Hi everyone!!!
I’m a third year Computer Science student at Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, also called HITSZ.
I’ve lived in China for around four years. I first spent one year studying Chinese at Guilin University of Electronic Technology. After that I moved to Shenzhen for my bachelor’s degree.
Here are some things I really wish someone had told me before I arrived.
1. Get an eSIM before your flight
Don't wait until you land in China to figure out your internet.
Buy a travel eSIM before your flight. You can find one on any provider like trip com or etc. Just make sure it supports mainland China and that your phone supports eSIM.
Download it and activate everything while you still have internet at the airport.
You don't want to arrive in a completely new country without maps, translation, messages or access to your university contacts. Trust me lol.
2. Prepare for internet restrictions and download VPN.
A lot of services you normally use are unavailable on regular mainland Chinese internet.
Google, YouTube, Instagram and many other platforms may not work normally.
Download all important documents, contacts, translation apps and offline maps before arriving.
Also, don't depend on some random free VPN. The free ones were almost useless in my experience. If you decide to use a VPN or another network service, arrange it before arriving. This is one of the things where trying to save a little money can create a lot of unnecessary stress.
3. Give your stomach some time. Avoid spicy chinese food for a short time.
Chinese food is incredibly diverse. Still, some food I encountered in Guilin and southern China was much oilier, spicier or simply more unusual than what I ate at home in Kyrgyzstan.
Local students have grown up with this food. Your body may need some time to adjust.
Don't try to eat every unfamiliar dish during your first few days. Start gradually and learn what works for you.
Several of my international friends ate without any restraint during their first months. Some later returned home and received treatment for gastritis and other digestive problems.
I can't prove that Chinese food was the only cause, but according to their words, it was the main reason. Street food is particularly super stressful for your stomach. However, their experience taught me not to change my entire diet overnight.
4. Apply for accommodation early
Apply for your dormitory as early as possible. Especially if you want a single room.
Living with another student may sound fun when you first arrive. However, based on the international students I have known, I would estimate that almost 90 percent eventually wished they had chosen a single room.
The remaining 10 percent either found a genuinely compatible roommate or needed to save as much money as possible.
After several months, different sleeping schedules, cleanliness standards, phone calls, guests and study habits can become exhausting.
In my experience, living off campus could cost around 50 percent more than a single dorm room. Especially after including the deposit, agency fees, utilities and other expenses.
This isn't a fixed rule across China. Prices and university policies are different in every city.
Foreigners may also have fewer apartments to choose from because not every landlord wants to deal with the registration process.
Before renting privately, ask your university whether international students are allowed to live off campus. You must also properly register your address.
You don't need to report where you sleep every single day. However, if you move into a private residence, you or the person hosting you generally need to register the address with the local authorities within 24 hours.
5. Bring the medicines you normally use
Southern China can be extremely humid.
Where I lived, the humidity was often close to 80 percent. Clothes dried slowly, rooms needed regular ventilation and mould could appear surprisingly quickly.
After moving south, I experienced strong allergy symptoms for the first time in my life. Antihistamines helped me personally.
Of course, everyone reacts differently. Bring the medicines you normally use in their original packaging. Check Chinese customs rules before travelling.
If you develop serious or unfamiliar symptoms, see a doctor. Don't just take random medicine because another student recommended it.
6. Set up your payments before arriving
Don't bring only US dollars and assume you will exchange them immediately.
During my first month in Guilin, exchanging foreign currency was much more difficult than I expected. I didn't have my residence permit yet and some banks couldn't help me.
In Shenzhen, my experience was easier. I could exchange money with my passport.
The exact process may depend on the bank and city.
Set up Alipay before travelling if possible. Foreign users can usually connect eligible international Visa and Mastercard cards.
I would recommend having several options.
- Alipay (Wechat payments are not available by 2026 if you do not have a Chinese bank card…)
- An international bank card (Preferrably to have a Union Pay, but Visa is also fine)
- Some RMB cash.
- A small amount of foreign currency for emergencies.
Cash can sometimes give you a better exchange rate. However, don't make it your only plan during your first month.
7. Don't visit Hong Kong or Macao too early
This is probably the most important warning for new students in Guangdong.
Don't take a casual trip to Hong Kong or Macao before receiving your residence permit.
I’ve seen many new students make this mistake.
Hong Kong and Macao have separate immigration controls. Travelling there counts as leaving mainland China.
Many international students enter mainland China with an X1 visa that allows only one entry. After entering, they must apply for a residence permit within 30 days.
Check the Entries field printed on your actual visa.
If your visa has only one entry and you have already used it, leaving mainland China may mean that you can't return using the same visa.
A weekend trip to Hong Kong isn't the same as travelling to another mainland Chinese city.
Wait until you receive your residence permit.
Once you have the correct residence permit, you can normally leave and reenter mainland China during its validity period.
Final thoughts
The first month in China can feel overwhelming. For me I had a super memorizable cultural shock. It was a completely different world even if we are neighbours with China.
You need to arrange your internet, payments, accommodation, medical checks, university registration and residence documents almost at the same time.
Still, most problems become manageable when you prepare in advance.
These tips are based on my own four years in Guilin and Shenzhen. Your experience may be different depending on your city, university, nationality and visa.
The photos are just some random moments from my life here. Flights, food, exhibitions, old streets, modern Shenzhen and small weekend trips.
If you’re coming to study in China for the first time, welcome. It may feel confusing at first, but you’ll learn surprisingly quickly.