Packing list for China

I was the shopping guru when I was in Beijing. I had to help look for some of these items. Here are some things which were hard to find (on a budget) in China last fall:

1. Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer
2. Solid stick deodorant
3. Good shoes (Especially the larger sizes, women's size 8 is a little difficult to find)
4. Fabric stain remover (Spray Wash solid is a good one to bring)
5. Fabric deodorizer
6. 3X5 note cards (You could make your own)
7. Feminine hygiene stuff
8. Good thermal wear (Silk available in Beijing)
9. Dri-fit or Cool Max active wear (Sports bras included)
10. Hiking apparel & shoes
11. Your favorite candy (Bring it!)
12. Clothes for tall people :) (To give you an idea: I wear an PXS here in the USA, but had to get XL.)
13. Supplements and vitamins
14. Ear plugs

Things I didn't regret bringing so I had them immediately:
1. A good knife. I brought a Farberware parer and a peeler.
2. A set of silverware: knife, fork and spoon.
3. Multipurpose tool.

Things I regret not bringing:
1. A good can opener.
2. ... Still thinking ....

Things you should always have with you:
1. Kleenex or toilet paper
2. Hand sanitizer
3. Your own shopping bag
4. A camera
5. A sense of humor & adventure

Things you can get for cheap:
1. Socks (all materials and lengths)
2. Winter coats, scarves and gloves
3. Clothing & other accessories
4. Stationery
5. Umbrellas (get the UV-coated kind, makes a difference in the heat)
6. Clothing alteration (hem pants, repair seams etc.)
7. Gel insoles
8. Prescription glasses
9. Wet wipes
10. Blankets
11. China licensed DVDs and CDs (real and fakes)
12. Surface shipping China Post (All my stuff arrived, undamaged and it took 2 months China-USA. Bring your stuff unpacked and they will pack it for you. If you're planning to ship DVDs and CDs, make sure you save all the receipts and show it to the post office agent for customs clearance.)

Things you should get:
1. Local SIM card for your unlocked cell phone.
2. Travel guide: the local insider's guide written by Beijing expats is a good one. Lonely Planet's Beijing too.
3. Chinese-English/ English-Chinese dictionaries (electronic or otherwise)
4. Chinese-English books, poems

Things you may need to find out more before buying:
1. Musical instruments (apparently there's some paperwork involved)
2. Knives and other traditional weapons (there are restrictions depending on where you buy them)

Random advice:
1. Remember the bus numbers when you get on one. Get a bus/subway card and be adventurous. I familiarized myself to different areas by riding on the bus with no particular destination in mind. I got on a bus and rode for several stops. Then, I got off the bus and walked the bus route, exploring all the shops and places in between.
2. Dab clear nail polish on all the buttons of cheap clothes you buy. This will help them stay on for longer :).
3. There's no return or exchange policy in the bargain areas. May not be able to try on clothing. Bring a tape measure if you're a serious shopper. I brought my fav pair of jeans and used it to measure. This worked well.
4. Cheap scarves sewn together make a good sleep sack.

Will update this page when other things come to mind.