So you are going to pack your trip to China. If it is your first China tour, you should take some time preparing for your pack for your China trip since China is possibly a world of difference from your resident country.
My short post here is not going to repeat a boring and stereotyped list of things you should bring on your China trip. Rather it is focused on the unique things typical of Chinese customs and culture. Hope it will give you some help having a smooth trip to China.
Tip 1: Take a Chinese Phrasebook
There is such a wide varity of Mandarin phrasebooks on the market. You may choose a useful Chinese phrasebook for Chinese travelers. If you meet any difficulty on your trip without any English speaking people around, you can turn to your Chinese phrasebook for help.
Tip 2: Bring some cash on hand
Cash is widely used in China though credit cards have become more and more popular. Some restaurants and stores don’t accept credit cards. If you travel to some remote area, you will find paying cash is the only way of local payment.
Tip 3: Take Hand Sanitizer & Wet Wiper
It is very useful to have hand sanitizers and wet wipers on hand to clean your hands after dining, going to toilet or traveling in some crowded public places. It is advisable to carry alcohol pads to clean the ones in the restaurants.
Tip 4: Prepare for a Electrical Converter and Adapter Plugs
China uses generally 220V, 50HZ, AC (Hong Kong is 200V; Taiwan is 110V). A standard socket in China has two pins on the upper part and earthed three pins on the lower part. You may buy a portable plug adaptor at your home country or here in China. Some of your hotels in China offer free use of plug adaptors.
Tip 5: Do not Drink the Tap Water in China
Some hotels provide bottled water for free, use that even for brushing your teeth. Buy bottled water, or boil your own using the electric water heater found in every hotel room.
Tip 6: Bring Toilet Paper
Always bring tolet paper with you since most of the restrooms in China don’t offer toilet paper except hotels.
Tip 7: Prepare for A photocopy of China Tourist Visa
Always prepare for a photocopy of your China tourist visa in case you lose your passport.
Tip 8: Always Carry one of the Hotel’s Business Cards
Most hotels in China provide business cards (contact cards on the front desk). Please always take it for an easy return to the hotel.
Tip 9: Don’t Forget to Ask for a Local Tourist Map from your Hotel
Most hotels in China provide free tourist maps. These maps are basically more informative than the maps in your China guidebook. But usually your hotel doesn’t put them on the hotel front, you have to ask for it!
Tip 10: Carry your Notebook
Always carry your notebook which records your contact number for your country’s embassy in China, your hotel number or your travel agency’s emergency number. You may put all the contact information your mobile or laptop.
