China Travel Essentials: What to Bring & What to Prepare – China Flow Retreat
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Traveling to China for the China Flow Retreat? China is an incredible country, but it works very differently from what you might be used to. A little preparation goes a long way!
This guide covers everything you need to know and bring — from power adapters and VPNs to SIM cards and currency. Follow these tips and you’ll arrive fully prepared. 🇨🇳
🔌 Electricity & Power · 📱 VPN & Internet · 💴 Currency & Payments
📋 Visa · 👕 Clothing · 🧳 Packing List · 💊 Health · 🔥 Props
Plug Type: China uses Type A (two flat pins) and Type I (three angled pins) outlets. The voltage is 220V / 50Hz.
What to bring:
- 🔌 A universal travel adapter — If you’re coming from Europe (Type C/F), the US (Type A/B), or the UK (Type G), you’ll need an adapter. We recommend a universal one that works in multiple countries
- ⚡ Most modern phone/laptop chargers are dual-voltage (100–240V) — check the label on your charger. If it says 100–240V, you only need a plug adapter, not a voltage converter
Without your phone, you can’t pay for anything in China. Bring a power bank!
⚠️ China has strict rules for power banks:
- Your power bank must have the CCC mark (China Compulsory Certification / 中国强制性产品认证). Without this certification, your power bank could be confiscated at airport security!
- Power banks must be under 100Wh (watt-hours). Most standard power banks (10,000–20,000 mAh) are under this limit
- Power banks must be carried in your carry-on luggage — they are not allowed in checked baggage
- The capacity must be clearly marked on the power bank. If the label is worn off or unreadable, it may be confiscated
💡 Tip: Most well-known brands (Anker, Xiaomi, Baseus) sold internationally carry the CCC mark. Check the label before you travel. You can also buy a certified power bank at any electronics store in China upon arrival.
China blocks many Western websites and apps behind the “Great Firewall”. Without a VPN, you cannot access:
- ❌ Google (Search, Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Drive, Translate)
- ❌ WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal
- ❌ Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, TikTok (international version)
- ❌ Spotify, Netflix, most streaming services
- ❌ Many news websites
👉 Install a VPN before you leave home! VPN websites are also blocked in China, so you won’t be able to download one after you arrive.
Paid VPNs (most reliable):
- ⭐ ExpressVPN — consistently works in China, fast speeds
- ⭐ Astrill VPN — popular among expats in China
- ⭐ NordVPN — good budget option with obfuscated servers
💡 Setup tips:
- Download and install before departing
- Download the manual configuration files too (in case the app is blocked)
- Test the VPN at least once before your trip
- Download offline maps (Maps.me or Google Maps offline areas) as backup
You’ll need mobile data from the moment you land — for payments, navigation, translation, and ride-hailing. Here are your options:
Option 1 — Buy a Chinese SIM at the airport (Recommended)
- Available at China Mobile, China Unicom, or China Telecom counters in arrivals
- Cost: ¥100–200 (~€13–25) for 10–30 days with plenty of data
- Requires your passport for registration
- Staff speak basic English and will set it up for you
Option 2 — International eSIM (Convenient)
- Buy an eSIM online before departure (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad)
- Activate it when you land — no physical SIM swap needed
- ⚠️ Note: Some eSIMs route through Hong Kong and may not work with Chinese apps like DiDi or 12306. A local Chinese SIM is more reliable
Option 3 — Roaming from your home carrier
- Check with your carrier for China roaming packages
- Often expensive, but convenient if you’re only staying a short time
💡 Tip: WhatsApp and Google will only work through your VPN, regardless of which SIM you use.
Currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (¥ / CNY / RMB)
Exchange rate: ~¥7.5–8 = €1 (check current rates before you go)
💳 Mobile payments rule in China!
Cash is rarely used. Almost everything — from street food to taxis to shops — is paid via WeChat Pay or Alipay. See our WeChat & Alipay installation guide to set up both apps before you arrive.
Should you bring cash?
- 💰 Bring €100–200 worth of RMB as backup
- You can exchange money at the airport or withdraw from ATMs (Bank of China ATMs usually work with Visa/Mastercard)
- Some rural markets and very small shops may still only accept cash
- Your international bank card may work at some larger shops and hotels, but don’t rely on it
⚠️ Important: Notify your bank before traveling that you’ll be making payments in China!
