Your visa is approved, your flight is booked and your host family is waiting. Now comes the part everyone underestimates: the suitcase. Knowing what to pack for China when you're staying for months, not days, makes a real difference to how quickly you settle in.
This is the packing list we give to au pairs joining the au pair program in China, based on what past participants wish they had brought, and what they wish they had left at home.
Quick answer: pack your documents first, then medicines you rely on, a universal adapter, layers for a humid climate, warm clothes for indoor winters, a small gift for your host family and a phone ready for Alipay and WeChat. Almost everything else you can buy cheaply in Chengdu.
1. Documents: The Non-Negotiables
Keep these in your hand luggage, never in your checked bag:
- Passport with your X2 student visa, valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay
- Official invitation letter and school enrolment documents
- Insurance documents and emergency contacts
- Printed and digital copies of all of the above, saved offline
- Extra passport photos, useful for registrations
Still working on the paperwork? Our guide on how to get your Chinese visa and the full list of au pair in China requirements will help.
2. Tech and Phone Setup
Your phone will be your wallet, your map and your translator. Before you fly:
- Install Alipay and WeChat and link an international bank card
- Download offline maps and a translation app
- Bring a universal travel adapter: China uses 220V and plug types A, C and I
- Pack a power bank and spare charging cables
- Unlock your phone so it works with a Chinese SIM card
Good news: with Masons Au Pair you receive a SIM card and VPN access when you arrive, so you can stay in touch with home from day one.
3. Clothes for Chengdu's Climate
Chengdu has hot, humid summers and cool, damp winters. The thing that surprises most newcomers is that many homes in southern and western China don't have central heating, so winters can feel colder indoors than the thermometer suggests.
Definitely pack
- Light, breathable summer clothes
- Warm layers and thermal underwear
- A good rain jacket or umbrella
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Slippers for home (very common)
Leave at home
- Too many formal outfits
- Bulky items you can buy locally
- A full year of toiletries
- Expensive jewellery
- Heavy books
If you have large feet or need very specific sizes, bring an extra pair of shoes: bigger sizes can be harder to find. Find out more in our guide to the weather and seasons in Chengdu.
4. Health and Personal Care
- Enough of your prescription medicines for the first months, with the prescription in English
- A small first-aid kit: painkillers, plasters, something for stomach upsets
- Your preferred brand of contact lens solution, sunscreen or deodorant if you're attached to it
- Spare glasses or contact lenses
Pharmacies are everywhere in Chengdu, and your insurance covers you, but having your usual medicines saves stress in the first weeks. Read more in staying safe and healthy in China.
5. Things for Your Host Family and the Kids
A small gift from your home country is a lovely way to start: local sweets, a photo book of your city, or something typical from your region. Gifts are an important part of Chinese culture, but they don't need to be expensive.
For the children, think about what will help you teach English through play:
- A few English picture books or simple readers
- Card games or a small board game
- Photos of your family, home and city to talk about
- Songs and videos saved offline on your phone or tablet
To understand family life before you arrive, read our homestay guide and 5 cultural surprises you'll experience as an au pair in China.
Pack for the first month, not the whole year. Chengdu has everything you need, usually for less than at home.
6. Study Kit for Mandarin Classes
You'll study Mandarin with our partner school XMandarin, so bring a notebook you love, good pens and a flashcard app on your phone. Many au pairs also take an official exam before leaving China. Our guides on how to learn Chinese effectively and the HSK and other Chinese tests will get you started.
Your Printable Checklist
- Passport, visa, invitation letter, insurance (plus copies)
- Phone with Alipay and WeChat set up, adapter, power bank
- Medicines with English prescriptions
- Summer clothes, warm layers, rain jacket, walking shoes
- Gift for your host family and a few English games for the kids
- Notebook for Mandarin classes
- A little cash in yuan for the first days
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I not bring to China?
Avoid overpacking toiletries, formal clothes and bulky items you can buy locally. Always check customs rules for medicines and food before you travel.
Do I need a VPN in China?
Many Western apps and websites are restricted in China. With Masons Au Pair, VPN access is included in the program, together with a local SIM card.
What gift should I bring for my Chinese host family?
Something typical from your country or city: local sweets, a regional speciality or a photo book. It's the thought that counts, not the price.
How cold is Chengdu in winter?
Winters are cool and damp rather than freezing, but many homes have no central heating, so warm layers for indoors are essential.
Ready to start packing?
Applications for 2026 placements are open. Tell us about yourself and we'll guide you from the first call to the airport pickup in Chengdu.
Apply to Masons Au Pair
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