The Asian Economist

So you’re heading to China soon right? Got your passport and other necessities all packed and ready. Are you sure about that? You’re just in luck because after spending 5 months there, I want to share with you some of my findings. Before closing up that suitcase, make sure you have these 10 essential things. These are my Top 10 Things you must bring with you to China to survive. Have fun and be safe.

By the way, if you are into sex toys, you won’t have a problem because there is a sex toys store in Shanghai! I even took a picture to prove it.

10.
Clothings - This goes out to the big people out there, whether you are made up of fat or muscle, if you wear anything bigger then an XL in the US, then you are out of luck. An XXL in China is a L in the states. So good luck finding XXXXL in China.

9.
Razor (for the ladies) - Unless you want to use men’s razor when you are in China, better bring your own. I heard this one from a friend, not through my own experience of course.

8.
Proxy - When using the internet, a lot of websites are blocked by the government. To bypass this is pretty easy, just use a proxy. This website was block by the Chinese government when I was in China. I don’t know why since I only write about good things about China.

7.
Traffic Laws - Because in China, the only traffic law they follow is “Red = stop, Green = GO”, and everything else is up in the air. Cars passing can happen, to your right, your left, or even above you. Road rage in the US will seem like small talks in China. And for the millions of bikers, they don’t even follow the “Red & Green” rule. Surprisingly though, I did not notice many traffic accidents, if at all.

6.
Egg rolls - BYOER!, Bring Your Own Egg Rolls. I love eggrolls, the kind you get at “China King Chinese Food” take-out, here in the US. Maybe it was just my bad luck but being in China for 5 months, I couldn’t find a store that sells egg rolls. How odd is that?

5.
Toilet Seat - Most bathroom in China are “squattees”, so be prepare! I say carry one of these with you everywhere. China , as one of the fastest developing countries in the world somehow forgot to develop some toilet seats.

4.
Tampons (for the ladies)- For the ladies, word on the street is that Chinese stores do not sell tampons, they only sell pads. So if you are not a pad girl, bring your own tampons.

3.
Crossing Guard - Good luck crossing a street in downtown Shanghai, Beijing or any other major metropolitan area in China unless you are at an intersection with crossing guards. So what my advice is to grab that crossing guard that is always at the corner near that elementary school in your neighborhood and bring him along with you to China. To cross the street without crossing guards, you need guts, courage and god on your side. (Tip: Cross with a group of people, don’t be a crossing loner, or bad things will happen).

2.
Toilet Paper - Not when you’re going to China, but when you are traveling around China. They don’t believe in free toilet paper in the bathroom. Grab some travel pack toilet paper when you head out for any kind of adventure in China or you’ll get an adventure that’s pretty crappy.

1.
Magnum Condom - And now the number 1 things to bring to China. Your own condom, yes that’s right. A country with over a billion people sells only “one size fits all one billion people” condom. It will not fit foreigners. I highly suggest you bring your own from whatever country you are coming from, well unless your…never mind.

I hope this list is helpful (I know some of the items are impossible to bring), but at least now you are prepare for the craziness, or lack there of, of China!