Free Survival Guide

First Time in China? Sort These 8 Things Out First

Every item comes from real situations international students commonly face. Save this checklist — arriving will be much easier.

Prepare a usable bank card and learn in advance how to link foreign cards to major mobile payment platforms.

Confirm your phone supports China's frequency bands, and register a real-name SIM card as soon as you arrive.

Verify the address, contract, fees, and registration requirements before moving in — don't pay large deposits upfront.

Understand residence registration, residency procedures, and school check-in deadlines — always follow official notifications.

Save the contacts for your school clinic, the nearest general hospital, and your insurance provider.

Get familiar with the subway and ride-hailing apps. Chinese addresses and campus gate names matter most.

Citation, collaboration, and AI tool rules may differ — ask your teacher first when unsure.

Be alert to transfer scams, part-time job fraud, currency exchange traps, and "insider" schemes. Keep records of important matters.

PDF

First Week in China Checklist

Need a printable version of the "First Week in China" checklist? Contact us to get the bilingual (Chinese/English) version for free.