Sanitary pads are available everywhere in China; tampons and menstrual cups are harder to find, so bring your preferred type.
Sanitary pads are widely reported as available in any supermarket, convenience store, or pharmacy, but tampons and menstrual cups are widely reported to be less common outside big cities, import stores, and online.
Pack enough of what you prefer for the trip; you can top up pads anywhere and find tampons in larger cities or online.
The practical picture
This is practical, experience-based guidance. Availability varies by city and store, so treat it as a starting point rather than a guarantee — bringing your own preferred product avoids the guesswork.
Before you go
If you use tampons or a menstrual cup, bring enough for the trip — pads are easy to top up locally, but your preferred type may be harder to find.
Supermarkets, convenience stores, and pharmacies widely stock pads; tampons are more reliably found in larger cities, international/import stores, and on Chinese shopping apps.
What travelers get wrong
Assuming tampons are as easy to find as pads
Tampons and menstrual cups are widely reported as far less common than pads outside big cities and import stores.
Workaround: Bring your own supply; don’t count on restocking your preferred type mid-trip in a smaller city.
Widely reported
The short version
Pads: available anywhere — supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies.
Tampons / cups: bring your own; easier to find in big cities, import stores, and online.
Save the product name in Chinese and use a translation app if you need to ask.
Frequently asked questions
Are pads easy to find in China?
Yes — sanitary pads are widely reported as available in any supermarket, convenience store, or pharmacy across China.
Can I buy tampons in China?
Tampons are widely reported as less common than pads and easier to find in larger cities, international/import stores, and on Chinese shopping apps. Bringing your own supply is the safe bet.
Are menstrual cups available in China?
Menstrual cups are widely reported as niche and mostly found online rather than in typical stores. If you use one, bring it with you.
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