It's never to early to begin planning for your trip! Below is a long but extremely useful Trip Report by Teresa Hill, adoptive parent of a daughter from China, owner of the Yahoo Group ChinaTravel, founder of the CarryOnOnly Yahoo Group, and a frequent and savvy contributor to APC.

Teresa's Packing List
FCC Packing Lists & Tips
Sheri's Draft Packing List
Doug's Map of Shamian Island
Jack's Map of Shamian Island



.... for Traveling with Carry-On Baggage Only!!!

As for my packing, I had 3 mos. from referral to travel date to pack and unpack until DH said I was "neurotic." Hmmm. Anyway, hope this helps you! Yes, we went Carry-On Only. Yes, I would most certainly do that again and highly recommend it! It was very difficult to pack that way, but the freedom getting through the airports and all the way to Beijing without worrying about lost luggage, identifying luggage, claiming luggage at airports, etc., made it great for us! Once we left Beijing, we had to check a bag, as we bought a big suitcase in Beijing for "treasures." But our "critical" items could change around in bags, so all would not be lost should the checked bag get lost. Frankly, I thought: If it isn't critical, then why haul it all the way over to China in the first place? "Critical" to me meant "Carry-on."

We had 3 bags total for 2 people (2 rolling commuter style bags and 1 bag like a Samsonite big diaper bag type). We also had an Eagle Creek fanny pack each, and Security money holders each (mine was the belt-loop kind and DH wore the around-the-waist kind).

In Beijing, I walked down the street from our hotel and spent $36 U.S. on a HUGE suitcase in which 2 of our carry-on's literally fit. It locked (which I understand is important for in-China travel) has wheels, and seems well-made. I filled it with treasures from China and had to stop due to lack of room.

So many people couldn't buy great things because of lack of space. What, I wondered, could they have possibly brought that was so important as to sacrifice treasures for their daughter? I felt like we lacked nothing.

So, what did I pack? Well, I started with a brief list of "critical" items and tried to stick to that.

Clothes for us: 3 shirts, 3 shorts (try to vary colors so you don't feel you're wearing the same thing every day), socks (4), undies (4), sandals, travel shoes (wore), a sweater. Just buy some t-shirts there (Hard Rock, Great Wall) if need be. Toiletries in one bag each. We used Packmates to smoosh our clothes (1 for each person). Check on ChinaAdoptionSwapMeet for extras, or at QVC.com (type Packmates in the Search box).

Laundry: Look, you have to do laundry no matter how many clothes you take. You might as well have it done every 2 days, as every 5 days (doing nearly the same *total amount* of laundry). Just plan on $100 for hotel laundry costs. I know, just cough it up. Consider it an expense of doing the adoption.

I thought we would do our own laundry and took mostly "technical fabrics" for travel. However, after 2 days of laundry hanging everywhere in the Beijing hotel (the Beverly Hillbillies look), DH's cotton t-shirts, shorts, and coolmax socks could still be wrung out. And I won't tell you how those socks smelled! I live in Atlanta and have never felt humidity like that! Hotel laundry it is! I don't think there's much choice. Skip the laundry kit. Budget $100 for laundry.

Medicines: I was a walking pharmacy. 2 types of antibiotics per person and 3 extra to share. Everything was repackaged (this is key to save space) and yet all the prescription info from the pharmacy was organized and stapled according to whose it was, and stored in our paperwork folder. Multiple small Ziplocs of meds packed smaller than one large Ziploc.

Adoption / Travel Paperwork Tips: protect and keep documents organized in an accordion-style purple plastic envelope from Staples (very lovely).

