Daily life roadmap
SIM + mobile payments → Transport → Canteen and groceries → Weekly budget → Emergencies saved in your phone
Indicative monthly budget (2026)
Estimate for one student excluding university tuition and international travel. Add rent from the Housing & Rent guide.
| Item | Tier-1 (BJ/SH/SZ) | Tier-2 (CD/Xi’an/WH) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (room) | 2,500–4,500 CNY | 1,200–2,500 CNY |
| Canteen + food | 1,200–2,000 CNY | 800–1,500 CNY |
| Transport | 150–300 CNY | 100–200 CNY |
| Phone + data | 80–150 CNY | 60–120 CNY |
| Insurance | ~67 CNY (800/12) | ~67 CNY |
| Misc. (laundry, social) | 400–800 CNY | 300–600 CNY |
| Indicative total | 4,400–8,000+ CNY | 2,500–5,000 CNY |
Digital payments: Alipay and WeChat Pay
- Open a bank account (see Finance guide) with passport and address registration.
- Verify identity on Alipay 支付宝 and WeChat 微信 (实名认证) by linking your UnionPay card.
- Enable QR payment — scan to pay in shops, canteen, metro (where supported).
- Keep a reserve — some services still accept cash, especially in smaller cities.
- Foreign card linking: some international cards work on Alipay Tour Card / WeChat Pay for Overseas — limits and fees vary; they do not replace a local account for salary and rent.
Phone and internet
- Operators: China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom.
- Documents: passport + address registration; some campus student plans.
- Cost: data plans 80–150 CNY/month with many GB.
- VPN / foreign apps: many Western apps are unavailable without additional tools — plan offline maps, translators, and contact backups.
Transport
| Mode | Student use | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Metro / bus | Daily in large cities | Transit card or QR on Alipay; student discount in some cities |
| DiDi 滴滴 | Ride-hailing | Requires mobile pay; verify licence plate |
| 12306 | High-speed trains | Account with passport; book holidays early |
| Shared bikes | Last mile | App deposit (Mobike, HelloBike) |
| E-scooter | Common but regulated | Local licence/plate may be required — check your city |
Groceries and canteen
- Campus canteen (食堂): meal 10–25 CNY — cheapest option.
- Supermarkets: Hema 盒马, Walmart, Carrefour, convenience stores 便利.
- Delivery: Meituan 美团, Ele.me 饿了么 — convenient; costs add up.
- Drinking water: many students use campus dispensers or bottled water.
Practical life in an apartment
Laundry, heating, and roommates
- Washing machine: quick cycles 30–45 min; cheap liquid detergent; air-dry on rack if no dryer.
- Northern winter: central heating November–March (local dates); windows often sealed.
- Summer: AC uses a lot of power — agree hours and bill split with roommates.
- House rules: write cleaning and guest turns on WeChat group.
Culture and everyday safety
- Documents: carry digital copies of passport and permit; do not leave originals in bars.
- Phone scams: police or banks do not ask for OTP on WeChat.
- Air quality: northern winter — FFP2 masks on high AQI days; use AQI apps.
- Holidays: Lunar New Year — shops closed, trains full; plan travel early.
Useful apps (verify availability in your city)
- Translation: Pleco, Google Translate (offline pack).
- Maps: Amap 高德, Baidu Maps 百度.
- Payments: Alipay, WeChat.
- Trains: 12306 (often needs Chinese account or counter help).
Official links
Sources
October/January travel impossible — book trains months in advance.
Quick reference
Ultra digital life, fast deliveries, infinite food at every price. Great digital firewall — get used to Baidu Maps, Didi, Meituan.
Transport
Mobility
Metro extended tier-1. High-speed rail between cities. DiDi, shared bikes.
- DiDi
- Gaode Maps
- 12306 rails
Climate and what to pack
Northern cold dry winter; humid south summer. Shanghai/Guangzhou mold possible.
Phone and internet
SIM with passport. Campus WiFi. VPN discussed — no illegal advice, check policy. External apps often slow without VPN.
Food and groceries
Cheap canteen and street food. Attention allergies — communicate in Chinese if possible.
Habits and settling in
I respect hierarchies. Don't touch head. Original office documents. Limited English off campus.
Deep dive (optional)
Go deeper
Key numbers
| Service | Number / note |
|---|---|
| Police | 110 |
| Ambulance / medical emergency | 120 |
| Fire & rescue | 119 |
| Road traffic accidents | 122 — widely used; confirm on your city portal |
| Maritime / coast emergencies | 95110 (China Coast Guard—at sea and in coastal areas) |
| Anti-fraud / telecom scams (many regions) | 96110 (check local hours) |
| Municipal non-emergency services | 12345 in many cities—complaints and guidance; not a substitute for 110/120 |
| Consumer affairs | Often routed via 12345 or local SAMR windows—confirm locally |
Post & pharmacy
Pharmacies & hospitals
Bring ID and prescriptions; keep hospital payment receipts.
Go deeper
Driving licence & ID
Exchange rules, international permits, and minimum ages differ widely. Confirm with the national or state motoring authority in China before driving; rental desks usually require licence plus passport or national ID.
Mobile plans & SIM
Compare prepaid vs contract; you will usually need ID and sometimes proof of address. Ask about number portability, fair-use data caps, and EU/international roaming if you travel outside China.
Groceries & food
Mix discount supermarkets with local markets and food-rescue apps where they operate. Check Sunday opening rules and bag/bottle deposit schemes in China—they affect weekly cost.