Flights to Taiyuan, from NT$8,094

If you're poorly prepared, air travel can be testing. But there's no need to worry. Follow these useful tips for a pain-free start to your getaway in Taiyuan. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• It's easy — first, pack in your passport, travel documents, wallet and vital medications. Next, you'll need some entertainment to while away the time. A thrilling book and a phone crammed with your favorite movies are some fantastic options. If you plan to catch a few z's, a neck pillow and some earplugs will also come in handy. Finally, make room for a toothbrush and some deodorant so you'll arrive looking fresh and ready to go.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Make sure you don't have sharp objects (like a pocket knife) lurking in your hand luggage. Other prohibited items include explosive or flammable products, such as bleach and fuel, and liquids and gels in containers larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters).

What to wear on a flight:

• The aisles of an aircraft are no place for a fashion parade. Layer up with comfy clothing and opt for shoes that are enclosed, flat and easy to pull on and off.
• You've probably heard about deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot condition caused by long periods of sitting. To minimize your risk on board, drink lots of water, consider wearing compression socks and move your legs and feet often.

Being prepared before your flight will help make your getaway to Taiyuan quick and painless. Read through our handy hints for a stress-free journey through security:

• Your passport and travel documents will need to be inspected by airport security personnel. Have them close by so you don't have to dig around for them.
• After that, both you and your hand luggage will be X-rayed. To speed things up, take off anything that might set the alarms off. Items like your belt, jacket and headphones will be required to go through the machine.
• Your electronic gadgets like laptops and phones will also have to go on a tray to be scanned. Don't worry though, you'll be back online soon enough.
• Don't forget to remove liquids and gels from your hand luggage. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each product should be in a container no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one liter), clear zip-close bag.
• Lightweight sneakers are a sensible footwear choice as you're less likely to have to remove them when passing through security. Hiking boots and other bulky shoes are often subjected to additional screening.
• Sharp items like knives are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so pack them safely away in your checked baggage.