Comments on: Packing for your Trip to China

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:14:31 +0000

I don’t know how to put this nicely. They STINK big time. Period. And I am referring to body odor specifically.

However, I managed to find Nivea deodorants in Watsons in Daliang, a small town near Guangzhou. To my misfortune, I am allergic to Nivea products.

What is really IMPOSSIBLE even to explain, much less find, is foot powder. I brought one from my country, I am almost running out of it, and I don’t know where to find it. I even had to show it to one of my colleagues to make myself clear and he said “What’s that?” They really have no idea whatsoever about hygiene products.

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:27:36 +0000

@Tim,

Thanks for the story! I assumed that Kunming would have deodorant since so many foreigners live there. However, I have not observed that Chinese people “stink like the rest of us.” Not from sweat at least. It was always my understanding that because of their diet, they wouldn’t have such a strong body odor. I would be interested to hear what others have to say about this…

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:31:11 +0000

If you want deodorant in China, you had better take it with you! My family and I have lived in China since May 2003, working for an English consultation company. Deodorant is nearly impossible to find in large or small cities! In 2005, we ran out of it on accident. I thought, “How hard could it be to find here?” WOW was that the understatement of the year!! After 10 days of searching with NO success at all we had to send out an SOS and have it sent from the USA. We live in Kunming which is a city of 4 million + people and I traveled to Beijing and guangzhou during this period which are even larger cities of 9 and 10 million people. NO DEODOARNT ANYWHERE! Not even in the Walmart stores! Avon is very popular in China with stores in most cities. Avon didn’t carry it and when I asked the clerk about it, she had no idea what I was talking about or what it was. And with all due respect, diet has nothing to do with personal hygiene. The Chinese people in general lack severely in the personal hygiene area. They stink just like the rest of us! And they choose not to use western hygiene products to correct this problem. We have seen it nationwide in China. Breath, teeth, body odor, etc; it is a personal hygiene dilemma!

By: Is There Deodorant in China?

Is There Deodorant in China? — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:26:05 +0000

[...] more helpful tips about what to bring and what NOT to bring to China, click here for our feature on packing for [...]

By: 尼克

尼克 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:47:51 +0000

Why not bring Chinese money in to China?

By: Robert Vance

Robert Vance — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 09:49:28 +0000

@Daniel,

You’re right! Spanish somehow ended up in there. That’s a mistake. I’m tempted to just leave it in there for a while though and see who else notices. And yes, clothing sizes can be difficult. Fortunately, I am a little shorter than the average American height so I can usually find what I need here.

@Turtlewind,

Interesting comment. I have heard about people having trouble finding shoes in China. So what can you do if don’t find your shoe size? Go barefoot? Ask for shoes from your home country? I guess that would be a difficult situation.

@Demerzel,

Gifts are a great idea! I have heard of ESL teachers bringing pennies from America to give to their students and little trinkets for their Chinese colleagues.I guess the only downside is the extra space that you have to create for that stuff in your luggage but it’s still a good idea!

By: Demerzel

Demerzel — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:57:54 +0000

You forget a very important aspect for the guanxi: gifts!!

Bring very country-specific (or city, region, etc) gifts for people you will meet and befriend. It’s a great way to quickly warm up with people.

By: Turtlewind

Turtlewind — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:17:25 +0000

Shoes! Western sizes just aren’t available in China, even in big cities. You can find a decent sized shirt or pair of jeans without too much trouble, but hunting for a pair of size 10 work shoes is just setting yourself up for failure.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:38:22 +0000

“15. Radio (it’s fun to listen to the local Spanish radio stations)”

Hello, Robert!

Is it possible to listen to Spanish radio stations in China? I live in Guangdong and all I get is Cantonese, not even Mandarin.

About clothing items, let me just tell you that clothes in China are designed to the Chinese male physique, that is, they don’t fit me. I brought a lot of clothes from my country. I have done some shopping here and yes, the prices are crazy low, but I have had problems with the sizes here.

Comprehensive list, though.