行李准备

Reminder: Beforehand, check and confirm the baggage allowance for your flight, including the number of checked bags, weight limits, dimensions for luggage, and the size and weight limits for carry-on bags.

Reminder: Important documents and materials are recommended to be kept with you and not checked in. Make multiple copies and backups, and keep them in easily accessible places. It is advisable to contact the official authorities or the airline in advance to confirm the boarding requirements and immigration regulations at that time, such as the documents required for boarding and whether a nucleic acid test is necessary.

Reminder: Please familiarize yourself in advance with the prohibited items for entry into the UK and the items strictly prohibited from being carried on board the aircraft.

Suggestions:

• Bring a jacket and dress in layers as airports and airplanes      are generally cool.

• Carry necessary medications.

• Bring British pounds and Chinese yuan in cash, including small      bills and coins.

• For other non-cash needs, it is recommended to prepare globally      accepted bank cards in advance, such as Mastercard. For larger amounts of      money, using traveler's cheques is recommended. Shisheng Meow always uses      traveler's cheques because they are secure, convenient, and provide peace      of mind. Once in the UK, you can deposit the traveler's cheques into a      bank account, and within a day or so, the funds will be available. It is      advisable to carry some small British pound notes and coins as many places,      such as luggage carts, require coins. It is also recommended to carry a      small amount of Chinese yuan cash, including coins. Shisheng Meow      mistakenly thought that European coins were universally accepted in the UK      during their first visit but found out otherwise. A kind foreign guy      offered to give Shisheng Meow a coin, but Shisheng Meow declined. Looking      back, Shisheng Meow regrets not accepting it because the coin he was      offered was probably a lucky coin, and Shisheng Meow could have easily      exchanged their paper currency and coins with him or even exchanged      contact information. At that time, Shisheng Meow was young and only      thought about not wanting to trouble others. As a result, Shisheng Meow      struggled and exerted great effort to carry two 20-kilogram suitcases, one      of which was not a four-wheeler, while also carrying a shoulder bag, a      backpack, and a laptop bag. They were exhausted, walking up slopes one      after another. The most surprising part was that all the customs officials      allowed them to pass without any issues. Suddenly, during a random      security check, it was Shisheng Meow's turn. They had to personally carry      the 20-kilogram suitcase to a high inspection counter, open the suitcase,      and after a quick search which revealed nothing, they were allowed to      enter the country.

• Mobile phone (a spare phone, if you usually use an iPhone, it      is recommended to have an Android backup. It is suggested to have a dual      SIM standby phone as in the future, the UK may gradually adopt eSIM cards,      but this is uncertain.)

• Laptop, camera, tablet, USB drive, portable hard drive, etc.      Remember to delete unnecessary data in advance.

• Charging cables.

• Multi-functional adapters (it is recommended to bring several,      including one with multiple functions. The extras can be checked in, while      it is advisable to carry 1-2 with you. The plug sockets may vary in the      European Union region, so having a multi-functional adapter is useful.)

• Earphones/headphones.

• Ballpoint pens, pencils, small notebooks.

• All important documents should be easily accessible, as customs      may check the original copies. It is advisable to have your Chinese ID      card (if you think you may need it in China).

• U-shaped neck pillow, earplugs, eye mask.

• Disposable raincoat.

• Snacks, chocolates, easy-to-open beef jerky, candies, and other      convenient snacks.

• Personal protective equipment, such as disposable masks and      gloves.

• Luggage tags or distinctive markings to easily identify your      suitcase.

• Power strip with Chinese plug sockets.

• Phone case, screen protector, lens case.

• Voice recorder.

• Insulated water bottle.

• Multi-functional sewing kit.

 

Clothes, shoes, and so on.

It is recommended to bring 1-2 sets of clothes for all seasons. You can also bring formal attire and even evening dresses, but they can be quite expensive. It is suggested to bring two sets of autumn clothes and autumn pants, as well as two sets of warm clothes and thermal pants. If you are not afraid of the cold or dislike wearing them, you can choose not to bring them. The weather in the UK is often cold, with a lot of strong winds and rainy days. Even in summer, the temperature won't be particularly high, except for a brief period of heat in recent years. Clothes, shoes, and other items are available for purchase in the UK. If they are branded items, they are often cheaper during the sale season compared to China. Therefore, it is recommended not to bring too many clothes because you can buy them here. However, if you are a fan of Japanese or Korean styles or have a specific fashion preference, you can consider forwarding them. "Forwarding" means shipping. For example, if you find something you like on a specific website or place, you can place an order and fill in the address of a forwarding logistics company's warehouse. They will receive the package for you, repackage and weigh it, and you only need to provide the tracking numbers for all your purchased items and make the payment to have them shipped directly to the UK.

For your mobile phone, it is recommended to activate international roaming for your domestic phone card in advance and change your monthly plan in China. You can bring your domestic phone card to the UK and use it to receive verification codes. You can switch to the lowest-priced monthly plan. In the past, even without a monthly plan, phone cards could still be used, but the call and message rates were slightly higher compared to those with a plan. However, later on, all communication companies made it mandatory to have a monthly plan; otherwise, the number could not be used. There are now many types of monthly plans available.

Years ago, I, Shisheng Meow, wrote a guide about bringing my own mobile card overseas. I applied for the lowest monthly plan in China, which cost 8 yuan per month. At first, I had a plan that kept the number active while the phone was not in use, which cost 5 yuan per month. After a few years, I realized that everything in China started requiring verification codes, so I changed to the 8 yuan per month plan. I also contacted customer service to activate international roaming. It was not easy to reach the customer service and get assistance in changing the plan. Usually, you have to go to a domestic service center in person with your identification documents. If someone else is handling it on your behalf, they need to provide certain documents as well. Therefore, it is recommended to take care of these matters in advance while you are still in China.

