Studying Abroad in China - What To Pack?

<p>Anything suggestions would be helpful, i usually forget stuff when packing so this will be a great help!!</p>

<p>To what city exactly??China is so so so… big and the climate varies…</p>

<p>If you are not a small ,size 8 person ,under 5’5" you will need to bring more stuff . No bras there over a B cup ,shoes over a 10 men’s ,size 7 ladies .</p>

<p>I will be staying in Tianjin, which is a city in the North just an hour away from Beijing. </p>

<p>I am small 5’0" wear petite sized clothing</p>

<p>DD is just finishing a year in China. Has also been there two summers. By your name, I’m assuming you are female, so men hide your eyes…as many tampons as you need for your stay! Yes they have tampons, but the application method is different. You can find the traditional type sometimes, but they are very expensive. </p>

<p>Bring your fav deoderant and shampoo if you are married to it. Bring contact solution, you have to go to an optical store to by it in China. Bring a box of granola bars to help you adjust to the food. Closed toed shoes and tennis shoes. The streets are very dirty in most cities and you will probably be doing a lot of sightseeing/walking…at least I hope you do. Make sure you have all of your meds for the stay. And if your doctor will give you an antibiotic that will cover the typical stomach problems (you will know if you get one) that will save you tons of time and days not feeling well. Imodium/Correctol and tylenol. </p>

<p>Do be aware that if you have problems with allergies or asthma, the pollution can be very intense in China. Prepare accordingly.</p>

<p>The food is absolutely wonderful. Enjoy it and don’t be afraid to try new things. Though many say to stay away from the small places and street food, I found this food to be the best and had zero problems. People we met along the way that sought out “American Food” seemed to have the problems.</p>

<p>Remember to pack comfortable and sensible clothing. One or two cute outfits will be more than enough. The washing machines are tough on clothes and you will probably not see a dryer while you are there. So, if you take things that stretch out while you wear them, they will be that way the rest of your stay.</p>

<p>But, the most important thing you can pack is a good attitude and the understanding that things will not be like the US. I was lucky enough to backpack throughout China with my daughter during her break. One of the best times of my life. Enjoy your time in China, I can’t wait to go back!</p>

<p>ps…Kleenex. Not all bathrooms will have toilet paper.</p>

<p>You are probably getting tired of my rant, but I had one more item that is really necessary: a small inexpensive purse with a strap that is long enough to go across your shoulder. You want your purse to hang in front of you…not on your side. My daughter insisted that I do that. And leave your jewelry at home. We never had a problem, but perhaps that is because we didn’t advertise anything of interest. Make sure you make copies of your passport/visa and any other important paperwork…just in case.</p>

<p>I’m not trying to scare you, just relaying information from my daughter. It’s a great country…make everyday count…get out and meet people…they are facinating!</p>

<p>Great info everyone! Thanks a lot! </p>

<p>Another question I have is about packing clothes/shopping in China. I don’t want to bring too much clothing. Is it easy to find clothes/shopping places in china? The city I’ll be staying in is Tianjin. I’m a size petite in US; juniors small/medium so i don’t think sizes will be a big issue, just wondering if I will have places to go to shop for clothes.</p>

<p>Not sure about that city. But, if you are looking for brands that you are familiar with (H&M etc.), they will be more expensive than if you bought them here. T-shirts and the like from Chinese vendors can be bought very cheap (through negotiation). However, the quality is not there and the clothing does not hold up well in the washing machines…then again…nothing does. So, I recommend that you bring your favorites and plan on doing laundry once a week. People in China (in general) really don’t care what you are wearing…or if they saw you in the same outfit the day before. The “really short short style” can bring some raised eyebrows…so stay away from them if you can.</p>

<p>I always bring my own cosmetics/hair stuff because Chinese products are designed for dark hair and light skin!!! Here are some more good packing tips [What</a> You Almost Forgot to Pack for Your Semester Abroad | GoOverseas.com](<a href=“http://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroad/what-almost-forgot-pack-your-semester-abroad]What”>http://www.gooverseas.com/study-abroad/what-almost-forgot-pack-your-semester-abroad). for general travel :slight_smile: have fun!</p>