Living in China
Housing, payments, phones, transport, healthcare and daily life as an international student.
Day-to-day life as an international student in China is comfortable and inexpensive once the basics are set up. Almost everything runs through your phone, campuses provide most of what you need, and cities are exceptionally well connected. Here is the practical picture.
Money
Paying for things
WeChat Pay & Alipay
QR codes cover almost every purchase, from the canteen to the metro. Link them to a Chinese bank account in your first weeks.
A local bank account
Bring your passport, residence permit and a university letter. International cards work at hotels and airports, rarely elsewhere.
A student budget
Roughly 2,000 to 3,500 yuan a month for food, transport and essentials outside the biggest cities. Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen run higher.
Carry a little cash for small vendors and older markets, but you will reach for your phone first almost everywhere.
Transport
Getting around
Metro & bus
Pay by QR in every large city. Fares are a few yuan.
High-speed rail
Fast, punctual and affordable between cities. Book on the Railway 12306 app or Trip.com.
Didi
The ride-hailing app for taxis and private cars, with an English interface.
Shared bikes
Meituan and HelloRide bikes are everywhere for short hops; unlock by QR.
Always carry your documents
Home
Where you will live
Most universities offer on-campus dormitories for international students, single or shared rooms with a bathroom, from around 1,000 to 2,500 yuan a month, booked separately from admission and often with a deposit. Renting off campus is cheaper per room in smaller cities but means dealing with agents, contracts and your own police registration. First-year students almost always start in the dorm.
Everyday
Food, delivery and connectivity
Campus canteens
The cheapest option, a full meal is 8 to 20 yuan. Halal (清真) canteens are common.
Meituan & Ele.me
Food and groceries delivered in under an hour.
Taobao & JD
Everything else, often next day, to a campus pick-up point.
A local SIM
From China Mobile, Unicom or Telecom with your passport. Data is cheap and fast.
Some foreign apps and sites are not reachable on Chinese networks; many students use a university or commercial VPN for study and to stay in touch with home. Set up WeChat before you arrive, it is the backbone of student life.
Health
Insurance and care
A comprehensive medical insurance policy for international students is mandatory, usually arranged through the university (about 600 to 800 yuan a year, included in most full scholarships). Campus clinics handle minor issues; larger hospitals have international or VIP departments with English-speaking staff. Keep the insurance card and policy number on your phone.
Settling in
The first month
- Learn survival Mandarin early, numbers, directions and food, even if your degree is in English.
- Join the international student office orientation and the student associations, the fastest way to a network.
- Keep digital and paper copies of your passport, visa, admission letter and JW form.
- Follow the rules on registration and permits, see the Student Visa Guide.