The odd questions, answered properly

Type A (two flat pins) and Type I (two angled pins), 220V/50Hz. Most hotel rooms have universal sockets. Bring a universal adapter.

Prescription medication in original packaging with a prescription or doctor’s letter. Stimulants and opioids — including common ADHD medication — require advance approval and are otherwise confiscated.

Mid-range hotels offer same-day laundry at reasonable prices. Self-service laundries are rare but growing in hostel areas.

Squat toilets are standard in public conveniences. Bring tissues — they are often not provided — and use the bin rather than flushing paper in older buildings.

Yes, in major cities, from studios with health certification. Standards vary; ask about single-use needles explicitly.

Young people in cities speak some; outside tourist areas, very little. Translation apps and a guide cover the gap.

18, and enforcement is relaxed. Alcohol is sold in convenience stores without restriction.

Very. It is safe, cheap, and the transport network makes solo movement easy. The friction is language, which a translation app and two days of guiding solve.

Use DiDi inside Alipay — you type the destination, the driver calls through the app, and payment is automatic. No conversation required.

Your hotel’s name and address in Chinese characters, saved as an offline screenshot. Every taxi, every station attendant and every emergency contact will need it.