“Xinjiang Travel Gear – What to Pack (And What to Leave Behind)”

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Sleep mask (some hotels have thin curtains, and Xinjiang has long daylight hours in summer)
• Earplugs (not for hotels – for the overnight train if you take it)
• Small towel (most hotels provide them, but… sometimes they don’t, or they provide ones that are more decorative than functional)

Electronics (What You’l Actualy Use)

• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Hand sanitizer (the big bottle – you’l use it before every meal)
• Wet wipes (so many wet wipes – for bathrooms without toilet paper, for cleaning hands, for wiping dusty tables)
• Toilet paper (pack a roll in your daypack – most public bathrooms don’t provide it)
• Personal medications (bring extra – if you use prescription meds, bring more than you think you’l need. Xinjiang pharmacies exist, but the language barrier is real)
• Diamox (if you’re prone to altitude sickness – Kanas is at 1300m, which is *usually* fine, but Taxkorgan is at 3100m, and some people feel it)

Optional But Nice

• Sleep mask (some hotels have thin curtains, and Xinjiang has long daylight hours in summer)
• Earplugs (not for hotels – for the overnight train if you take it)
• Small towel (most hotels provide them, but… sometimes they don’t, or they provide ones that are more decorative than functional)

Electronics (What You’l Actualy Use)

• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Mix of the above. April in Urumqi can be 15°C and sunny, and then a sandstorm hits and it’s 5°C and you can’t see 50 meters. Bring layers, and be ready to add/remove them.

Toiletries (The Practical Stuff)

Must-Haves

• Hand sanitizer (the big bottle – you’l use it before every meal)
• Wet wipes (so many wet wipes – for bathrooms without toilet paper, for cleaning hands, for wiping dusty tables)
• Toilet paper (pack a roll in your daypack – most public bathrooms don’t provide it)
• Personal medications (bring extra – if you use prescription meds, bring more than you think you’l need. Xinjiang pharmacies exist, but the language barrier is real)
• Diamox (if you’re prone to altitude sickness – Kanas is at 1300m, which is *usually* fine, but Taxkorgan is at 3100m, and some people feel it)

Optional But Nice

• Sleep mask (some hotels have thin curtains, and Xinjiang has long daylight hours in summer)
• Earplugs (not for hotels – for the overnight train if you take it)
• Small towel (most hotels provide them, but… sometimes they don’t, or they provide ones that are more decorative than functional)

Electronics (What You’l Actualy Use)

• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Thermal base layer (top and bottom – merino wool if you can afford it, synthetic if you can’t)
• Mid-layer (fleece or down vest)
• Outer layer (down jacket, serious one, rated for -20°C at least)
• Pants (insulated hiking pants or thermals under jeans)
• Warm hat (covers ears)
• Gloves (thin ones for phone use, thick ones for outdoors)
• Scarf or balaclava (the wind chill is real)

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

• Mix of the above. April in Urumqi can be 15°C and sunny, and then a sandstorm hits and it’s 5°C and you can’t see 50 meters. Bring layers, and be ready to add/remove them.

Toiletries (The Practical Stuff)

Must-Haves

• Hand sanitizer (the big bottle – you’l use it before every meal)
• Wet wipes (so many wet wipes – for bathrooms without toilet paper, for cleaning hands, for wiping dusty tables)
• Toilet paper (pack a roll in your daypack – most public bathrooms don’t provide it)
• Personal medications (bring extra – if you use prescription meds, bring more than you think you’l need. Xinjiang pharmacies exist, but the language barrier is real)
• Diamox (if you’re prone to altitude sickness – Kanas is at 1300m, which is *usually* fine, but Taxkorgan is at 3100m, and some people feel it)

Optional But Nice

• Sleep mask (some hotels have thin curtains, and Xinjiang has long daylight hours in summer)
• Earplugs (not for hotels – for the overnight train if you take it)
• Small towel (most hotels provide them, but… sometimes they don’t, or they provide ones that are more decorative than functional)

Electronics (What You’l Actualy Use)

• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)
• Lightweight base layer (t-shirt, breathable)
• Mid-layer (light fleece or hoodie)
• Outer layer (light jacket, windproof)
• Pants (hiking pants or loose jeans – nothing tight, you’l be sitting in vans/cars a lot)
• Hat (sun hat for day, warm hat for evening – it gets cool at night even in summer)
• Sunglasses (the glare off light-colored landscapes is real)

