Should I live in a dorm or rent an apartment?

Most students start in the international student dorm: it is cheap, close to class and the university registers your address for you. Many universities only let you move off campus with their permission, and if you rent you must register your address with the police within 24 hours.

How do I register my address if I rent?

Within 24 hours of moving in, you or your landlord register it at the local police station. Since 2026 you can also do it online in the NIA 12367 app or its WeChat and Alipay mini programs, starting with a pilot in seven provinces; online registration has the same legal effect.

How do I pay for things in China?

Mostly by phone, with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Both let you link an international Visa or Mastercard. Keep some cash too, and open a Chinese bank account once you have your residence permit.

How much money do I need each month?

For food, transport and phone, the Chinese Government Scholarship's allowance of ¥2,500–3,500 a month is a fair guide. Big coastal cities cost more than inland ones.

Student Life in China: Housing, Money, Food, Travel and Safety

Everyday life as an international student in China: dorms and renting, address registration, payments, phones, food, transport, healthcare and rules to know.

Life as an international student in China is easy to settle into once the basics are set up: a place to live, a phone number, mobile payments and a transport app. This guide covers everyday life. For your first weeks after landing, see the first 30 days checklist.

Housing: dorm or apartment

International student dorms are where most students start. Rooms are single or shared, often with air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a shared or private bathroom. At the universities that publish prices, a room costs ¥4,400–21,900 a year. See the fees we have checked on the tuition fees page.

Renting off campus gives you more space, but:

Many universities only let you move out with their permission, so ask the international office first.
You must register your address with the police within 24 hours of moving in, and again each time you move. Hotels and university dorms do this for you.
Since 20 March 2026 you can register online in the NIA 12367 app, its WeChat or Alipay mini programs or the National Immigration Administration's website. It started as a pilot in Hebei, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Hubei, Guangxi, Chongqing and Sichuan, to be extended nationwide. Online registration has the same legal effect as registering at the police station.

Money and payments

Mobile payment is everywhere. Set up Alipay and WeChat Pay before you fly and link your international Visa or Mastercard.
Carry some cash for the first days and as a backup.
Open a Chinese bank account once you have your residence permit. Some services, such as receiving a scholarship allowance, need one.
Budget: the Chinese Government Scholarship pays ¥2,500 a month to bachelor's students and ¥3,000–3,500 to master's and PhD students. That is a fair guide to monthly living costs, and big coastal cities cost more than inland ones.

Phone and internet

SIM card: buy one from China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom with your passport. Numbers are registered in your real name.
WeChat is how classmates, teachers and the international office talk to you. Install it before you arrive.
Many foreign apps and websites, including Google services, are not accessible in China. Download what you need, and save important files, before you fly.

Food

Campus canteens are the cheapest way to eat well. Most universities have several, and many have a halal (清真) canteen.
Every region has its own cuisine: noodles in Lanzhou and Xi'an, spicy food in Chengdu and Chongqing, dim sum in Guangzhou. Our city guides list local dishes for each university city.
Food delivery apps (Meituan, Ele.me) bring food to your dorm gate.

Getting around

Metro in all big cities, plus buses, taxis and DiDi (ride-hailing).
High-speed trains link most cities. Buy tickets on 12306, China Railway's official site and app, which accepts passports. Bring the same passport to the station.
Shared bikes are common on and around campus.

Health

Health insurance is required for international students; most universities arrange a group plan for about ¥800 a year.
Start at the campus clinic for minor problems. Large hospitals in big cities often have an international department.
In an emergency, call 120 for an ambulance.

Study and campus life

Expect attendance to count: missing classes can affect your grades and, for scholarship students, the scholarship.
Join clubs, sports teams and language exchanges. They are the fastest way to make Chinese friends and improve your Chinese.
The academic year has two semesters. The winter break includes the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year, in January or February), and the National Day holiday starts on 1 October.

Rules to know

Carry your passport or residence permit: anyone 16 or older must carry it and show it to the police if asked.
Keep your residence permit valid, and renew it before it expires. See the residence permit guide.
Working is allowed only with approval from your university and the immigration authority. See part-time work and internships.
Drug laws are strict, and penalties are severe.

Safety and emergencies

China is one of the safest places to study: in Gallup's 2025 Global Safety Report, 94% of adults in China feel safe walking alone at night. Still, keep your phone and passport secure, and save these numbers:

Number	For
110	Police
120	Ambulance
119	Fire
12367	National Immigration Administration service hotline (visas, residence permits)

Learning a few words helps everywhere. Start with our HSK requirements guide, and see why students choose China.