We Are So Ready for Summer: 13 Things to Get on Taobao in Preparation

We might be getting ahead of ourselves a little, but you can never be too prepared for a Beijing summer. These are some of our top Taobao finds, whether you’re looking to go traveling to (even) warmer climes, or planning to spend most of your summer in town.

Facekini
Protect your face from the sun with one of these Beijing opera facekinis (pictured above). At RMB 55 a piece they're a steal, and also a great present for friends at home.

Quick-Dry Towel
A quick-dry towel doesn’t take much space in your suitcase, and is a great way to make sure you aren’t left without. At RMB 34 a piece you can’t go wrong anyway.

Hammock
Lounge the warm summer days away with one of these colorful hammocks starting at RMB 49.90. Just make sure you're not attaching it to any unstable pipes ...

Waterproof Bag
Those headed to sunnier destinations might also want to make sure that they’re packing a waterproof bag for those boat trips (or those afternoons spent by the side of your favorite Beijing pool). RMB 49 for a 10L bag, and RMB 59 for a 20L bag.


Inflatable Lobster

Why not get an inflatable lobster (RMB 109) to take to the pool this summer? Other varieties include inflatable pizzas, turtles, and those boring-ass tubes.
 

 

Sunscreen
At the risk of sounding like your mother, don’t forget to pack the sunscreen if you're going on holiday, which will usually be more expensive once you reach your beach destination, so it pays to buy ahead. Nivea protect and moisture SPF 30 is a safe bet, and can be found starting at just RMB 39 on Taobao. And for our paler friends, there’s also a handy SPF 50 spray.

Noodle Pillows
Decking out your rooftop, courtyard, or patio? No outdoor space can be complete without an instant noodle pillow (or a mystery sausage pillow, for that matter). The smallest ones start at just RMB 9, and they also make great presents.

Inflatable Pool
Is said rooftop, courtyard, or patio pretty big? Are you looking for somewhere to christen your massive lobster inflatable? Well, you're in luck as there are all kinds of inflatable pools to be found on Taobao, with a 300cm by 170cm one comes in at just RMB 288 with a free electric pump to inflate. All that's left is to plan your pool party and invite your friends.

Toms
As with every Taobao item, we unfortunately can’t guarantee authenticity, but these summery Toms are a great addition to any summer wardrobe. This vendors’ collection starts at RMB 458, but you can find rip off Toms at much lower prices on Taobao too. You can also get the real deal guaranteed from Toms’ TMall page here, with men's and women’s collections starting around RMB 300.

Chuanrbecue
Make your own chuanr this summer with one of these chuanrbecue's. You can get started at RMB 29.80 with a little barbecue and two heatproof gloves (not tried and tested by the Beijinger). We hope the barbecue, supposedly discounted from RMB 200, doesn't melt into your rooftop. May we also suggest you don't use it in public, as barbecueing might be banned.

Picnic Basket
The weather will be pleasant for picnicking through mid-June, so why not invest in a fancy wicker picnic basket (complete with wine glasses). This one pictured above will only set you back RMB 369, and is the perfect way to impress a date.

Beer Fridge
There is nothing worse than having a warm beer, especially during a hot summer and not all Beijing flats come with fridges big enough to sustain our Yanjing habits. To avoid sadness this summer, splash out RMB 389 for an extra little fridge to make sure you don't have to worry about warm suds ever again. It even comes in pink. If you don't have another socket or want to take your fridge with, you might need an ice box instead.

Fan
Soon it'll be too hot, and by that point you'll be really, really glad you got this 7-inch USB plug desk fan (priced at just RMB 19.90-24.90) to greet you once you get to work.

Popsicle Molds
Make your own ice lollies this summer with this set of 10 popsicle molds (RMB 49). We dug through our archive and found some recipes for both non-alcoholic popsicles and alcoholic popsicles to get the party started.

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Photos: Taobao, IBTimespinimg.com