Getting a Phone Card

Your first priority after landing in China - stay connected with a local SIM card

📱 Choose Your Carrier

China has three major carriers with excellent nationwide coverage:

China Unicom(中国联通)Recommended
China Telecom(中国电信)Popular
China Mobile(中国移动)Largest

All three offer similar service quality. Visit any nearby service center (营业厅) to get started.

💰 Recommended Plans

Standard Plan¥39/month
  • 50-150GB data allowance
  • Perfect for streaming, navigation, and food delivery apps
  • Unlimited domestic calls
Student Plan 🎓¥29/month
  • Bring your student ID or admission letter
  • Available at most service centers
  • Great value for international students

🔑 Pro Tips

Request a brand new number!

When visiting the service center, tell the staff: "Please give me a brand new number, never used before" (全新的号码). This helps you avoid spam messages and calls from the previous owner.

Don't forget dorm internet!

Dorm broadband (宿舍宽带) requires separate registration. Usually costs an additional ¥10/month for high-speed internet access.

Opening a Bank Account

Essential for daily transactions and linking to payment apps

🏦 Foreigner-Friendly Banks

These banks are confirmed to accept foreign passport holders:

Bank of China(中国银行)Most Accessible
China Merchants Bank(招商银行)English Service
⚠️ Important: Not all branches accept foreign applicants. Call ahead to confirm before visiting to save yourself a wasted trip!

📄 Required Documents

  • ✓ Passport (mandatory)
  • ✓ Admission letter or work offer (proof of legal residence)
  • ✓ Chinese phone number (for verification codes)

💳 Which Card to Get?

Class 1 Debit Card(一类储蓄卡)

This is the standard, full-featured account you need. It supports:

  • Linking to Alipay(支付宝) and WeChat Pay(微信支付)
  • ATM withdrawals and transfers
  • Online shopping and bill payments
  • No transaction limits
💡 Heads up: Some banks may require you to open a temporary account first or make an initial deposit (around ¥50). This is standard procedure - don't worry!

Setting Up Alipay(支付宝)

Critical setup steps for seamless shopping and payments

✅ Must-Do After Arriving in China

Link Your Chinese Phone Number!

If you registered Alipay(支付宝) with an email address before coming to China, basic features will work. However, you'll encounter issues when shopping on Taobao(淘宝):

Common Problem:

The system often fails to recognize your Alipay(支付宝) account automatically, causing payment failures or redirect errors when checking out on Taobao(淘宝).

🎯 Solution: Complete Your Profile

1
Navigate to Settings

Open Alipay → "Me"(我的) → "Settings"(设置) → "Account & Security"(账号与安全)

2
Link Phone & Verify Identity

Add your Chinese phone number and complete real-name verification using your passport

3
Add Payment Method

Link your Chinese bank card (or international credit/debit card)

✅ Result: After completing these steps, you'll enjoy seamless one-click payments on Taobao(淘宝), Tmall(天猫), Taobao Flash Delivery(淘宝闪购), and other platforms with automatic Alipay(支付宝) login!

Getting Around

Navigate China's cities with ease - no wallet needed!

🚇 Metro & Bus Transit

1Open

Alipay(支付宝)

2Tap

"Travel"(出行) on homepage

3Activate

"Transit QR Code"(公交码/地铁码)

4Scan

to enter/exit stations

Super convenient! No need to buy tickets - automatic fare deduction. Supported in almost every city across China!

🚲 Bike Sharing - Perfect for Short Trips

Want to explore campus or the city freely? Bike sharing is your best option!

BrandColorHow to UseForeigner-Friendly
Hellobike(哈罗单车)🔵 BlueOpen Alipay(支付宝) → Scan QR code✅ Yes
Passport verification accepted
Meituan Bike(美团单车)🟡 YellowOpen Meituan App → Scan to ride✅ Yes
Phone number required
Qingju(青桔单车)🟢 GreenRequires Didi App❌ No
Chinese ID card required
🌟 Recommended: Hellobike(哈罗单车)

Easiest to use via Alipay(支付宝), widest coverage, and most foreigner-friendly!

💡 First-time tips:
  • Pay a deposit or link your Sesame Credit(芝麻信用) for deposit-free rides
  • Always check brakes and tires before riding
  • Park in designated areas to avoid fines

Healthcare & Medicine

Stay healthy and know where to get help when you need it

💊 Buying Medicine

For Regular Medications

Cold medicine, fever reducers, band-aids, etc.

Recommended: Ali Health Pharmacy(阿里健康大药房) on Taobao(淘宝)
  • Official Alibaba-operated pharmacy
  • Guaranteed quality and authenticity
  • Delivery in 1-2 days

Need Medicine Urgently?

Open Taobao Flash Delivery(淘宝闪购) or Meituan(美团) delivery app:

  1. Search for "pharmacy"(药店) or "medicine"(买药)
  2. Select a nearby pharmacy
  3. Place your order
  4. Delivery in as fast as 1 hour to your door! 🚴‍♂️
This saved me during a midnight fever emergency!

🏥 Seeing a Doctor

Important: Foreigners typically cannot book hospital appointments directly through apps (like Alipay(支付宝) or WeChat(微信) hospital services).

How to Get Medical Care:

Option 1
Call the Hospital

Ask about international clinics or English-speaking services

Option 2
Walk-in Registration

Go directly to the hospital for on-site registration (bring your passport!)

💡 Pro tip: Research top-tier hospitals (三甲医院) near your school in advance and save their contact numbers. These hospitals have the best facilities and are more likely to have English-speaking staff.

