We recommend that you check the weather forecast prior to your departure so that you can pack accordingly. You can also refer to our climate page for more information.
The dress code throughout all Wendy Wu tours is casual. Loose fitting, lightweight cotton materials are the most comfortable for humid weather, while layers of warmer clothes are advised for cooler evenings, however, it is important that all passengers dress conservatively when visiting places of worship.
If you are travelling on our Winter Wonderland tour, please see below for additional information about suggested packing for Harbin.
Suggested Packing List
- Your travel documents and passport - including a photocopy of your passport in case it is lost or stolen while you are abroad. Keep one photocopy at home and take another photocopy on your trip with you
- Main luggage & luggage padlocks
- Day bag – A smaller bag/daypack to carry with you during the day. For example, drinking water, hat, sunscreen, toilet paper, insect repellent, camera and spare batteries, jacket.
- Money belt to carry passport, cash, credit cards, airline tickets, etc.
- Trousers and/or long skirts
- Shirts or long-sleeved tops of light cotton material
- Walking shoes and socks – it is important to have sturdy and comfortable shoes for sightseeing
- Sun protection – sunglasses, hat & sunscreen
- Personal medical kit including insect repellent - See Travel Health
- Antibacterial wipes and/or hand sanitiser to clean hands before eating
- Tracksuit/similar outfit of soft material is recommended for the overnight train journeys
- A water/windproof jacket
- Light jumpers or thermals are great for layering
- A ‘modesty shawl’ or sarong to wear in religious or conservative areas (for women)
- Chargers, cables and portable power bank.
- Universal adaptor/conversion plug - see Electricity
- Spare glasses – it is difficult to get any prescription lenses repaired or replaced locally
- Toilet paper or small packet of tissues – not all public toilets will provide this
- Snacks – teabags/coffee, milk powder or sachets, instant soups or noodles, or anything you can’t go without!
- Camera and memory card
If you are travelling to the Sichuan: Much of the southern regions have a sub-tropical climate, while the mountains of Sichuan (such as the Nine Villages Valley or Mt. Huang) experience cooler temperatures and higher rainfall.
If you are travelling to Tibet: the Tibetan plateau experiences a greater range of temperatures than the other regions of China. No matter what time of year, or how warm the average temperature is, sudden and unpredictable drops in temperature, snow or storms can hit on the mountain passes. The sun is also much stronger at high altitude so you will get sunburnt much more quickly.
If you are travelling on the Silk Road Explorer: you will be travelling over a vast distance, from temperate areas near the east coast to high mountains and desert; you need to consider your packing carefully.
Northwest China has a desert climate – with higher temperatures that drop at night-time. The hottest places are Turpan and Kashgar, which can reach 30˚C during the day. Xiahe is also located at an altitude of 3,100m high in the mountains ,and can be cold and damp at any time of year. At the warmest time of year (August) temperatures can reach 20˚C but can drop to 5˚C in the evening. You will need some warm and waterproof/windproof clothing for the two days in Xiahe.
Winter Tours
Northeast China (Harbin) - famous for its International Ice Festival, temperatures here during winter are well below zero. Daytime temperatures are usually -10 degrees and overnight can drop to -20 degrees. It is imperative that you pack warm clothes, such as woolen socks, thermal layers, and down jackets. Please also ensure that you have adequate walking shoes with grip on the soles, or snow boots, as paths often have patches of ice that may be slippery. We recommend taking a second pair of shoes in case one pair gets wet from the snow.
Please note that your electronic devices may not work well when you are outside during these temperatures and you may notice decreased battery life.
Luggage Allowance
All passengers are limited to two items of luggage each:
- One suitcase or check-in bag, with a maximum weight of 20kg. Your main luggage must have a lock on it, and you must be able to handle your own bags.
- One piece of hand luggage, with a maximum weight of 5kg.
It is advisable that your hand luggage consist of a ‘daypack’ – a small bag which you can access during the day and carry items like your camera, bottled water, toilet paper, hat, etc.