Essentials to live in China

Well, I totally overpacked when I first came to China 4 years ago. My advice: the less the better. China, at least in the major and mid level cities, is a modern and increasingly Westernized country.

You can certainly find all the clothing, household and basically any other item you need to replicate your Western lifestyle. In fact if you live in a mid level city you at some point dont really even think of it as China anymore-it just seems like a city. You have GAP, UNIQLO, Starbucks, Burger King and of course McDonalds.

I live in Jinan about 5 minutes from the city center and liken it to living in Chicago or New York. Everything I need is,readily available. So, in short, dont bring a lot, just some basics to get you through the first week.

I don't agree with the previous comment.

First, it depends entirely on your size if you can find clothes or not. The largest jeans size they stock in Carrefour here in Shanghai, in an expat area, is 29. A regular European woman wears a size 30 or 31, not 28 or 29. Also, shoes only go up to European size 39, although here in the fake market you can buy bigger sizes. If you are a woman and any taller than 1.70 meters, you may have a problem buying trousers and tops - the legs or sleeves are very likely to be too short. The same goes for men over 1.80 meters. Of course in almost any city in China there are plenty of tailors but try and find one that is consistently good? I haven't managed yet!

Next, hair and face products. Shampoos here are made for Chinese hair and make Western hair very dry and generally not feeling very nice. Of course the major hairdressers sell imported shampoos but they are very expensive and honestly, I am not sure they are the real deal. Most of the face products you can buy here in Shanghai are made to lighten the skin since white skin is coveted here.

Furthermore I bring spices and black tea from my home country because the type of spices I use normally are hard to find here. Black tea is available but only imported bags or loose tea from Yunnan, which tastes quite different from my preferred Indian tea.

Bear in mind that yes, you can find many things in the imported section in the big supermarkets or in specialised import stuff supermarket, but you pay for it!

We've been here over 5 years and although there is a lot on the market that can replace the things you are used to, if you're picky about certain things it's better to bring them.
On the other hand, pearls are abundant and so is other cheap but very nice jewellery. If you live in Shanghai, you will be able to find you size shoes at Marks and Spencer, same goes for bigger size clothing.

I am living in China since more than 15 years.

Every thing can be found  there.. on one hand in the chinese stores on the other in the numerous western stores ...in Beijing.

Have a nice day!

I wrote a blog post about this. I don't live in a major city, I live in a third-tier city so some things are just not available. Not that you can pack sour cream from home. But as a Canadian, I'm glad I remembered to pack a poppy to wear on November 11th.

lonamanning.ca/blog/coming-to-china-what-to-pack

I have been in China for 3years.
There are definitely alot of things you cant find in China and if you can then its only in certain cities.

In general I find that most western people have problems finding thing like ,

correct shoe and clothing size,
certain herbs and spices,
for woman with slightly lager breasts~bra's,
beauty products for woman that does not have some sort of whitener in,
anything organic.
Highlight kits or light coloured hairdey.

A message for anyone coming to China. You can find most items if you live in a First of Second tier city in China. If you are not too picky about brands, it is much easier to secure some basic items here rather than lugging them in your baggage. Stores such as Metro, Ikea, B&O,Sam's, and Walmart are easily located and many are on public transit. If you wear extra small or large size clothing, it may be wise to purchase them overseas. Sporting goods and Winter clothes can be purchase at Walmart or Decathlon Sporting Goods. Electrical appliance at Sundan Electronics (220V 50 Hz power in China).

My experience I not so optimistic as some up. Good situation is in larger cities, but in smaller one is problem to buy for instance bread which is not sweet and many other basic items. All organics is not really organic, if you visit village and see what organic means. And not buy fresh water fishes, or look first from which "fresh" water are!

I have lived off and on in China for several years now.  I live in what you may classify as a three term city and have difficulty getting cheese, non sweet bread, bacon, certain spices.  I love Mexican food but cant find any here and many times,, the supermarkets run out of a product you have been purchasing like canned beans then don't order them again.  Or, they continue to move shelved items to other parts of the store so you spend copious amounts of time trying to find them again.  However,  I am a steak lover, and to date, have NEVER found a good cut of beef.  The meat I purchase, has to be pounded into submission so it is editable.  If anyone knows how to teach me to order a GOOD cut of beef, send me a message Coach Mac

If you have a Metro supermarket (Maidelong in pinyin), they have fantastic beef cuts that are very tender. Not cheap but very good.

After over packing for our move to China, the only thing I would recommend taking in large supply is over the counter medications. I was able to get all my prescription medications, but found cold medicine and pain relievers rare and expensive in Shanghai.

For the fried chicken lovers, they also have KFC operated by Yum Foods! Real Kung Fu is a good Chinese Fast food place.

Dear Lonalee,
       Sour cream is hard to get! Although Chinese companies make yogurt and sour milk, you have to get this item in a "foreign goods" store and it is usually expensive.

