Student Life in China
Practical advice for your first weeks — banking, SIM cards, the apps you'll live on, food culture, and how to build a social life.
Opening a bank account & paying
Open a bank account
Bring your passport, admission notice and residence permit. Bank of China, ICBC and China Construction Bank are most foreign-friendly.
Link mobile pay
Bind your bank card to WeChat Pay and Alipay — the primary way to pay for everything in China.
Transferring money
Use SWIFT transfers or services like Wise. UnionPay cards work abroad in many ATMs.
Getting a Chinese SIM card
China Mobile
Largest coverage. 4G/5G nationwide. Student SIM ~¥50–100/mo.
China Unicom
Best for foreigners — eSIM and easier to use abroad-friendly phones.
China Telecom
Strong in southern China, competitive data bundles.
Tip: Get your SIM at an official store with your passport on day one — airport kiosks are overpriced.
The apps you'll use every day
Messaging, payments, mini-programs, official accounts — the everything app.
Alipay
Mobile payments, transport cards, food delivery, bill payments.
Didi
Ride-hailing (Chinese Uber). English UI available in major cities.
Meituan
Food delivery, movie tickets, hotel and travel bookings.
Taobao / JD
E-commerce marketplaces. Taobao for variety, JD for fast electronics delivery.
Baidu Maps / Amap
Navigation. Amap (Gaode) has better English support.
Food culture & social integration
Food culture
From university canteens (¥8–15/meal) to street food and family-run restaurants, China offers cheap, delicious regional cuisines. Try hotpot, dim sum, hand-pulled noodles and local specialties. Vegetarian and halal options are available in most cities.
Social integration
Join university clubs, language-exchange meetups and WeChat student groups. Learning basic Mandarin and joining a local activity (calligraphy, basketball, taichi) is the fastest way to make Chinese friends and feel at home.
Nervous about arriving in China?
Our arrival kit and advisors walk you through banking, SIM, apps and your first week — free.