Whether or not you’ve done a lot of traveling, if it’s your first time 
visiting China, there are a few additions and subtractions you will have to make 
to your “list of essentials” when packing for your trip. Unless you will be 
spending all your time in Beijing, Shanghai, or any other westernized Chinese 
city, you will have to channel your inner boy scout and come prepared. 
 Clothing Essentials 
If your clothes and shoes come in large or extra-large American or European 
sizes, or maybe even bigger, you should definitely bring as much of these as you 
can; these would include underwear and socks, of course. 
If you can afford high-end products, then you would have no problem locating 
stores that sell these. Given that China has a relatively small middle-class 
population, however, merchandise that caters to this demographic is also small. 
Most likely, you would belong in this class, as most laowais in China do; so 
unless you want to wear poor quality garments and footwear that fall apart as 
soon as you hand over your payment, don’t pack lightly. Bring with you all the 
comfortable and decent-quality clothes that you can fit in your luggage. 
Find out what the local climate is where you’re going; you may need to 
purchase seasonal clothing before you leave. 
Personal Hygiene Products and Medicines.
The brands you usually use may not be readily available in China; you can 
order online through Amazon.com or Ebay.com, but China’s postal system is not 
very reliable and you may end up experimenting with Chinese brands with funny or 
disturbing labels in English. You can also check Amazon.cn to see if they carry 
your brands, but you will have to pay using Chinese currency. Harder to find 
items include some brands of antiperspirant, cologne/perfume (especially if you 
have a favorite label/scent), mouthwash (often only available in big 
supermarkets), and dental floss.
Since medicines don’t take up too much space anyway, you might as well bring 
with you some generic brands for common ailments; but, generally, OTC 
pharmaceuticals are not hard to get in China. 
Cooking Supplies
If you like to cook, and especially if you are staying for an extended period 
in China and want to be able to prepare your favorite dishes, you may also want 
to bring some essential herbs and spices, such as oregano, thyme, and basil. It 
may take some time, but with some luck and a lot of footwork, you may eventually 
find a supplier who’s local. It might be a good idea, too, to bring seeds/roots 
of herbs and spices that you can grow yourself. 
Reading Materials
Books are bulky, yes, but stores that carry even the most widely printed 
English titles, as well as bestsellers, are far and few in between, unless 
you’re traveling to any of the big cities; those that carry genres and authors 
that are only popular in the west are even rarer. Again, ordering online is not 
highly recommended; but you can check Amazon.cn ahead of time to see if they 
have the titles you want. 
Photographs
You should bring prints or photos in digital format saved in a flash drive, 
your laptop, or your phone, especially if you’ve going to China to visit your 
girlfriend/future wife and her family, and even more so if you would be living 
for a few years in China. Your special Chinese lady and her family will 
definitely appreciate your sharing of these cherished pictures with them. If you 
know other laowais that live in the area that you’re traveling to, ask them 
about the availability of these essential items, and the brands you use in 
particular. If you’re a member of a reputable Chinese dating site, build 
connections with other foreigners who are already in China who can give you tips 
and, perhaps, even play host and/or guide; or search the internet for online 
laowai communities. 
Discover tons of great information about Chinese dating, Chinese women, and 
China travel at my blogs, www.naivechinesewomen.blogspot.ca 



 



























