Student life in China — a real day-to-day guide

Moving to a new country is always nerve-wracking, and China is no exception. What awaits you outside the classroom? How does daily life work, what do students do in their free time, and what should you brace for?

Dorms: your first home

Most international students live on campus. The conditions are usually better than CIS students expect.

• Single — 6,000–18,000 ¥/year. Private bathroom, AC, internet, furnished.
• Twin — 3,000–9,000 ¥/year. Great way to make friends.
• Quad — 1,500–4,000 ¥/year. Rare for international students.

Food: from the canteen to street markets

Canteens — 8–15 ¥ for a meal. Cafés around campus — 15–40 ¥. Meituan and Ele.me deliver in 20–40 minutes from 15 ¥.

Every canteen has halal and vegetarian counters. Most universities serve western options too — burgers, pasta, salads.

Transport: fast and cheap

• Metro — 2–7 ¥, runs from 6:00 to 23:00.
• Buses — 1–2 ¥, paid via Alipay/WeChat.
• Bike-sharing — 1.5 ¥ per ride.
• Didi (Uber-equivalent) — 15–40 ¥ across town.
• High-speed trains — Beijing–Shanghai in 4.5 hours for 550 ¥.

Student clubs and sports

Every university has dozens of clubs: from calligraphy and martial arts to robotics and esports. Pools and gyms cost 500–1,500 ¥/year.

Safety

China is one of the world's top-10 safest countries. You can walk the city at night, lost items get returned, campuses are guarded 24/7 with card or face-ID entry.

Internet, VPN and apps

Student SIM plan 39–79 ¥/mo with 20–40 GB. Google, Instagram, WhatsApp are blocked — you'll need a VPN. Local replacements: WeChat (messenger), Bilibili (video), Xiaohongshu (social).

Adaptation: the first 2 weeks

1. Police registration — within the first 24 hours.
2. Student ID and campus card.
3. Open a Bank of China account.
4. Connect Alipay and WeChat Pay.
5. Get a SIM card on a student plan.
6. Health screening for the Residence Permit.

Culture shock is normal. After 2–4 weeks most students adjust and start enjoying the new rhythm of life.