Weather
Where you are going in China during the autumn will have impact what you pack. In the extreme north of the country (Inner Mongolia, for example) things cool off rapidly through the autumn, dropping from highs in the mid-50s F in October to the mid-30s in November. Beijing and the Tibetan Plateau are more temperate, with autumn highs in the 60s in October and the 50s in November, with very little rain. The sub-tropical and tropical southeast remains much warmer and wetter. October is still in the 80s with 4 or more inches of rain in Hong Kong, but it cools off and dries out a bit by November. It is even wetter on Hainan Island.
For most of China in the autumn, there is very little rain making heavy rain gear unnecessary. However, you should pack for crisp, cool autumn weather. Venturing into the Gobi Desert or Mongolian Steppe means packing for almost freezing temperatures, so bring much warmer clothing. Meanwhile, the southeast of China should be treated as if it were Southeast Asia. Wear light, loose clothing and bring good rain gear.
Drinking Water
The autumn weather does not change China's water-quality issues. Even hotel tap water should be considered suspect in China. You will be either drinking bottled water or having to purify local water throughout your trip. If you are going on an outdoor adventure in rural areas, it will probably be treating your own water. Do not rely exclusively on iodine, chlorine or boiling, as pollution is just as serious an issue for most Chinese water sources as microorganisms. Any water treatment kit you bring should both filter the water for pollutants and use iodine or chlorine for disinfection.
Insect Bites
While malaria is only a modest problem in China, there are other insect-borne diseases that should be of concern. Dengue fever and filariasis are problems in the southeastern parts of China, and the parasitic disease leishmaniasis is of concern even in the western and central parts of the country. In the southeast, the mosquitoes never stop biting, and in much of the rest of the country they remain an issue well into October. The best defense against these diseases is a good bottle of mosquito repellent. In the U.S., deep woods mosquito repellents can have DEET concentrations of as much as 98 percent, which is three times higher than what you will normally find in Asia. This is a good argument for bringing a tube with you from home.
Article Written By Edwin Thomas
Edwin Thomas has been writing since 1997. His work has appeared in various online publications, including The Black Table, Proboxing-Fans and others. A travel blogger, editor and writer, Thomas has traveled from Argentina to Vietnam in pursuit of stories. He holds a Master of Arts in international affairs from American University.