Winter (December-February)

• Thermal base layer (top and bottom – merino wool if you can afford it, synthetic if you can’t)
• Mid-layer (fleece or down vest)
• Outer layer (down jacket, serious one, rated for -20°C at least)
• Pants (insulated hiking pants or thermals under jeans)
• Warm hat (covers ears)
• Gloves (thin ones for phone use, thick ones for outdoors)
• Scarf or balaclava (the wind chill is real)

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

• Mix of the above. April in Urumqi can be 15°C and sunny, and then a sandstorm hits and it’s 5°C and you can’t see 50 meters. Bring layers, and be ready to add/remove them.

Toiletries (The Practical Stuff)

Must-Haves

• Hand sanitizer (the big bottle – you’l use it before every meal)
• Wet wipes (so many wet wipes – for bathrooms without toilet paper, for cleaning hands, for wiping dusty tables)
• Toilet paper (pack a roll in your daypack – most public bathrooms don’t provide it)
• Personal medications (bring extra – if you use prescription meds, bring more than you think you’l need. Xinjiang pharmacies exist, but the language barrier is real)
• Diamox (if you’re prone to altitude sickness – Kanas is at 1300m, which is *usually* fine, but Taxkorgan is at 3100m, and some people feel it)

Optional But Nice

• Sleep mask (some hotels have thin curtains, and Xinjiang has long daylight hours in summer)
• Earplugs (not for hotels – for the overnight train if you take it)
• Small towel (most hotels provide them, but… sometimes they don’t, or they provide ones that are more decorative than functional)

Electronics (What You’l Actualy Use)

• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)

Xinjiang Travel Gear – What to Pack (And What to Leave Behind)

I’m going to admit something: on my first trip to Xinjiang (September 2022), I overpacked. Badly.

I brought a heavy coat (unnecessary, it was September), three pairs of jeans (too hot for daytime), and a hair dryer (…why? Every hotel has one). My suitcase weighed 28 kg, and I hiked maybe 10% of the trip with it.

On my third trip (October 2025), my pack weighed 14 kg, and I used 90% of what I brought.

Here’s the real packing list – the stuff I actualy used, the stuff I wish I’d brought, and the stuff you should definitely leave at home.

The “Non-Negotiables” (Bring These or Regret It)

1. Sunscreen (SPF 50+)

I don’t care if it’s winter. The UV at altitude in Xinjiang is no joke. I got mildly sunburned in January in Kashgar because “it’s winter, how bad can it be?”

Bad. It can be bad.

Bring sunscreen. Reapply it. Your face will thank you.

2. Hand Cream + Lip Balm

The air in Xinjiang is dry. Like, really dry. You’ll know it the first time you wake up with cracked lips and skin that feels like parchment.

I now travel with a tube of hand cream in my daypack and a stick of lip balm that lives in my pocket. Small thing, huge difference.

3. Reusable Water Bottle (Insulated If Possible)

Staying hydrated is the difference between “this altitude is fine” and “why do I have a headache and I’m nauseous?”

An insulated bottle is better because… wel, the water won’t freeze if you’re traveling in winter. And most hotels in Xinjiang have hot water dispensers in the lobby, so you can refill with warm water, which is lovely.

4. Power Bank (Big One)

Cold kills phone batteries. Fast. I’m talking -20°C in January, and a fully charged iPhone drops to 40% in two hours.

Bring a power bank with at least 10,000 mAh. 20,000 is better. Keep it in an inside pocket (body heat) in winter.

5. Translation App That Works Offline

Google Translate doesn’t work reliably in Xinjiang (the Great Firewall thing). Microsoft Translator works better and has offline language packs for Chinese and Uyghur.

Download them before you go. You’l need them.

Clothing (Layer, Layer, Layer)

Summer (June-August)

• Lightweight base layer (t-shirt, breathable)
• Mid-layer (light fleece or hoodie)
• Outer layer (light jacket, windproof)
• Pants (hiking pants or loose jeans – nothing tight, you’l be sitting in vans/cars a lot)
• Hat (sun hat for day, warm hat for evening – it gets cool at night even in summer)
• Sunglasses (the glare off light-colored landscapes is real)

Winter (December-February)

• Thermal base layer (top and bottom – merino wool if you can afford it, synthetic if you can’t)
• Mid-layer (fleece or down vest)
• Outer layer (down jacket, serious one, rated for -20°C at least)
• Pants (insulated hiking pants or thermals under jeans)
• Warm hat (covers ears)
• Gloves (thin ones for phone use, thick ones for outdoors)
• Scarf or balaclava (the wind chill is real)

Shoulder Season (April-May, September-October)

• Mix of the above. April in Urumqi can be 15°C and sunny, and then a sandstorm hits and it’s 5°C and you can’t see 50 meters. Bring layers, and be ready to add/remove them.