  • Organize paperwork into heavy-duty plastic sleeves (also from Staples) which hold up to 80 sheets of paper each. Put stickies (facing up to you) on the first page in each sleeve to identify contents: I-864, etc. You can just pull out a sleeve as needed, without papers flying everywhere.
  • Take copies of passport and 2 extra passport pictures in case you lose your passport (you should do this every time you travel internationally).
  • Take an extra copy of the translated Orphanage Questions in case the ones you sent to the Orphanage in advance got lost.
  • Take your airplane ticket, passport & visa!
  • Just in case: leave extra copies of all documents (clearly labeled) with a reliable person who has access to a fax machine. Some agencies will provide this fail-safe back-up plan.

Tourist Guidebook: CUT OUT (yes, really!) the pages from the tourist guide for the areas you will be visiting, highlight particular items of interest, and staple or zip-lock together based on geographic area. Take the sections on Beijing, Guangzhou, etc. and leave the rest at home. By the time you go back to China, you will need an updated tour guidebook anyway.

Fanny pack:

  • Put your hand-sanitizer, Pepto tablets, nasal spray, contact drops, contact holder, no-jet-lag pills, granola bar, a pen, a small pad of paper, a black Sharpie pen, and ...
  • Teresa's Top Tip! Add to the fanny pack a little white film canister that includes not film, but rather your favorite drugs Advil (burgundy), Tylenol (white), Xanax (orange), Pepto caplets (pink), Sonata (green). Put a legend on a little tiny piece of paper folded up in there so you have dosages and colors of pills (as above) for your jet-lagged little brain. Include 3 earplugs, as you'll likely lose one. You can have more drugs in your carry-on, but when you need it, you've got it right there, every time on your travels.
  • Sleeping Meds: I have never used sleeping medications before, but I must recommend Xanax (or Ambien) to get you on track sleeping both upon getting there and returning home (We'd go to bed at 11pm and be wide awake at 3 am, unable to sleep any more, but exhausted during the day.)

"Critical Information" sheet:

Teresa's Top Tip: Before you leave, on ONE sheet of paper on your computer, type out all the critical numbers and information you need. Print it out front-to-back if you can, and carry it in your "fanny pack".

As a backup, print another copy for your documents file.

Also useful: put a third copy in a 6"x9" yellow envelope that says "CRITICAL" on it in black marker with stars on all ends and both sides so you can see it immediately. Keep this in your most easy to access carry-on bag. You want to be able to whip it out in a moment's notice! Just think of how organized you will be!

Include on your "Critical Information" sheet the following:

  • Airline contact information
  • Hotel confirmation numbers & contact info
  • Chinese translations to hotels for taxi drivers
  • Travel agent contact details
  • In-China Facilitator contact info
  • Pediatrician contact info
  • Adoption Agency contact info.-including emergency pager number
  • Calling card details - including country code for dialing out
  • Email addresses (or simply set up a Yahoo e-list before you leave so you have just one address to remember)
  • Itineraries
  • Guangzhou airport instructions
  • Any critical information that you would not want to be without!

A Neurotic's Tip:

Attach to your fanny pack with a metal ring (from Staples) , the following:

Create organized "Kits" for your needs:

  • Plane kit: paperback book that you can trade with travel mate when done, inflatable pillow, earplugs, personal sound system
  • Office kit: a few pens, a skinny highlighter pen, a black Sharpie pen, a skinny white-out pen all wrapped with a few rubber bands, a smooshed travel sized roll of duct tape (remove cardboard core and step on duct tape), a miniature stapler... easily fit it all in a sandwich Ziploc bag
  • Gifts: Collector Stamps, crisp clean money, small gift bags (red ones from Wal-mart), red tissue paper ought to do it! I personally question whether trinkets from our hometown are as valued as we would like to think.

Money (Cash, Traveler's Checks, Credit Card):

Take more cash than you think you'll need. You wouldn't believe all the Traveler's Checks trouble people had in Wuhan. Name not signed exactly the same (even with passport!), date purchased should be date cashed, etc. I think we took (but may not be remembering right) cash of $3k for orphanage, another $1k for fees and then $2k more, plus $1500 in Traveler's Checks. Prepaid for hotels, etc. Glad we had the cash. It really wasn't that much trouble to carry. Take $100's for the orphanage $3k (new is best, order from your bank at least a month in advance) and take multiple denominations for the rest, with lots of $1's for tips.

