I Spent My Last May Day in a Chengdu Hotel Bathroom — Here's My Travel Health Kit Now

Let me tell you about my real experience during last year’s May Day in Chengdu.

Night one: hotpot and chuanchuan. Night two: maocai (submerged spicy pot). Night three: long chaoshou (fried dumplings). Day four morning: I was gone. Not dead — my stomach had quit. Nothing would stay down, I spent the entire morning lying in the hotel while my travel companions happily explored Jinli Street. I was in the bathroom “experiencing Chengdu’s spice level” firsthand.

After that, I got smart. Now I always pack a “travel stomach emergency kit” for any trip. It’s small enough to fit in one cosmetic bag, but it’s saved me more than once since.

Let’s start with medicine — not many types, but each one is highly targeted:

Montmorillonite powder (anti-diarrheal): This is number one. Don’t bother with enteritis tablets — this is what actually stops diarrhea fast. The mechanism: it forms a protective layer in your intestines, physically stopping the symptoms. Not absorbed by your body. Works for adults and kids.

Digestive enzyme tablets (overeating): May Day travel means indulging in local food. Sometimes it’s not diarrhea — you just ate too much variety and your stomach can’t handle it. These help. But note: after overeating, don’t lie down immediately. Sit propped up for a while so food has time to digest.

Huoxiang Zhengqi liquid (summer damp + stomach upset): This is a Chinese medicine blend, especially good for summer travel — when you’ve been in AC all day AND eaten cold food, this handles both. It’s not hard to drink, but if you hate the taste, there are capsule versions.

Enteritis granules (acute enteritis): If you have diarrhea plus a mild fever, it might be acute enteritis, and these are more targeted than montmorillonite. But these contain antibiotics — use under medical guidance, don’t self-medicate.

Now for the food side. Medicine handles emergencies, but the most important thing with an upset stomach is — giving your digestive system a rest.

Light salt water + glucose powder: After diarrhea, your body gets dehydrated. Plain water isn’t enough — you need electrolytes. I always carry a small packet of glucose powder, mixed into water. It’s not bad tasting. For kids, you can buy children’s electrolyte drinks.

Soda crackers: When your stomach feels off, don’t starve yourself, but also don’t eat anything heavy. Soda crackers are mildly alkaline, neutralize stomach acid, and are easy to digest. I didn’t know this before — every time my stomach was upset I’d just not eat, and the excess acid would make things worse.

Thermos flask: This seems unrelated to stomach health, but it’s actually important. May Day travel means big temperature swings. Lots of people love iced drinks when it’s hot, but when your stomach is already upset, drinking warm water helps recovery significantly. Fill your thermos with warm water — a sip at the right moment does more than anything else.

Finally, the most important mindset: when your stomach acts up, don’t push through and try to sightsee. Rest when you need to. Your body matters more than the itinerary.

Have you ever had stomach problems while traveling? Tell me about it in the comments — I might do a more comprehensive travel health guide if there’s interest.