Toiletries (The Practical Stuff)

Must-Haves

• Hand sanitizer (the big bottle – you’l use it before every meal)
• Wet wipes (so many wet wipes – for bathrooms without toilet paper, for cleaning hands, for wiping dusty tables)
• Toilet paper (pack a roll in your daypack – most public bathrooms don’t provide it)
• Personal medications (bring extra – if you use prescription meds, bring more than you think you’l need. Xinjiang pharmacies exist, but the language barrier is real)
• Diamox (if you’re prone to altitude sickness – Kanas is at 1300m, which is *usually* fine, but Taxkorgan is at 3100m, and some people feel it)

Optional But Nice

• Sleep mask (some hotels have thin curtains, and Xinjiang has long daylight hours in summer)
• Earplugs (not for hotels – for the overnight train if you take it)
• Small towel (most hotels provide them, but… sometimes they don’t, or they provide ones that are more decorative than functional)

Electronics (What You’l Actualy Use)

• Phone (obviously)
• Camera (if you’re into photography – but honestly, a good phone camera is 80% as good in most Xinjiang lighting)
• Laptop (only if you need to work – I brought mine on trip #2 and used it exactly once)
• Chargers (phone, camera, laptop – and a power strip if you’re staying in budget places with limited outlets)
• Adapter (China uses Type A and Type I plugs – same as the US and Australia/New Zealand)

Stuff I Brought and Didn’t Use (Don’t Make My Mistakes)

• Hair dryer (every hotel has one)
• Too many shoes (I brought three pairs – sneakers, hiking boots, and sandals. I wore the sneakers 90% of the time. Hiking boots for Kanas, sure, but otherwise… overkill.)
• Fancy clothes (Xinjiang is casual. Very casual. You’l feel overdressed in a button-down shirt. Bring comfortable, and don’t worry about “looking nice.”)
• Books (I brought two books. I read zero pages. The landscape is too interesting to look at a book.)

Stuff I Wish I’d Brought (Learn from My Pain)

• A proper daypack. On trip #1, I used a shopping bag as a daypack. It broke. Don’t be like me. Bring a small, comfortable backpack for day trips.
• More protein bars/snacks. There are long stretches of driving in Xinjiang, and sometimes the only food option is a service station with instant noodles. Having a protein bar in your bag is a lifesaver.
• A pen. You’l need to fill out hotel registration forms, and not all hotels provide pens.
• Cash. I know, everything in China is Alipay/WeChat Pay, but in small towns and at roadside stalls… cash is king. Bring 500-1000 RMB in small bills.

The “What If” Stuff (Just in Case)

• If you wear contact lenses: Bring glasses. The dry air + dust = your lenses wil feel like sandpaper. I switched to glasses for 80% of trip #3.
• If you’re a woman: Bring menstrual supplies from home if you have a preferred brand. Chinese drugstores have them, but the brands are different, and the language barrier is real.
• If you have dietary restrictions: Bring snacks. Halal is the standard in Xinjiang, but if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you might struggle. Pack some protein bars or nuts.

—

Packing Summary (The Bare Minimum):

| Category | Summer | Winter |

|———-|———|——–|

| Clothing | Light jacket, t-shirts, hiking pants, hat | Down jacket, thermals, warm hat, gloves |

| Toiletries | Sunscreen, lip balm, hand sanitizer | Same + thick moisturizer |

| Gear | Daypack, water bottle, power bank | Same + hand warmers |

| Documents | Passport, visa, cash | Same |

Internal links:

• [Best time to visit Xinjiang – weather by month](/best-time-to-visit-xinjiang/)
• [Xinjiang travel tips – 20 things I wish I’d known](/20-xinjiang-travel-tips-what-i-wish-id-known-2026/)
• [What to wear in Xinjiang – season-by-season](/xinjiang-travel-gear-packing-list/)