Note in advance that everything herein can be ordered ordered online but if one is in Nanjing for just a few short days, it will not be worth neither the hassle nor the wait…
Quality device chargers. That bought off the shelf in a local shop stands a good chance of not powering anything anytime soon. The genuine article, assuming it can be sourced and verified as such, shall be expensive. Bring your own.
Small umbrella. Nanjingers love walking around with umbrellas, almost no matter the weather. Therefore, it makes little sense that the joys of the micro umbrella have not graced much of the Middle Kingdom, especially Nanjing.
Sun screen and a wide-brimmed hat. Many forget that Nanjing in fact lies at the same latitude as Tripoli in North Africa. That should be enough to inform as to the power of the Sun.
Sanitary wipes and hand sanitiser. When dining in local restaurants, many Nanjingers will choose to rinse the tableware (no matter how vacuum packed and sanitary it appears to be) with some scalding tea. And while China is in general a much more hygienic place than pre COVID, it always pays to be safe.
Tampons. Shops in Nanjing are rife with every size and function of sanitary towels. But that’s it.
Mosquito repellent. Likely the one thing a newbie to Nanjing will require more than anything else. Easily obtainable, but Chinese language skills will likely be necessary. Bring your own to get you started. And be aware that in Nanjing, the little devils can strike at any time of year, bar winter.
Hayfever relief inhaler. The catkins from Nanjing’s famous sycamore trees start to fill the atmosphere in April and May of each year, playing havoc with asthma sufferers. Easily obtainable, but Chinese language skills will likely be necessary. Bring your own to get you started.
Electric hand warmer. With a typically humid climate, a Nanjing winter’s cold can go straight to your bones.
