China is extremely developed, and totally safe to visit! However, there are definitely some health points to keep in mind. This post covers China travel health advice, from my perspective as an expat in Beijing.
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My Biggest Piece of China Travel Health Advice: Be Prepared!
Preparation for travel starts wayyy before you get on that airplane. A conversation with your doctor or healthcare provider is a must before going to ANY new country!
Every country has its own list of recommended (and sometimes required!) vaccines. So make sure you get topped up, you DON’T want to pick up any crazy diseases while abroad.
Also, make sure you pack a few health essentials! I’ll share a packing list for you at the end of this post.
Drink Only Bottled Water
Tap water in China cannot be consumed, not even if you boil it or filter it!! Boiling water will kill bacteria in it, but it won’t rid the water of chemicals. Do NOT drink the water, or even brush your teeth with the water!
The main solution people use here is to drink only bottled water (which we buy by the barrel for our homes).
Due to the water situation here, it’s very common to see both locals and expats carrying around their own reusable water bottle. Some people opt for filtered water bottles, like this one from Amazon.
Please note: even if you bring a filtered water bottle, this will STILL not remove the heavy metals from the faucet/tap water. So you must drink bottled water.
If you do want to use a Britta to save on plastic, you can cut a compromise by buying your water in bulk (say a 5 liter bottle) and refilling your bottle as you go.
Britta will help to make your bottled water even cleaner, but it’s NOT enough filtration to make the tap water drinkable. I just want that to be very clear.
So, if you want to go a step further with making sure your bottled water is as fresh as can be (and with cutting down on your plastic consumption), this Britta water bottle may be a great option for you.
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Be Wary of Street Foods
Okay, I know…street foods are SUCH a big part of foreign countries! They’re one of the most exciting parts of travel, but not without their risks.
Why are there so many street food horror stories? Simply put: it’s because many street food vendors shirk the food safety rules. Thankfully, even a bad run-in with street foods doesn’t have to ruin your trip.
Here are my go-to’s for making sure I’m well prepared for any street food run-ins!
1. Imodium (AKA the diarrhea stopper)
The number of times Imodium has saved my butt (literally) cannot be counted.
The great thing about Imodium is that it usually works in several minutes. I would keep a few tablets in my fanny pack. Then I’d be ready to go as soon as something I ate made it clear that it wouldn’t “go out easy” (lol).
This pill essentially “hardens” up diarrhea, so that you’ll pass normal BMs instead of having to run to the bathroom with uncontrolled you-know-what.
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2. Pepto Bismol (AKA the belly-ache blaster)
Some people will take Pepto pre-meal to prevent stomach discomfort. Honestly, with the amount of oil and sometimes crazy ingredients/spices you come across in Asia, this definitely may help.
For me, I’ve only ever taken it as stomach relief after eating something that made me feel sick. While I definitely feel like the liquid version works faster, the pills certainly get the job done, as well.
Plus, it’s just easier to carry pills on your person than it is to lug around a bottle of medication.
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Watch Your SteP! China Travel Health Advice for the Roads
A couple decades ago, human waste on the streets was a common problem in China. Now, it’s much less of a problem, but still, the streets have some issues.
People with dogs tend not to clean up after their animals. Between them and the stray dogs/cats (who are friendly, but not house-trained), feces on the streets is a common issue.
Spitting is also very common here. You’ll see large spitballs pretty much anywhere you walk.
That being said, the simplest advice for travel health in China is not to wear your shoes indoors.
In Chinese households (I’ve also adopted this practice), shoes are left at the door, or even outside of it, and only slippers are worn inside.
Your hotel will provide you with disposable slippers, so you can adopt this habit. I highly recommend you do.
And absolutely DO NOT wear shoes on the bed!!! (I’m looking at you, my American friends. I used to do it too 😭).
Bring N95 Masks for Air Pollution
Air pollution is still a pretty big issue here. The long-term effects of it are the biggest concern for expats. However, even short-term, the pollution can cause irritation.
If you’re a person who suffers from asthma or other lung-related issues, or if you’re just sensitive to pollutants, DEFINITELY bring some N95 masks with you.
You can buy them prior to traveling, or you can even get them from most pharmacies here in China!
Just make sure that they filter out pm2.5 particles, as these are the ones which are the most dangerous. The typical blue surgical mask definitely won’t cut it; you need the big guns for this kind of stuff, AKA N95s masks.
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Bring Your Own Bathroom Supplies!!
If you visit a high-end place, like a large mall or a fancy restaurant, your bathroom will likely be equipped with soap and papers.
However, outside of that, most bathrooms here don’t provide toilet paper.
Often if they do, it’s not in each individual stall, but is just a single dispenser next to the sink, where you grab before you go to the stall.
I always forget this and end up paperless in a stall…so my solution, just to be safe: BYOT (bring your own tissues).
Travel-sized packs can be bought in advance before you go, or found at many little shops here.
Furthermore, many public bathrooms lack soap dispensers (or they’re there, but they’re empty). And even if they have soap, they probably won’t have a workable hand dryer or paper towels available.
Most of the time when I’m out, this means I only get to rinse my hands with water after using the toilet.
So, I ALWAYS carry a mini bottle of hand sanitizer with me, since the hand washing situation is quite lackluster.
I honestly love sanitizer sprays, and prefer them to gels 100%. I feel like it’s harder to waste product, and I just feel cleaner after using them (maybe it’s the lack of jellyness and the alcohol smell of it).
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Pay Attention to Personal Safety
China is relatively safe. However, you should always be people-smart. This means:
- Take only legitimate taxis, and don’t accept rides from strangers in non-taxi cars (unless you called the driver from an app).
- Always bargain for souvenirs and goods that you buy. Usually shop owners will try to sell for 4-6 times the actual price. (This doesn’t apply for grocery stores, only souvenir stands).
- Don’t tell strangers the hotel you’re staying at. Protect your privacy.
- Just be aware of your surroundings, as you would anywhere. China is safe, but it’s best to be careful.
Party Safely
China’s larger cities have some amazing bars and clubs! Here’s my advice for how to party safely in China:
Be careful with alcohol. It makes you more of a target for having things stolen or getting into a dangerous situation.
Watch out for your belongings. It’s rare for things to be stolen, but it does happen sometimes.
Fights are a HUGE no-no in China. They’re rare, but a big to-do when they happen. Don’t get involved.
Drugs of any kind are an ABSOLUTE NO in China!! You will almost certainly be jailed and deported for doing them. If anyone around you offers you drugs, get AS FAR AWAY from that person as possible!
The Ultimate China Travel Health Packing List
So, with all of this in mind, here’s my recap of a recommended list of travel safety items I advise you to bring to China:
- Travel-sized tissue packs;
- Hand sanitizer spray;
- N95 face-masks;
- Imodium;
- Pepto Bismol (or other stomach relief pills);
- A filtered water bottle;
Did I miss anything? Is there any other China travel health advice you think should be included? Let me know if there’s something else you’d add to this list in the comments!
You may also like:
What To Do in Beijing at Night: A Local’s Guide
China Travel Health Precautions: Tips from a Local