Chinese Money in Advance:

We called Thomas Cook International Exchange at the Atlanta airport months in advance and had a hold put on $100 in Chinese Yuan and $100 in Hong Kong money. That was all they had too, when dear friends who were flying through on their way to China tried to get some. We were very glad we had ordered it, as we didn't have to slow at all in the Guangzhou Airport (for neither luggage nor exchanging money for the Airport Tax to fly on to Beijing). Plus, for me, it is for peace of mind when traveling internationally. You don't have to change money before you go, but if you'd like to, plan ahead by several months.

Baby clothes:

3 outfits in 2 different sizes, a sweater, socks (3-4 pairs), bathing suit, silkie blankie, hat, sunscreen (didn't use), 2 onesies in 2 different sizes (4 total). We bought a few adorable outfits in China, including leather shoes for $4 per pair.

Toys:

  • We took: 5 of the smallest stacking cups, 7 fish links, an inflatable beach ball (a board book is another good toy)
  • In China, we went to a dept. store and bought about 5 toys, threw them in the HUGE suitcase and ultimately gave them to Sherry Chen of Sherry's Place to donate to kids she sponsors.

Baby Stuff:

  • Cheerios (should have taken a quart bagful of these. We could NOT find more anywhere)
  • 8 diapers (in spite of all that smooshing!) (Bought Pampers at Shanghai Friendship Store. Available also in Wuhan.)
  • 24 tubes or envelopes of formula (12 soy, 12 milk-based--did not use, but glad I took) You'll most likely want to keep baby on what she is used to until you get home, if she is not malnourished. Hard on their system to switch. Depends on age of child too.
  • 2 bottles (3 nipples)
  • Sippy cup (just 1: you'll keep up with it if you only have 1)
  • 2 baby spoons
  • Baby's bowl with lid (filled with Cheerios)
  • Thermos - filled with Cheerios (not sure I'd take again)
  • Snugglie and Sara's Ride (Packmated for organization)
  • One wipe-off bib
  • One cloth swim diaper (don't take disposables, as they add up to too much space)
  • One wipe-off changing pad (disposables add up to too much space)
  • Land's End diaper bag packed flat in the carry-on (squashed in a Packmate with clothes)

Shipping tube: (cut a long tube in half, cut a slit down the side of one tube and slide it over the other tube. Use duct tape to hold closed. Used for picture bought from Beijing Friendship Store.

Electricity Converter: Bring one. Also, remember that the plugs in China run only when the room key is in the slot by the door. If you need that key, try leaving a piece of cardboard in the slot to leave the plugs on for charging your video camera battery or computer.

Video Camera: Wrap your padded "wipe-off" changing pad around your video camera, slip into a nylon sack (we used the kids' little parachute bag) and slip it into your most accessible carry-on. We bought 2 long-life (6 hour) batteries for the trip and saved one for Gotcha Day. Charged fine with the converter kit.

Camera Film: Remove all film from canisters. Place in sandwich ziploc bag. This reduces space requirements by half. Place the ziploc in a lead-lined bag.

Video Film: They are magnetic and do not need lead-lined bag protection. Remove from cases and stack neatly in sandwich ziploc. This saves 1/3 on space. Attach stickers on the side so you can write on it when done. Save cases at home for your return.

Camera Tip: I bought a very small Olympus Stylus and got a very small neoprene case with a zipper at the Dollar Store. The case is meant for sunglasses. Cut off the camera string to just go around the wrist and melted the ends. Could fit in my fanny pack and clip on my belt. Very small. Tape name and address onto camera if lose. We took 2 disposable cameras just in case. Next time, I would make one of those a Disposable Polaroid for sharing and for granite etching and charcoal portrait pictures.

