Packing

A fall semester in Beijing will bring varying weather from cool temperatures and blue skies from late September through October, to a long, cold winter that usually starts mid-November.  Temperatures vary from morning to evening during the months of October and November, so be mindful when dressing.   

There is quite a lot of air pollution.

Packing Essentials

• Durable luggage is a must
• Prescription medications to last you for your stay—be sure to pack them in your carry-on luggage.
• Over-the-counter medications and antibiotics including: cold remedies, pain reliever, antibiotics, anti-fungal, anti-histamines, stomach upset remedies, diarrhea medicine, ibuprofen, bandages, Neosporin, etc.
• Toiletries; bring your favorite shampoos, deodorants, face washes, toothpaste, etc.
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunglasses - the sun can be strong, even in fall months.
• Travel packets of tissue; you should carry a pack with you at all times! Public toilet facilities do not have toilet paper.
• A couple of pairs of comfortable and sturdy walking shoes. Note: if you have large feet, you may have a hard time buying shoes in Beijing.
• Layered clothing for fall and winter
• A warm winter coat 
• Hats, scarves, gloves
• A money belt or passport holder that can store your valuables when traveling
• 500 - 1000 RMB in cash transport and arrival at the airport
• Address and phone number for CUC International Student Office
• A small, strong, folding travel umbrella
• A  small backpack or daypack (for carrying your camera, literature, etc. when exploring the town)
• Original software disks for your computer
• A battery–operated alarm clock with extra batteries
• A power converter and adaptor plugs (China's system is 220 volts)
• A memory stick or flash drive for your computer
• An Ethernet cable

Other Recommendations

• Use a computer translation program to make flashcards (small enough to fit in a wallet) in both English and Mandarin. Find English/Mandarin translations for tourist sights, restaurant dishes, public transport, residence/hotel address you can show to a taxi driver, etc.
• A pocket-sized Chinese/Mandarin dictionary, although you may find better ones once you arrive in Beijing
• A calculator or calculator app may be useful for shopping
• A map of Beijing
• A digital camera with a large memory (500 GB+)

• Cloth surgical masks - If you have asthma-related breathing problems, note that air pollution in Beijing is consistently listed among the worst in the world by international organizations such as the United Nations. The American Embassy in Beijing has a twitter feed giving air quality levels.

• For women: sanitary pads and tampons

• Contact lens solution and cleaner