This posts begins a series on packing for trips to/in China. I’ll start big (luggage) and go small (toiletries) over the next few weeks. (See all posts in the series.)
The waiting room at Beijing West station. Imagine all of these people running for the train at once. Now imagine dragging a wheely suitcase through that crowd.
No matter how long you will be traveling for, your first packing decision will probably be what bag (or bags) to pack. Size will depend on how long you are traveling, but you will also want to think about whether to bring a traditional wheely suitcase or a backpack. The key question here is how you will be traveling. If you are going to take airplanes and taxis between destinations, you’ll be fine with a wheely suitcase. But if you’re planning to schlep your luggage around train stations and on city buses, you’ll be better off with a backpack.
China is not a wheely suitcase’s best friend. Chinese train stations are crowded. As soon as it’s time to get on the train, everyone storms up to the gate and pushes their way onto the train.With a backpack, there’s no tripping over people’s feet and stumbling up the stairs — and you’re more likely to win the race for space on the luggage rack. Subway and train stations also can’t be relied on to have escalators and elevators. Etcetera, etcetera. Bottom line: bring a backpack if you can.
When it comes to choosing the right backpack, I’m not an expert. Look here, here and here for advice on what to look for in a pack. Or do what I did, and head to the closest outdoors store with a knowledgeable staff (try REI). I went in with only a general idea of what I wanted — a 30-40 liter bag that would be comfortable on my short frame. The guy at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports gave me a bunch of bags to try on and loaded them with weights so that I could get an idea of what the bag would feel like when I was actually traveling. I ended up with the 38-liter Osprey Kestrel bag that has been a loyal companion for the past year.
38 liters may seem a little small, and it probably is too small for camping or going round-the-world. But for trips from 2 weeks to a month long, I’ve found 38 liters to be the perfect size. If you’re willing to wear t-shirts twice and do a bit of bathroom-sink laundry, carrying a smaller pack forces you to keep your bag to a manageable weight. (Fortuitously, this is also likely to be within airline luggage limits.)
My only backpack-related regret is that the Kestrel is a top-loading bag without any front openings and with just one separate compartment on top. Keeping my clothes and toiletries organized within the bag can be a bit of a challenge, and I usually end up repacking the bag every three or four days on the road. If you can find a top-loading bag that fits, that might be a better way to go.
Next up: Packing clothes and shoes
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