Mobile services in foreign countries and in China are managed separately and are not the same. They cannot handle Chinese cards in foreign countries. However, using a Chinese card to receive calls, make calls, send messages, and use data in foreign countries will incur charges. The rate is 1 yuan per minute for calls. Once, I didn't know this and ended up spending hundreds of yuan in a flash. Data usage is also expensive, and if you accidentally turn it on, you can lose hundreds of yuan instantly. I made the same mistake twice, so the memory is still fresh.

The minimum plan for China Telecom is slightly cheaper, at 5 yuan per month. I never activated the option to keep the number active without using it for China Telecom because before going abroad, I didn't know why, but I ended up with a broadband and call time package with a monthly rent of over 200 yuan for a mandatory two-year period. I didn't know that I could transfer it to another location, so my China Telecom card remained on that plan for several months until it finally expired, and I changed it to the minimum monthly plan.

Whether it's China Mobile or China Telecom, the password for their services is important. Once, I forgot my password, so I went to a China Telecom service center to request a password reset. The person I spoke with told me that China Telecom SIM cards never had passwords. I was shocked that the staff member was so unaware of their own company's policies. After explaining for a while, the attitude of the staff member was extremely poor. They repeatedly asked me and insisted that I show them where the password was required. But at that moment, I couldn't recall it. I asked if China Telecom had canceled the password for SIM cards and told the staff member to confirm it on my behalf. Finally, after a long discussion about why it was unnecessary to reset the password, the staff member reluctantly reset it for me. What should have taken a few minutes ended up taking several hours. I was speechless and frustrated at the time.

 

British SIM Card

See which one you prefer. You can buy and top up a SIM card in advance on a popular Chinese online shopping platform and it will be ready to use as soon as you arrive in the UK. Alternatively, you can get one in the UK from automated vending machines usually available at airports. Just remember to bring a pair of scissors or a SIM card adapter, otherwise, you won't be able to use it.

Stationery

It's advisable to bring pens, notebooks, books, and other stationery items because some of them can be expensive in the UK while others are cheap. However, books in the UK are generally quite expensive.

Electric Rice Cooker

A small multi-functional electric rice cooker and chopsticks can be more expensive and have limited options in the UK. You can also consider buying a second-hand electric rice cooker from other international students, but be cautious as some students may sell faulty or problematic items. I personally have bought some defective devices from students who knowingly sold faulty items to deceive buyers.

Bedding

You can bring a set of bedding and buy additional ones for changing in the UK. Most rented accommodations, dormitories, or apartments do not provide free bed sheets or covers. The bed sheets in the UK usually have a single color and pattern, and the fitted sheets have elastic bands to wrap around the mattress. Pay attention to the size when purchasing.

Umbrella

Bring an umbrella, preferably of good quality. It's convenient to have a couple of them since the weather is often rainy, and strong winds can easily damage umbrellas. Umbrellas in the UK are of decent quality but expensive. In the same situation, umbrellas are cheaper in China. Of course, I'm not referring to those extremely expensive designer umbrellas. If you prefer, you can also choose to wear a hat or raincoat like many other students do.

Essentials for Women

Women can bring items they find useful and believe may not be easily available in the UK, such as leggings, colored contact lenses, knee-high socks, hair ties, hair clips, etc. Nail clippers, sewing kits, and small mirrors are also recommended. For example, Ten Ren Miao may not be able to use large nail clippers and can only bring the small ones available in China. A sewing kit in a compact set is also convenient.

Shower Slippers

It depends on individual circumstances, but you can also choose to buy them in the UK.

Power Strip from China

You can bring a power strip from China, preferably of better quality. This way, you can use Chinese plugs with the Chinese power strip and foreign plugs with the foreign power strip, allowing you to use multiple devices simultaneously.

Unique Souvenirs

Bring some unique souvenirs from China to give to foreigners. They don't have to be expensive. For example, you can bring items like Chinese knots, paper-cuttings, lucky words, or pandas, along with a simple English introduction. Just like how Chinese restaurants in the UK provide English descriptions for chopsticks and offer free lucky cookies with beautiful blessings inside. Although this practice is only found in foreign countries and is considered a fusion of American and Chinese cultures, foreigners often assume that every Chinese restaurant does the same, but that's not the case.

Medications

Due to strict regulations on carrying medications into the UK, it is advisable to thoroughly understand the relevant policies before packing.

Firstly, if you are carrying a large quantity of prescription drugs (such as antibiotics or antiviral medications), you need to have the prescription issued by a doctor, along with the medication instructions and purchase receipts. Additionally, the total value of traditional Chinese medicine carried should be within RMB 300. If you are carrying self-purchased traditional Chinese medicine or Chinese herbal ingredients bought with foreign currency, you need to have an invoice with the "Foreign Exchange Purchase Special Seal" (issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange). Items like musk, tiger bones, bear bile, and their products cannot be taken out of the country. If you wear prescription contact lenses, it is recommended to have a prescription from an eyeglass store in the local area. You can consider bringing an adequate supply within a reasonable range. Eyeglass solution is easily accessible and affordable in the UK, so there's no need to carry a large amount. Other over-the-counter medications such as cold medicine can be easily purchased at supermarkets and pharmacies in the UK, so it's not necessary to bring a large quantity. However, it's advisable to bring a small amount of cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, etc., to prevent catching a cold or having an upset stomach during the initial period.

Insurance

If needed, you can purchase the corresponding travel insurance or other types of insurance in advance and have the policy printed out and backed up on electronic devices.