China Travel Clothing | What to Pack
Summer travel, winter travel, location, wardrobe
What to pack for China trips and a China travel clothing packing list are Snapshot Journeys most-often asked travel packing queries, and among the most difficult to readily answer. What to pack for China and China travel clothing can be as varied as the seasons and the country itself. (China travel information)
Beijing in winter can be quite cold, Shanghai a bit warmer than Beijing but cooler than Hong Kong, which can be pleasant or chilly depending on the weather pattern for the year, or the specific time of year. Hainan and Sanya are tropical. I've travelled to China in late summer, mid Autumn, late winter and spring -- in fact, every season but the rainy summer season and the dead of winter, though one late summer trip, a cold front moved through as we reached the Great Wall, and the muggy heat turned to chilly rain and wind.
So here's my tips for what to pack for China travel clothing listed by seasons and by area. And whether you are packing for a one week trip, a two week trip, or three weeks or longer, to China or any other destination, the basic travel packing list is the same.
My basic travel packing tips -- like What to pack for packing Light, and travel packing clothes -- still apply, but I'll outline what to pack for a China trip here.
What to Pack for a trip to China
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Travel Pants One to wear, two for spares (or one in the laundry), in neutral colors like khaki, black, or dark denim. For Winter travel pants (Beijing, Shanghai), I wore a black fleece pair that looked dressy enough for restaurants, yet were cozy and warm (and didn't show dirt - Bonus!). For Spring and Autumn trips (all areas), I wore black denim jeans (also dressy and forgiving of dirt, but could be dressed up for a night at the opera). Heavy denim is too warm to pack for summer travel in China, or the far south, tropical areas.
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Travel Skirts While pants are by far the more practical to wear, if you prefer a (non-mini) skirt, especially for summer travel, then substitute skirts (in either a print that goes with the tops or in a neutral color) for one or two pairs of pants.
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Capris / Shorts For summer travel to China, you could substitute one pair of capris, or add one pair of capris to your China travel clothing list, but since they are appropriate for casual wear only, it's more efficient to wear pants instead. (You may think that China tours on a bus are casual, but the stop for lunch could be at a very dressy restaurant, hence capris are too casual.) Leave shorts at home, unless you will be spending time at a resort (like Hainan), as shorts are simply not appropriate streetwear in China.
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Tops -- blouses, shirts, Tshirts, etc Since tops generally are smaller and less bulky than travel pants, you can easily pack 5-7 or so, depending on bulk. Be sure to lay out your pants, and then the tops you are considering so that you can see if each top goes with each pair of pants. If you have 3 bottoms (pants, skirts) and 7 tops, you have 21 possible combinations, so 21 outfits.
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Sleepwear / Jammies One pair Tshirt top (can do double duty as outerwear if needed) and pants, or one nightie are enough. Many hotels in China wil also provide dressing gowns. Even if you prefer no jammies at all, plan for unexpected nightime departures from your room, should a smoke alarm go off.
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Shoes Two Pairs -- One pair sneakers / walking shoes (lace up are more forgiving) to wear on plane (they are bulky to pack in suitcase) for wearing on tours or going out shopping, etc., and one pair of dressier shoes -- I like my black leather slides with a medium wedge heel for evening or hotel and beach. For Winter and Summer travel, waterproof your sneakers. Proper sneakers or walking shoes give better support and surer footing, especially on rough pavements. Slip-on's or slides are good for just running down to breakfast in the hotel, or up to the spa for a massage. Most hotels in China (see links on hotels, attractions page) will provide disposable slippers in your room, Bless them!
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Jacket Wear it for the flight (Jackets can take up too much room in your suitcase). Even for Summer China travel, a lightweight jacket is handy for air conditioned rooms, or sudden storms. For Winter travel, if you are coming from a cold climate, wear your preferred winter jacket / coat, or consider buying a jacket or coat from a charity shop to wear while you are in wintery parts of China, then leave it behind before you fly home. One hotel in Beijing was kind enough to hold our winter jackets for us while we left to tour the south (see China provinces travel story) so we didn't have to carry it with us. If you are travelling on business substitute / allow for business suits (pants and jackets) to be part of the overall travel wardrobe.
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Rain coat / jacket (one) plus a small fold up rain poncho (look for these at travel supplies stores, or at a Dollar Store or Euro Store), in case of sudden downpours, or out on the water in a boat or for a windbreaker over other clothing. Keep it in your day pack or purse, and even one in your camera bag, so you can get at it in a hurry.
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Swimsuits, Work out gear Take along at least one swimsuit or bathing suit, just in case you need it. Swimsuits take up little room in your suitase, and they are time consuming to buy when travelling. And often China clothing is sized for tinier Asian figures, so it can be hard to find a western size suit. Take along something to wear over the swimwear for the trip from your hotel room to the pool area. Most large hotels will have a work out room or gym, so if you are planning to use this facility, then roll up something suitable to wear in the gym. Most China tours are fast paced, so long leisurely hours at a pool are rare.
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Socks, undies etc see travel packing clothing page for details.
I hope this helps you decide what to pack for your trip to China. Remember, too, your hotel will have a laundry service so you can have your clothes washed and pressed while you are shopping or seeing the sights! And of course, should you find you need something like a light jacket or a sarong, you can buy one at the local market and take home as a souvenir.
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