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Everyone is talking about China, while China also gains good results in global education market.

But many prospective international students have no idea what to expect from studying in China.

Today, you will get 31 facts you probably did not know about studying in China.

(the article will keep on updating)

About China Society:

1. Full name and Location

China is officially known as the People’s Republic of China, and it is located at eastern part of the map of the world.

2. There are diverse ethnic groups in China

The majority of China’s population is Han which speaks mandarin.

They are also the single largest ethnic group in the world numbering over 1.2 billion population.

There are 55 other ethnic minorities in China such as the Manchus, Hui, Uyghurs and Mongols.

The diversity is due to China’s long history stretching over 5000 years.

3. China is the country with most population on earth

China has a population of 1.41 billion people (BBC refer to China National Bureau of Statistics).

It is also the world’s third largest country after Russia and the United States, with size of 9.6 million square kilometers.

China also has 130 cities that have a population above one million.

4. Chinese cuisine is diversity to meet the global requirements

No need to worry, the Chinese do have lots of great dishes that would appeal to most people. Honey Chili Potato, spring rolls and noodles are just some of them. The Cantonese morning tea can make you enjoy the whole day.

5. Green Tea

Instead of red tea, the Chinese take a lot of green tea. It is bitter, but tastes good. You will get used to it.

6. China has a lot of tourist attractions

China is a country rich in history, popular tourist destinations include the forbidden city, the Great Wall, The Terracota army museum, The Yangtze River and the Potula Palace, and the Guangzhou Tower.

7. Cost of living is moderate

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen are among the most expensive cities in the world, but living in China is relatively cheap.

Accommodation for students outside these 4 cities cost on average $200 to $800 per month.

Living with a roommate together can reduce the cost.

Feeding could cost $130-$200 per month depending on the taste and frequency.

8. Taking a train in China is almost the same as taking a plane

The high-speed trains in China are some of the fastest and safest in the world, reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h.

You may want to hop on one if you want to avoid the chaos of airports and as well as flight delays and cancellations.

9. China has 5 time zones, but uses only 1 time zone

Geographically China has 5 time zones, ranging from UTC+5 to UTC+9. But the whole China use UTC+8.

10. China has a three-child policy

In May, 2021, after a period of low fertility, the Chinese government has implemented a three-child policy for every couple.

11. Don’t talk about taboo topics

Please don’t discuss politics and how the government rules. You don’t bring these issues anywhere and always shy away from criticizing Chinese diplomacy strategies.

12. You may need VPN

You may need VPN (virtual private network) to visit websites or apps like Twitter, Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Youtube, and also Gmail and Google Maps. Instead, you can use WeChat, as the Chinese do themselves. Review the type of apps you need to download before coming to China.

13. Finger signals are different

Chinese count their fingers a bit differently. Some Chinese can depict everything from 1 to 10 with the one hand. If you order your six beers with two hands, they may look at you strangely. Also, there may be differences by region. Ask a local if he can teach you how to count because that’s useful.

14. You may can’t read anything but few translated

Lots of indicators in China is indicated in Chinese (especially in small cities): signage, public transport, and also hotels and restaurants.

You can’t read those Chinese at all. That can be a little tricky.

Luckily, some cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen became more international recently.

Therefore, many things are now also translated into English, you can get both English and Chinese on the indicators.

15. Most people don’t speak English

It seems logical in the countryside or small cities.

But, in big cities and in places like hotel receptions or at the airport, there is a higher probability of finding an English-speaking staff.

On universities, many Chinese students speak English and it’s easier to get friends.

16. Some cities with air pollution – Keep your masks on

Although the environment is getting much better in China, but there is still air pollution in China, especially in large cities.

You can see that, and you smell it. Also, you’re going to cough and lose your voice.

It is, therefore, inevitable to wear a face mask. You can buy it from any pharmacy.

17. China is immensely big, but traveling through China is easy

During a tour of a few days, you can’t visit many attractions. Make planning of what you would like to see in advance and see if that is realistic in terms of distances.

In China, you will find the largest high-speed train network in the world, which can be super useful to cover vast distances quickly.

