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What to pack for China - Suggestions to help you appreciate the Forbidden City without aching muscles!
What to pack for China - Bags
What you pack your belongings into is very much a personal choice. Rucksacks come in all shapes and sizes, and some have bits you can zip off - useful if you need a day pack.
Some rucksacks have a zip that goes all the way around, which means you can get to the bottom of the bag without having to turf everything out. On the down side, you risk exposing your dirty washing to anyone around you: think before opening!
Bags on wheels are fine, but are less appealing if you're faced with a long flight of steps and no lift.
What to pack for China - Documents
Ever heard the phrase: ‘It's my passport to...?' Well, that's because your passport, and in China's case, your visa, really is your means of getting into a country and back out of it. Real Gap advisers can give you advice on how to get your Chinese visa.
It's always worth making a few copies of important documents, and then putting one copy in each bag and leaving another with someone at home. Taping one to the fridge is always a good idea.
Chinese summers can be wet, so it's wise to keep documents in something waterproof, like a plastic folder.
What to pack for China - Clothes
Opinions on western clothing are much more relaxed than they used to be, and in hot weather you should be ok to dress in vests, shorts etc. Winters, although short, can be cold and the temperature drops below freezing in the north; likewise, it can get cold at night.
In mosques, you'll probably be asked to cover your arms and legs - a sarong is a good way to get round this and doubles up as beachwear. If you do head for the coast, swimming shorts and bikinis are usually fine but topless sunbathing and skinny-dipping won't go down well.
What to pack for China - Shoes
A strong pair of something comfortable will stand you in good stead, whether you're wandering Beijing or trekking through rural areas. Walking sandals or boots (which look a lot more fashionable than they used to!) are sensible but be sure to do a few practice walks at home to check they're not going to cripple you on long walks.
What to pack for China - Towel
Many outdoor shops now sell quick-drying towels that take up hardly any space in your bag. However, they can feel a little thin and you might find a smallish bath towel is an indispensable luxury. Plastic bags are always handy for separating anything wet or dirty from the rest of your stuff.
What to pack for China - Camera
Take a camera and you'll have lifelong mementos of the Great Wall or your friends from the programme. A good camera will pay off - don't forget to keep it and your memory cards or film somewhere safe and waterproof. If you're planning to visit popular tourist areas, you might want to pack a clip known as a crab, used in rock climbing, and use it to attach your camera to a belt loop.
What to pack for China - Toiletries
You'll be able to buy most things in the cities but not in the more rural areas. If that's where you're going, pack the essentials into something waterproof in case of leaks. Shops in Britain have cottoned onto the idea of travel-size bottles, but these are unlikely to last you on a long trip, unless you're very economical (or just unwashed!).
What to pack for China - First aid kit
If you're planning to visit the more rural regions of China, a few first aid items are a good idea. Painkillers, bandages, scissors, tweezers, plasters, antiseptic wipes and diarrhoea treatments should cover most eventualities.
What to pack for China - Guide books
The relevant pages will act as a valuable guide to when things close, how they run and usually contain maps. Always buy, or borrow, the most recent edition you can and cross-reference anything vital - like the times of trains to the airport!
What to pack for China - Pen and something to write on
A pen and paper mean you don't have to memorise things like bus times or addresses. And, you never know when lyrical inspiration might strike!
What to pack for China - Entertainment
Hours on a bus or train can drag, and if you get bored of admiring the Chinese countryside, you might be grateful of a book or music. If it's battery operated, don't forget spares or your charger.
Adapter
You'll find a plug adapter useful.
Other bits and bobs to pack for China
- Your own picture phrase book - If you've signed up for the China Gap Year or the China Experience, you'll have the opportunity to learn basic language skills. If not, you might want to consider making up your own phrase book, with clear pictures of a bed, milk, a hospital and other essentials for tricky language situations. Particularly useful if you're travelling outside the big cities, and possibly even if you're not.
- Mementos of British life - British visitors are still a source of fascination for many Chinese people, and you may find strangers wanting to practise their English with you. If you really want to please, take a few souvenirs from home, such as postcards of your area, coins or even stamps.
- A padlock - Even if the hostel seems safe, it's always wise to secure your locker, especially if you're storing valuable items. Having your own padlock will mean you don't have to pay the rental fee, if there is one.
- Safety pins - God forbid your bag should rip or your bra strap snap, but if it does, a trusty safety pin will come into its own.
- A sheet - Occasionally, you might get the impression that a hostel's laundry wouldn't quite meet your mum's standards. In these cases, a sheet or sleeping sack (made out of the sheet) will make for a more pleasant night's sleep. And they'll save you money, if hostels charge guests to hire them.
- Flip-flops - A breath of fresh air for your feet if they've been in walking boots all day. Also good if you don't want your feet to touch the hostel bathroom's floor!
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