What to Bring

We provide the technical equipment for your trip — camp setups, safety gear, bikes, boards and more. Here's what to pack yourself, by region and season.

General Packing List

Bring these regardless of which activity you've booked.

🧴

Sunscreen

SPF 50+ minimum. China's sun is intense — especially on the water, in the desert, and on the high plateau, where UV is extreme. Reapply through the day.

🧢

Hat / Cap

A wide-brimmed hat for sun on the grasslands, deserts and trails — plus a warm hat for cold high-altitude and desert nights. Helmets are provided where required.

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Water Bottle

We provide water on all tours, but having your own reusable bottle means you can drink at your own pace. 1 litre minimum for half-day, 2 litres for full-day.

💰

Small Amount of Cash

For snacks, soft drinks, or optional extras in rural areas. Many small vendors accept WeChat Pay or cash, but not international cards. Keep ¥200–300 as backup.

📱

Charged Phone

For navigation, photos, and emergency contact. Download the tour details and our WhatsApp number before you leave your accommodation.

💊

Personal Medication

Bring any prescription medication, allergy medication, or personal first aid items you regularly use. Tell your guide about allergies or medical conditions at the briefing.

What to Pack by Region

China spans deserts, grasslands, high plateau, the subtropical south and big cities — what you pack depends far more on where you go than on any single activity. All technical equipment is provided; the lists below cover clothing and personal items.

🐎

Grasslands & Steppe

Inner Mongolia · Bashang · Gannan · Xinjiang
  • Layers for big day–night swings: warm days, cold nights — even in summer the steppe drops sharply after dark. Pack a fleece or light down mid-layer and a windproof jacket.
  • Long trousers: comfortable for horseback riding; avoid shorts in the saddle.
  • Footwear: closed shoes with a small heel are ideal for riding; trainers are fine the rest of the time.
  • Sun & wind protection: wide-brim hat, sunglasses, SPF and lip balm — the open grassland has strong sun and near-constant wind.
Season: best June–September; nights can fall to single digits °C even in midsummer.
🏜️

Deserts & Silk Road

Badain Jaran · Tengger · Dunhuang · Gansu–Xinjiang
  • Warm layer for the evenings: deserts swing from hot days to cold nights — a fleece or down layer is essential even in warm seasons.
  • Sun & sand defence: sunglasses, a buff or scarf for blowing sand, high-SPF sunscreen, and a wide-brim hat.
  • Footwear: closed shoes that keep sand out; pack sandals for around camp.
  • Lip balm & moisturiser: desert air is extremely dry.
Season: best Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct; high summer is intensely hot, and nights stay cool to cold year-round.
🚐

High Plateau & RV Road Trips

G318 Sichuan–Tibet · Qinghai · Duku Highway
  • Real warmth, any month: high-altitude weather is cold and changeable year-round — pack a down jacket, warm layers, a hat and gloves.
  • Extreme-UV protection: high-altitude sun is fierce. Strong sunglasses, SPF 50+, and SPF lip balm are essential.
  • Altitude care: ascend gradually, hydrate well, and talk to your doctor about altitude medication before you travel.
  • Comfortable shoes for stops and short walks — the vehicle covers the distance.
Tip: on the G318 and Tibetan plateau you can meet sun, wind, rain and snow in a single day — layering is everything.
🍃

Tea Forests & Southern China

Jingmai · Wuyishan · Lincang · Hangzhou
  • Light rain protection: the subtropical south is humid and showers are common — pack a packable rain jacket or a compact umbrella.
  • Grippy walking shoes: forest and tea-terrace paths can be wet and slippery.
  • Quick-dry, breathable clothing for the humidity, plus insect repellent for forest walks.
Season: spring (tea-harvest) and autumn are most comfortable; summer is warm and wet.
🏙️

City Journeys

Beijing · Shanghai · Xi'an
  • Comfortable walking shoes: city days cover a lot of ground on foot.
  • Weather-appropriate layers: Beijing and Xi'an have cold winters and hot summers; Shanghai is humid. Check the forecast for your dates.
  • A small day bag: water, a power bank, and your phone (for mobile payments and maps).
  • Smart-casual is fine everywhere; modest dress is appreciated at temples and some heritage sites.
Season: spring and autumn are the most pleasant in all three cities.
⛰️

Karst Country (Guilin & Yangshuo)

Guangxi · subtropical · rivers & caves
  • Quick-dry clothing and sturdy trainers for warm, humid days around the karst peaks and rivers.
  • A light rain layer — Guangxi sees frequent short showers.
  • For any river or cave activity: closed-toe water shoes and a full change of dry clothes (technical gear is provided on the day).
Season: hot, humid summers and mild, misty winters; river activities are best late spring to early autumn.

Seasonal Tips

China spans many climate zones at once — the same date can mean very different weather from the subtropical south to the northern plains to the high plateau. Match your packing to your region above.

🌸 Spring (Mar–May)

The most popular season almost everywhere — mild and green in the south and cities, tea-harvest in the forests, and the start of grassland season. Pack layers and a light rain jacket; plateau and desert nights are still cold.

☀️ Summer (Jun–Aug)

Prime time for the grasslands and high plateau (cool and green), but hot and humid in the south and cities and very hot in the deserts. Quick-dry clothes and strong sun protection — plus a warm layer for high-altitude nights.

🍂 Autumn (Sep–Nov)

Clear, dry and comfortable across most of China — arguably the best all-round season. Ideal for deserts, cities, karst and tea country. Bring layers; the north and high-altitude areas cool quickly.

❄️ Winter (Dec–Feb)

Cold and dry in the north (Beijing, the grasslands), mild and damp in the south, and very cold on the plateau. Pack a proper warm jacket for the north and west; a mid-layer and rain protection for the south.

Not Sure What to Pack?

Ask us before you arrive — we're happy to advise on gear specific to your activity and the time of year.

⏱️ We reply within 4 hours (9am–6pm CST)
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