set off from your accommodation and go sightseeing or shopping. You can use them to carry your wallet and other essentials, and in the case of a backpack, maybe even use them to carry smaller trinkets and souvenirs that you purchase. In the case of foldable bags, these tend to be great to keep inside your sling bag or backpack just in case. If you happen to make any purchases that are a bit larger than what will fit in your backpack or sling bag, then you can take this out and use it as an additional bag. These foldable bags are usually very lightweight, take up almost no space, and some of them are made of waterproof materials to boot, which can be quite handy for when you’re caught in the rain and want to keep some of your purchases dry.

Step Two – Travel Documents and Extra Cash

Travel documents such as your passport and travel insurance are, without a doubt, things that you will be taking with you on your journey. Apart from these, it’s also good to always have some emergency cash, be it in a universally accepted currency such as USD or in the local currency of the country you are visiting, which in this case would be the Chinese Yuan. Preferably, keep an emergency stash of cash in both currencies. This is to be used in case your credit cards fail or there is some unplanned circumstance. But it is not advisable to carry it around with you when you go sightseeing, especially to places like street markets, and so on. If you’re staying at a reputed hotel Suzhou, China, has to offer, then check if there is a safe in your room or at the hotel that you can use. For example, Pan Pacific Suzhou lists on their website that they offer a personal digital safe as part of the room amenities. This is one facility whose availability you should inquire about before you book your accommodation. 

Step Three – Suitable Clothing and Footwear

If you’re going to China during the summer, make sure to take light, airy clothing made of breathable fabrics, to keep you cool. And make sure your clothing is short-sleeved. Pack things like shorts and skirts as well as sunhats, sunglasses, and sunblock. If you are going during the winter, it’s still good to make sure you have clothing that is good at soaking up sweat, since you’re likely to exert yourself while sightseeing. Make sure to wear such clothing as an inner layer. On top, you can wear winter gear such as fleece jackets and so on as well as earmuffs, scarves, and gloves. Certain parts of China can get really cold during winter. As for footwear, it’s always good to take at least a pair to suit every occasion so that you won't be caught unprepared. That means sporty trainer, flip flops, heeled shoes for ladies to wear during a night out as well as dressy flats that can work with many outfits and be suited to most occasions. Sandals for men and women are a good option during the summer months since they allow the feet to breathe and cool off while providing better support than flip flops. If you’re going in winter, make sure to pack footwear that is equipped to help you tread snow and get a better grip on icy paths.