China recently expanded visa-free entry for many European countries. Check if your passport qualifies — you may not need a visa at all!
The retreat takes place in the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province. Weather in September is typically warm and sunny with occasional rain.
🌡️ Expected weather (September):
- Daytime: 25–32°C (warm)
- Evening: 18–22°C (pleasantly cool)
- Rain showers are possible — bring a light rain jacket
What to wear:
- 🔥 Fire-spinning: All-natural fiber clothing only (cotton, hemp, linen) — synthetic fabrics melt and are extremely dangerous near fire
- 👟 Comfortable footwear — you’ll be moving and walking a lot. Bring good walking shoes/sneakers and sandals
- 🩴 Flip-flops for the accommodation
- 🧥 Light jacket or hoodie for cooler evenings
- 🏊 Swimwear — there may be opportunities to swim in natural pools and rivers
- 👒 Sun hat and sunglasses, an sunscreen
📱 Electronics & Tech:
- ✅ Universal travel adapter (Type A/I for China)
- ✅ Power bank (CCC-certified, under 100Wh, in carry-on!)
- ✅ Phone with WeChat & Alipay installed
- ✅ VPN app installed and tested
- ✅ Offline maps downloaded
- ✅ Headphones / earbuds
📋 Documents:
- ✅ Passport (6+ months validity)
- ✅ Visa (if required — check this article)
- ✅ Travel insurance documents
- ✅ Flight confirmations (printed & digital)
- ✅ Retreat booking confirmation
- ✅ Address in Chinese: 福雀来 FUTURES, 武夷山市, 福建省 (screenshot this!)
💊 Health & Comfort:
- ✅ Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
- ✅ Mosquito repellent / spray
- ✅ Personal medication (bring enough for the entire trip + extras)
- ✅ Magnesium or electrolytes to stay hydrated
- ✅ Earplugs & sleep mask
- ✅ Reusable water bottle
🔥 Flow Props:
- ✅ Bring all props for the workshops you want to attend. Or rent them from us, fill it on the form!
- ✅ Poi — non-stretchy practice poi with knobs recommended. Also consider lightweight (soft) poi like sock poi to reduce arm strain
- ✅ Any other flow props you practice or jam with
- Here is an article on how to fly with Fire and LED props
🚰 Water:
- Do NOT drink tap water in China — always drink bottled or boiled water
- Bottled water is cheap and available everywhere (¥10–30 / bottle)
- Hot water (热水, rè shuǐ) is available everywhere — Chinese people drink it daily
- Tea and Coffee are included during the retreat! Also, all rooms have a water boiler.
🏥 Medical:
- Bring enough personal medication for the entire trip (plus extras in case of delays)
- Keep medication in its original packaging with your prescription
- Travel insurance is recommended — make sure it covers China and includes medical evacuation
🦟 Mosquitoes:
- The Wuyi Mountains area can have mosquitoes, especially in the evening
- Bring mosquito repellent
- Long sleeves and pants in the evening help
Download all of these before you leave home — the Google Play Store and some app websites are blocked in China!
- 📱 WeChat — messaging, payments, everything (setup guide)
- 💰 Alipay — mobile payments (setup guide)
- 🚕 DiDi — ride-hailing / taxis (taxi guide)
- 🚄 Trip.com — train ticket booking (booking guide)
- 🗺️ Maps.me or Baidu Maps — offline navigation (Google Maps is blocked)
- 🌐 VPN app — ExpressVPN, Astrill, or NordVPN
- 🈲 Pleco — best Chinese-English dictionary with camera translation > But you can also use Google Chrome’s camera translate feauture
- 📷 Google Translate — download the Chinese offline pack before you go (works offline for camera translation)
With this checklist complete, you’re fully prepared for an unforgettable experience at the China Flow Retreat. The Wuyi Mountains are magical — and a little preparation ensures you can focus entirely on flow, connection, and adventure. 🌿🔥
📚 Complete China Flow Retreat Guide Series:
- How to Get to the Retreat — overview of all routes
- Wuyishan Airport → Retreat — the easiest route
- Fuzhou Airport → Retreat
- Shanghai → Retreat
- Install WeChat & Alipay
- Taxi & Train Tickets Guide
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! We can’t wait to welcome you. 🙏