Cheap Flights to Guangzhou from HK$1,180

No matter where you're coming from, flying can be a pleasant experience if you've prepared well. We've made a list of handy tips that will help get your Guangzhou escape started on the right note. What to pack in your hand luggage:

• Travelling on a plane can be easy if you've got all the right stuff. First of all you'll need toiletry items, such as a toothbrush and lip balm, a spare pair of socks and something to read. Secondly, find a spot in your hand luggage for your mobile phone, a charger, any daily medications and maybe a quality neck pillow as well. Lastly, remember to take your passport, travel docs and some money.

Do not pack the following items in your hand luggage:

• Put all your full-sized bottles of shampoo and hair gel in your checked luggage. Any gels or liquids in your carry-on bag larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) will be confiscated. Sharp objects, like a Swiss Army knife, and products which are explosive or flammable, such as aerosols and fireworks, are also restricted.

What to wear on a flight:

• Go for comfort over style. Prepare for temperature changes by wearing layers, and wear easy-to-remove footwear like sneakers.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) can pose a risk on long-distance flights. It's the result of blood clotting due to inactivity and poor circulation, so do some gentle leg and foot exercises in your seat and consider wearing compression socks or tights.

Being organised before your flight will make your trip to Guangzhou easy and painless. We've rounded up some top tips for a stress-free journey through security:

• Keep your passport and travel documents close by. They're the first items you'll be asked to present to airport security.
• Time to strip down. Well sort of. Your belt, jacket, keys and other items in your pocket, like your headphones, will need to go through the X-ray machine. Make the whole process faster by removing them before your turn arrives.
• All electronic devices, including your phone and laptop, are also required to be scanned.
• Remove all gels and liquids from your carry-on bag. They often need to be sent through the X-ray machine separately. Each item should be no larger than 3.4 ounces (100 millilitres) and everything must fit inside a quart-size (one litre), clear zip-close bag.
• Slip-on shoes are a clever footwear choice as you're less likely to have to remove them when passing through security. Hiking boots and other bulky shoes are usually subjected to additional screening.
• Sharp or pointed items are not allowed on board. They'll be seized at security, so put them in your checked luggage.