1) Bring a friend or two - sometimes, travel is best experienced in a groups of 2+.
2) Make sure that friend you bring speaks Chinese/is a local/is experienced or that you are yourself! This can help you in your travels, dealings with purchases, sightseeing and all sorts of wonderful things.
3) Think carefully about that camera. What is best for you? Disposable batteries, rechargeable? Large, high detail or small and compact? The rechargeable batteries I have here won't charge, and I hate buying disposable.
4) Make sure you take that camera EVERYWHERE! I missed out on a lot of good opportunities on trips to and from work because I neglect to bring my big bulky camera with me. You just never know what you're going to see!
5) Bring business cards - even if you don't work. You'll meet a ton of new faces, make countless contacts and friends. Instead of scrabbling for pens and paper, business cards make things a TON easier. Prefereably, those business cards are printed on post-consumer recycled paper.
6) Make connections before you come. Having connections helps as if you're forging it out on your own, it can often be difficult. Thus, coming on business or with a local language school can help you get to where you need to go.
Photo credit: AmCham Tianjin7) Bring a reusable bag. For carrying purchases, buying your groceries, it will save a lot of unecessary plastic and trouble if vendors don't give you a plastic bag!
8) Keep a journal - so much happens here that if you don't keep one, you'll most likely forget all of the things that you've gotten up to.
9) Pocket translators are invaluable - especially ones where you can scribble in Chinese characters and get a translation.
10) Bring pocket tissue with you everywhere - not all washrooms supply toilet paper for hygenic and other reasons!