Teresa's Top Film Tip: (I think this was from Marie Bartlett-Sloan, "Madame 50 rolls per China trip!" : ) ):

When you remove the used film from your camera, use the black Sharpie pen in your fanny pack to date it. Throw it in the "done" bag (a second sandwich sized ziploc in your lead-lined bag). When you go to develop the film upon your return home, write the date on the outside of the package. Even with the camera date stamp, this saved a lot of frustration in organization and took just a second to do. (Take address labels with you when you go to drop off your file if you have 25 rolls of film to develop, as we did!) Also use the black Sharpie pen to date the videotapes when done.

How to Survive Airport Security:

  • Have your passport handy at all times as you will likely need it 4-5 times at each Chinese airport.
  • Do NOT put your child's passport in your checked luggage, as you will need it!
  • Film/Cameras at Security: If you do not have lead-lined bags, you are at the mercy of the airport personnel to hand-check your camera and film, which they may refuse to do. Then what? We didn't want to risk it. We used 2 lead-lined bags, one for film and a small one for our camera.
  • If you leave your lead-lined bags in your carry-ons, security will require a "bag check" of every single pocket of your suitcase, even though it was obviously the lead-lined bags causing the check.
  • THUS, here's what we found worked: store the lead-lined bags for your camera and film in the side pocket of your most easily accessible bag. Load the first carry-on onto the conveyor, then the second carry-on, then the two lead-lined bags, two fanny-packs, and finally the 3rd carry-on. We never had to have anything hand-checked following this method. Your small stuff is protected between carry-ons.

Snacks: We took 5 granola bars and came home with 3, and we took 3 packets of Oatmeal (which we ate). Take enough money to buy snacks when you're hungry. Plan ahead as you travel, and don't worry about not hauling lots of snacks! You won't starve! Have you ever heard of anyone who just didn't make it back while going to China to adopt their child because of lack of food? I haven't. Dried fruit is over there and plenty of sweets are available.

Kwikpoint Card: Excellent for pointing to the airplane, question mark, and the clock. (When is the flight leaving?) Very helpful when it counted. Available in handy passport size at Also liked their wallet size, but the passport worked best for us!

Stroller: Don't take if you going carry-on only! Rent at the White Swan concierge or Sherry's Place, or buy one there at a department store.

Additional Travel Tips:

  1. Learn as much about the language, history, and sights of the areas you are visiting as you can BEFORE you go. There is not time to do it when you're there and your facilitator can only do so much at once.
  2. I drank only bottled water, not even the boiled (although I washed and rinsed toothbrushes with the boiled) and I didn't get sick. Also took 2 Pepto's before each meal, particularly in the beginning of the trip.
  3. Learn about Attachment BEFORE you go. The best time to "work" on it is reportedly right after a crises, which is right after you get your child. We pushed the issue, so to speak, and things worked out quickly. If your child is a "Momma's Girl", then Daddy can probably do most of the holding and feeding to facilitate bonding, and vice-versa. Waiting until later makes it harder, from what I've read.
  4. Fly home overnight so your child will hopefully sleep. I love that Ladybug Special out of GZ!
  5. Call the Credit Card company and make sure they note your travel dates to China in their computer so they don't block your card. Call to set up, and then call back later to confirm it is on their computer.

Teresa's Final Tip: It is never to early to pack! Haven't gotten your referral yet? Do what you can! You'll have a better product and hopefully, a better trip, if you start early!

I think it takes much more effort initially to pack light, yet the rewards are reaped on the trip. It is great to be light and free! Just some encouragement for packing less. Less really can be more! And now, if you've made it to the end, you get a great big GOLD STAR! Whew! Really, I hope it helps someone!

Have a fabulous adoption journey!

Teresa Travel: 8/21/00 thru 9/9/00 (Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Guangzhou)

Did I mention the recommendation to pack lightly?! He, he, he, ha ha, Buh ha, hah hah hah......