Planning a trip with kids to China? Start here. This china family essentials guide is built from our own 10-day journey across Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai with two boys in tow – and it’s packed with everything we wish we’d known before takeoff.
Between the unpredictable weather, language barrier, and kid meltdowns at 105 degrees, the right gear made all the difference. Here’s everything we brought – or wish we had – to keep our trip running smoothly from start to finish.
🎒 1. Smart Packing Gear
A few smart items made unpacking in multiple cities fast and easy.
- Packing Cubes – Color-coded by family member, labeled by day. Total game changer.
- Cooling Towels – Kept us from melting during summer heatwaves in Xi’an and Beijing.
- Reusable Water Bottles with Filters – Tap water isn’t safe to drink, so we filled up with hotel-filtered water and stayed hydrated.
- Collapsible Daypack – Great for theme park days or holding souvenirs and snacks while walking.
💊 2. Health & Hygiene Must-Haves
Trust us — you’ll want these within reach.
- Travel First-Aid Kit – Compact but fully stocked with gauze, ointments, scissors, and more.
- Electrolyte Powder Packets – Great for recovery after long park days or heavy meals.
- Motion Sickness Bands – Both kids and adults used these on car rides and boat tours.
- Sea-Band Ginger Chews – A natural remedy that actually works (and the kids liked the taste).
- Sanitizing Wipes and Hand Sanitizer – Critical when restrooms don’t have soap or paper towels.
- Children’s Pain & Fever Medicine – Bring your own. Don’t rely on finding the right product in local pharmacies.
📲 3. Tech That Actually Helps
A few apps and gadgets made navigating China 10x easier.
- ExpressVPN – You’ll need this to access Google, Gmail, Instagram, or WhatsApp. Install before landing.
- Google Translate App – Download Mandarin for offline use. Saved us more than once at restaurants.
- Portable Charger – Full days of sightseeing = dead phone. This one charged two devices at once.
- Airalo eSIM – Affordable prepaid data without needing to swap physical SIM cards. Installed in minutes.
👦👦 4. Kid-Approved Travel Tools
Keep your sanity intact with these must-haves for young travelers.
- Kids Neck Pillows – Supportive and cute. Our boys used them for naps on buses, flights, and taxis.
- Snack Packs – A few familiar treats from home can help fend off homesickness (and hangry outbursts).
- Drawing Pads and Uno Cards – Kept our kids entertained at restaurants and airport lounges.
- Fire HD Kids Tablet – Preload with shows and games to avoid Wi-Fi drama on long rides.
- Travel Wallets for Kids – We gave each child a small souvenir budget. Great for teaching money management (and limiting junk).
🗂 5. Documents & Details
Don’t rely entirely on tech for these essentials.
- Passport Organizer – Carried 4 passports, travel docs, SIM cards, and cash.
- Print your itinerary & addresses in Mandarin – Very helpful when using taxis or checking into hotels.
- Travel Insurance – We were lucky we didn’t need it, but it gave us peace of mind. Pick one that covers family emergencies and delays.
🧳 Final Thoughts
Our china family essentials checklist helped make a complex trip feel manageable — even fun. Whether you’re heading to theme parks, temples, or Michelin-starred restaurants, being prepared means more time enjoying and less time problem-solving.