Editor's note: Deciding what to bring to college varies not according to where you go, but what decade you are actually going. From the basic necessities to fashionable digital gadgets, what freshmen take has changed a lot over the years, mirroring China's development.

A college packing list before the 1970s was quiet simple, with an enamel basin and cup, thermos flask and bed quilt included. [Photo/IC]

Students from the 80s often brought a watch, a radio, an aluminum lunch box and a fountain pen in their luggage for college. [Photo/IC and Xinhua]

Entering into the 1990s, the college packing list took an upgraded leap. The CD player, DVD and even pagers flooded Chinese campuses. [Photo/Xinhua]

Stepping into the new millennium, it is no surprise to see freshmen carrying mobile phones, computers and cameras and the digital devices that become more advanced year by year. [Photo/IC]

In 2019, Kindle, massage devices and self-balancing scooters are freshmen's new favorites alongside smart phones, laptops and table PCs, according to statistics compiled by e-commerce platform Tmall. [Photo/IC and Tmall]