Job Discussion Forums

[eddy-cool]

I have been here several years and what I still have to stock up in Hong Kong or Macau are the following:

- tart-containing shampoo (for the guys with persistent itchy scalps and dandruff). Chinese shampoos seem to provoke dandruff!

- Razors: The cheapest are the no-frills variety available at Park'n Shop and Wellcome.
I now own a BRAUN-GILLETTE electric shaver that cost 450 kuai and really mows your chin grass down to skin level. It comes with a battery and a charger, and its head is washable (with water).
I bought it at Friendship Store. A cheaper variant is available for 360 kuai or so. It's really handy when you are travelling for days by train and bus.

Newbies might wish to have some reading stuff for those many idel hours and days. Some books and mags stimply cannot be sourced inside Mainland China. For instance the LONELY PLANET China guidebook cannot be imported and sold legally as its map of China features Taiwan as a separate entity...

[kev7161]

Actually you can get magazine subscriptions to various publications (I used to get USA Today and Time) through local channels. Many mags will be the "Asian" version but they sure will cost you an arm and a leg! You can hit up foreign language bookstores but those too are very costly. I growl at their prices because you know these are western book store rejects that were probably taken off their clearance racks. Then they bring them here, take the CANADIAN cover price (which is always so much higher than the US price), multiply by 7 or so and that is what you'll pay here. For a paperback that has been long out of print. It's maddening. There's an American guy here in Suzhou trying to make a go out of selling comic books (and other things). Well he's charging a basic price of 35 yuan for most titles. That equates to around 5 bucks. The cover price of these comics are generally $3.00 these days (I know, it's crazy) but I know he orders from the distributor so he's probably paying about 1/2 cover price. So that means (I guess) about $3.50 for shipping fees and some sort of profit. I'm hoping he's doing the best he can when it comes to a fair price, but I'm leery.

[roadwalker]

Shoes: my problem with the shoes in China is that they seem to be made for flat feet, i.e., no arch support. When I do find them with arch support they are usually very expensive. Especially for athletic shoes or walking shoes, you would be better off in your home country.

Deodorant: I bring from home. Yes Watsons and the major supermarkets have deodorant, but as alluded to by a previous poster, they all seem to be anti-perspirants as well. I don't want that aluminum (or aluminium either, for that matter) and I am picky about smelly stuff on my body anyway.

Razors: I haven't had any problems but it seems to be a common gripe. So bring razors, they don't weigh much or take up much space.



edited to spell 'weigh' correctly

[nickpellatt]

I cant speak for all of China, but I will stand by the teabag suggestion LOL!

I actually packed 320, and had a visiting friend being another 320 out for me. I think they lasted about 3 months! I could buy Liptons locally, but they were expensive compared to bringing them from home. I think they were 25 bags for 10 yuan!

As stated, not everyone does live near a supermarket with other brands. I was in Hainan, and never ever saw a Carrefour/Tesco etc. They may have them, but if you are away from the major cities, teabags are impossible to find, or expensive to buy.

Ditto things like deodorant, shoes, jeans in anything above 28" waist, butter, and just about anything from home. (including books/novels written in English)

I guess it simply depends where you are in China.

[kev7161]

[kungfucowboy83]

books are a good thing to bring. Good shoes took me a while to find but look at the department stores for shoes and then wait for one of their huge 1/2 off sales. I personally like fuguiniao (fortune bird) shoes. 360 makes some ok sports shoes. As for Jeans and casual cloths stores like Kama classics and Jeans West have always fit me just fine(i wear 34"w x32"l). And then you can find the foreign trade store wich can have good stuff. Just don't be too cheap with finding clothes, stay away from night market stuff and low end chinese shops. In qingdao, unless you find a great sale or get lucky, you are going to have to pay around 150-400 for shoes, 100-150 for pants and 60-120 for shirts if you want something that fits right and is comfortable.

razors and shaving cream only if you are picky.

I suggest bringing enough stuff to last until you find out where to buy what you need wich might be a month or so. and cash. Cash will always make things easier.

[diana83709]

1. Jeans. I was able to buy some clothing in size 5 (ladies). Above that size, I would bring extras. Larger clothing for women not so easy to find.

2. Definately antiperspirant. As other posters mentioned, you can buy some locally: Nivea, Fa, Avon deoderants.

3. Shoes if your feet are over size 6 (us size: ladies)

4. Bras if you are in the "C" club or larger. Thongs are not too common in a lot of areas. Bring cotton chonies - did not see many cotton undergarmets for women!

Guys: BYOB (boxers are small! ha ha!)

5. Cotton socks

6. For the ladies: Tampons!!!!

[shenyanggerry]

I recommend books, especially authors you enjoy rereading, laptop, condoms (the ones sold in China are too narrow), spices, some comfort food from home, especially good cheese...

Something unique from home to give as small gifts. I usually bring maple syrup. Almost everything else is made in China cheaper than you can get it at home.

[Teatime of Soul]

quality white heavy socks for excercise or walking.

[Itsme]

Not necessary to bring books if you are going somewhere like Beijing or any other big city. Their book stores are huge in comparison to the ones in the USA and they carry a good collection of classic books. If you are more interested in reading new york bestseller type books or romance novels then yes, bring your own.

The clothes suck unless you go to the really expensive places. They will tear, fade, and generally wear out in a matter of weeks.

AS for bringing 2000 packets of lipton ice team so as not to pay 10 RMB extra... I will leave up to your best judgement.