Taoist Sanctuary

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Suggestions on packing

Having been to China multiple times now, I've compiled this list of packing tips. Use as you please.

Comforts:
eye patch, ear plugs, neck pillow for plane
slippers for inside the rooms (dorms have concrete floors)
travel pillow, pillowcase, sleeping bag liner (these come in silk or cotton)
Thermarest pad (really worth the trouble, beds are quite hard, usually box springs with no mattress)
instant coffee or tea - there is always hot water available (Starbucks now makes excellent instant coffee)

Electronics:
power adapters (bring set, plugs in village are different than ones in large cities)
music player with headphones (ipod etc)
camera
video camera (Flips are great, small HD recorders)
computer, netbook, Touch etc (there is intermittent wifi in the village at CB's school and at some hotels, I never had any luck with it but some people did)
cell phone (service is very good, be sure to add on the intl package to save $ on calls and/or data)

Cleanliness and hygiene:
chopsticks and bowl - can buy in the village or bring your own
woolite
Stain sticks
line for hang drying your clothes (you can have your clothes laundered at the hotels, expensive but sometimes worth it after being in the village)
towel for showering (none provided in the village)
all your own soaps etc (none provided in the village)
handiwipes
Purell (bring lots of this, I used it constantly)
toilet paper (1-2 rolls, you can buy it in the village)
travel kleenex ( for toilet paper, usually none in toilets anywhere)

Special clothing items:
long underwear (Smartwool from REI is great, can wear days without washing, antibacterial, doesn't smell)
workout shoes - floors in village are concrete inside and outside, so thin-soled shoes may be uncomfortable
workout clothes - all this is available for sale in the village
cold weather items - heaters don't always work if there are any available
good walking shoes for touring (and ziplock bags for packing dirty shoes)
moleskin for blisters
raincoat
hat, scarf, gloves (fingerless gloves are nice)

Meds:
vitamins, herbs (lots of herb stores available in the cities and village)
pain meds for post workout muscle soreness (Advil, Tylenol)
Imodium for diarrhea
prescription Cipro for GI problems
Airborne (for on the plane, around sick people)
allergy meds
saline solution for the nose - helps with the airplane dryness
Neosporin, bandaids
Sunscreen

Food:
protein sources - bars, tuna, etc. Not much meat in the village. I took a whole case of protein bars and ate them all.
instant coffee (mentioned above)
camping meals - these can be very high in sodium, but some have less than others, and these are great when you are tired of the village food, especially breakfast
CHOCOLATE
spices/condiments (we take hot sauce in non-leak plastic bottles), salt/pepper not usually available

Random:
copy of the main page of your passport - keep secure in case your passport is lost
under-the-clothes security pouch for money, ticket, passport (village is safe but not necessarily large cities)
notebook, pen
travel alarm
Chinese phrase book/dictionary
sewing kit, small scissors, tweezers, fingernail clippers, file, etc


There is plenty of bottled water and other drinks, no need to bring your own, no need for water purification pills.

It is strongly suggested that you pack everything into one wheeled bag to check, and one carry on bag. You will be managing your own luggage most times, so make sure you can handle it.

You can buy another bag in Xian quite inexpensively in case you run out of room for souvenirs.

Bring cash or an ATM card from a large bank (exchange rate is good with ATMs). Some places don't take credit cards. If you bring a credit card, be sure to call your bank and let them know you will be traveling.

No place in the village takes credit cards, no ATM machines to be found - cash only.

Suggested shots

Tdap (tetanus diptheria pertussis) vaccination
Hepatitis A, B vaccinations (2-3 shot series, start early)
Malaria prevention (shots or pills)
pneumonia booster
typhoid vaccination
Flu shot (H1N1)

The above are only suggested - none are required. you must make your own decisions about what shots to get and what meds to take.

For more information on suggested immunizations: CDC website

For more info on packing for overseas trips: onebag