Having lived in China for 8 years in both a large and small town it will depend.  As mentioned prior if you live in a large town (1st and 2nd tier city as they are called) then getting most items (western brands) isn't an issue, however in smaller cities it can be a project. 

You will learn over time to do without or substitute.  You can learn to navigate Baidu and order many products on-line to be delivered to you, even Hormel meats and many types of cheese.

Clothes can be dicey but with time you can find a good seamstress and have them made (I did that in the south) but having now lived in the north (where people tend to be larger) it's not an issue.  Shoes can be challenge especially for those of us with size 8 or larger (women).  However again Baidu to the rescue.

The one thing I will caution however is drugs (OTC or prescription) it's best to bring them from home until you are sure of the quality where you live.  You can obtain many drugs here but the quality may not be as good.  Some prescription drugs are NOT available in China so don't risk it and pack it.  Many antibiotics are available here without prescription however the quality is questionable.  If I want to buy a Z-pack for example, I spend more and buy the German brand.  In time however I have found some Chinese medicines to be very effective for colds and flu.

Before you come I highly suggest you get a pneumonia shot, flu shot and all the measles and chicken pox vaccinations (boosters), especially if you will be working with small children.  I can tell you from experience having measles as an adult wasn't fun.  Also if you will be in the south of China get a malaria shot too, and rabies can be an issue so be careful of dogs and cats as the Chinese will tell you that NONE of their animals have rabies which isn't true.

Not matter what you are told you will most likely over-pack your first time.  Be aware that it's fairly easy to have things shipped to you but it isn't quick.  If you are having packages sent from the US have the person pick the flat rate boxes.  It's the cheapest way and if you get what they call a game box (these are narrow but long) you can pack a ton in them.  A flat rate to China is $89 and it can take up to 3 weeks to arrive, sometimes a little longer.

If you are shipping things don't be too exact on the customs form.  Less information is better.  For example: if you are shipping vitamins, just say health supplements, don't put vitamin D.  BTW, you can get vitamins here but again the quality may not be great.

Take with you recipes that don't use butter or cheese, and for those who like NON sweet bread you can make your own easily with flour and one can of beer.  Most cities now have small ovens you can purchase or order from Baidu.

I have now gotten to the place where I only take a carry-on bag when I travel back to the US and return to China.  If there are things I really need I ship them.  If I can buy it in China then I really don't need to bring it from home.  (I used to pack tuna in the foil packs, now I just buy the canned tuna here.)  Face it you will have to do without some items but after a while you may even get to the place where when you're home you'll miss some of what you can get in China!

Finally for the man who wants to find a good steak...well the best I can offer is find a good butcher and form a relationship, then you can get a nice cut from him.  My butcher loves to sell me the filet mignon, which isn't a cut most Chinese prefer.  I can then find western style bacon where I live and make myself a rare treat now and then.  What I can't find or explain is how to get a good tri-tip roast, but then I'm from California and spoiled.

I realize this has been a long post but I hope the info is useful.  If you're in doubt feel free to email me and I will see if I can get your an answer.

Beer Bread Recipe:  1 can cheap beer, 3 cups flour, 2 tblsp sugar.  Combine all ingredients into a soft dough, let stand 15 minutes.  Place soft dough in bread pan or other baking container (pie tin) bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees (F) until a toothpick comes out dry (so it may take a few minutes longer).  You can add to this mixture stuff like roasted garlic, or grated cheese or herbs for a different flavor.  It will kept for about 5 days but longer if you keep it in the fridge.  It freezes well too.

Aria: I was going to ask youfor y9ur bread recipe but you provided it, thank you.  I have one question, how do you say flour I cant tell the difference between flour and baking powder....how does the bread taste??? and can I make hamburger buns Laurence..ps thank you for the steak informaiton

Axemenbasketball:

Flour is made usually from wheat and it isn't baking powder, that is something very different.  Baking powder is used to help bread or any dough to rise.  It puts "air" into the mix more or less.  Flour is made usually from a grain that has been made into a fine powder.  I am not sure of your native tongue but if you translate flour into it you'll immediately know what I'm saying. 

You could I suppose make this soft dough into buns but not easily because it's a soft dough and won't hold the shape unless you cooked it in small pans.  what I've done in the past is baked the bread and then used slices for hamburgers.  The beer gives it a "sour" flavor but not too sour.  Okay hope that helps.

We get our sour cream from Shanghai shipped to Beilun (Ningbo district), but no perogies like back home, just jiaotse

Totally agree with this rebutal :-). On all accounts....from clothes/shoes to onion flakes and crushed red pepper.  The import stores that do you offer western items are typically 3 to 4 times more than you would pay in the US    And Black peppercorn is rare...they use white pepper almost exclusively in Chinese cuisine.  And if you are a wine lover......bring the max allowable in you checked luggage.  There are more FAKES then ligit wines sold here

Re wines, if you live in Shanghai or Beijing, Marks & Spencer has a great selection and in Shanghai there's plenty of options for ordering your wine online and having it delivered. The quality is ok and of course quite expensive but Chinese wine is absolutely yuk