You will be amazed at how easy it is to travel in China. You can make your travel plans with friends.

There are enough instructions and information available on tourist sites and places.

China is well networked, and the train system is fantastic, and you can rely on it.

18. Some strange Chinese customs

Prepare yourself for this one, because customs and manners are very different in China than with foreign visitors to China.

The best thing you can do is blend in with their customs to avoid any unnecessary humiliations.

Learn not to humiliate people in public, don’t tip at the restaurant and expect to see the unusual.

19. Chinese table manners

There are very different table manners in China.

First of all, they do not use forks. Chinese people usually use spoons for liquid food and chopsticks for all the rest.

Also, table manners could be different per city or province. Therefore, do some research about the place where you will go in advance.

Additionally, make some Chinese friends that can teach you the local customs and manners.

20. 8 is a lucky number, while 4 is an unlucky number

The 8, a homonym for “fa” in Chinese language, happened to be associated with getting rich, so it spread all over the country that almost all Chinese began to choose 8 as the most auspicious number.

Never ask a Chinese for 4 things, because in China 4 is an unlucky number. Because the name 4 sounds almost the same as “death,” it is seen as a bringer of misfortune.

About Higher Education of China

21. China is home to world-class universities

In the QS World University Rankings 2021, 26 Chinese universities was included in the top 500 universities in the world. Those universities including:

22. Chinese Universities are affordable

Compared to study in the US and Europe, Chinese universities fees are modest. The average tuition fee for a public university in the People’s Republic of China is around $2,300 to $10,000. For degrees taught in English the fees range from $2,200 to $4,500.

23. Chinese Universities provides series of scholarship

Those scholarship includes government scholarship, university scholarship, enterprise scholarship. Those scholarship can covers tuition, hostel, and even with stipend. You have big chances to gain scholarship if you get good academics results, and love China.

24. “C9 league” is China’s “Ivy league”

The “C9 League” is a group of nine universities in mainland China. They receive a huge chunk of government research expenditure. The “C9 League” is China’s version of the Ivy League in the US. If you wish to work in China after graduation you may want to explore your study options at one of the C9 ranked universities. They are more highly regarded by employers in China.

25. China has over 3000 institutions 

As of June 30, 2020, there were 3,005 institutions of higher learning in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan). Among them, 2,740 are regular institutions of higher education, (1,258 undergraduate institutions), and 1,482 are vocational colleges. There are 265 institutions of higher learning for adults.

26. There are 397,635 international students studying in China

In 2019, a total of 397,635 foreign students from 202 countries and regions studied in 811 institutions of higher learning, research institutes and other teaching institutions in China. (statistics from MoE of China)

27. International students prefer the big cities

For most foreign students, the big cities are a ‘must stay’ area.

While specialized study programs sometimes offer locations outside of the big cities into rural areas, but cities like Shanghai, Beijing remain popular amongst international students.

But small cities also got advantages, like lower fees, lower pressure of living.

Just choose the life you like.

28. There is an age limit for each degree

For the Chinese, age is not just a number.

Applicants for Bachelor’s degree must be under the age of 25, applicants for Master’s degree must be under the age of 35 while those for Ph.D degree must be under the age of 40.

29. Admission requirements for international students is not that high

Entry requirements into Chinese universities are different for Chinese students and for international students.

The requirements for international students include a test known as Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) to rank their Chinese language skills.

But this is only required when the course applied for will be taught in mandarin.

If the course is to be taught in English, TOEFL is also accepted.

30. Health insurance is required

The Ministry of Education in China requires all students who intend to study in China for a period over 6 months to have health insurance. They can purchase it either from their home countries or in China itself.

About Working in China

31. There are limitations to work-study options

It is easy to imagine that a country like China with all its big industries and factories would be providing jobs and short on supply of workers, thus proving to be a part time job haven for international students.

Well, wrong assumption!

Until recently international students were barred from working in China, but recent review of that law means that students are now allowed to take Internships as long as they get permission from their university.

And, finally, welcome to study in China.

Hope the article is useful for you. You can share to your friends if possible.

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