Visa & Enrollment Essentials

Critical documents and deadlines - don't miss these important steps!

📄 Required Documents Checklist

⚠️ 2025 Policy Update!

Even Chinese language students now need to provide graduation certificates!

✅ Essential Documents:

  • ✓ Original Passport
  • ✓ Graduation Certificate from your highest education level
    ⚠️ Important: As of 2025, this is required even for language program students!
  • ✓ Health Check Report from your home country (accepted by some schools)
  • ✓ Passport Photos with white background (bring 10 each of 2-inch and 1-inch sizes)
  • ✓ Admission Letter
📢 Important Note: Some agents may not be aware of the new regulations and might tell language students they don't need graduation certificates. Always verify requirements yourself to avoid entry denial or registration failure!

🩺 Health Check & Residence Permit Process

Week 1

Post-Arrival Health Check

Visit the designated local health center (e.g., "International Travel Healthcare Center"(国际旅行卫生保健中心) in Hangzhou)

Who needs this:
  • ✅ Language students staying 1+ year
  • ✅ Degree-seeking students
  • ✅ Work visa holders
  • ❌ Exempt: 6-month language students
Within 1 Month

Apply for Residence Permit

After health check, bring all documents to the local Exit & Entry Administration(出入境管理局) to apply for your official residence permit (Study/X1 visa)

~2 Weeks Later

Collect Your Residence Permit

Return to pick up your residence permit sticker (essentially your "Chinese ID card" for the duration of your stay)

✅ Pro tip: Keep all receipts and take photos of all documents as backup. You'll thank yourself later!

Essential Apps for Life in China

These apps are absolutely essential - you'll use them every single day!

⚠️ Important: Google Play and Apple App Store don't work well in mainland China!
You'll need to switch to the China region to download these apps.

🔧 How to Download Chinese Apps

Android Users

Tencent App Store(腾讯应用宝)

iPhone Users

Switch your Apple ID to China region

Payment & Communication

Alipay(支付宝) 💛

China's "super wallet" - absolutely essential!

  • ✅ Link Chinese bank cards or Visa/Mastercard international cards
  • ✅ Buy bubble tea, ride metro, book hotels, pay utilities - everything!
  • ✅ Cash is rarely accepted anymore - Alipay = peace of mind

WeChat(微信) 💙

More than just messaging - it's your social lifeline!

  • ✅ Messaging, voice/video calls, group chats
  • ✅ Scan to order at restaurants, pay bills, call taxis, book tickets
  • ✅ Nearly everyone in China uses it - not having it means you're "offline" 😅

Transportation & Navigation

Gaode Map(高德地图) 🗺️

More accurate than Baidu Maps with frequent updates!

  • ✅ Check bus/metro routes, walking navigation, taxi fare estimates
  • ✅ Built-in taxi calling feature for seamless rides

Didi(滴滴) 🚖

China's "Uber" - the go-to ride-hailing app!

  • ✅ Enter destination, get matched with a driver automatically
  • ✅ Pay with Alipay(支付宝) or WeChat Pay(微信支付)

Shopping & Lifestyle

Taobao(淘宝) + Tmall Supermarket(天猫超市) 📦

Shop till you drop - everything you need!

  • ✅ Daily necessities, clothes, electronics - you name it
  • ✅ Forgot your blanket? No toothbrush?
    👉 Open Tmall Supermarket(天猫超市), select "same-day delivery"(半日达), get it in 2 hours!

Xianyu(咸鱼) 🚴‍♂️

Second-hand marketplace - perfect for students!

  • ✅ Buy used bikes, lamps, chairs, appliances - cheap and eco-friendly
  • ✅ Sell your unused items for extra cash 💰

JD(京东) / Pinduoduo(拼多多)

  • JD(京东): Best for electronics and gadgets
  • Pinduoduo(拼多多): Group buying for cheap snacks and daily items

Food Delivery & Groceries

Taobao Flash Delivery(淘宝闪购) / Meituan(美团) 🍜

Don't feel like going out? Order delivery!

  • ✅ Thousands of restaurants - from spicy hotpot to pizza and burgers
  • ✅ Average delivery time: 15-30 minutes, often cheaper than dining in!

Xiaoxiang Supermarket(小象超市) / Freshippo(盒马) 🛒

Fresh groceries delivered to your door!

  • ✅ Fruits, milk, snacks, daily necessities - delivered within 1 hour!
  • ✅ Freshippo(盒马) also offers fresh-made meals, bakery items, and sushi!

Travel & Social

Ctrip(携程) / Fliggy(飞猪) 🎫

One-stop shop for all your travel needs!

  • ✅ Book flights, trains, hotels, attraction tickets
  • ✅ Available in Chinese and English
  • ✅ Fliggy(飞猪) guarantees lowest hotel prices with price-match refunds!

Xiaohongshu(小红书) 📸

China's "Instagram + Pinterest"

  • ✅ Share food, travel, fashion, study tips
  • ✅ Search "international student life"(留学生日常) or "city guides"(城市攻略) for useful tips!
  • ✅ I found the best hotpot near my school through this app! 🔥

Learning & Productivity

Qwen(通义) / Doubao(豆包) / DeepSeek 🤖

Chinese AI assistants!

  • ✅ Help with homework, research, translation, proofreading
  • ✅ Highly recommend Qwen(通义) - one of China's most powerful AIs, great for translation and language learning!

WeChat Read(微信阅读) / Ximalaya(喜马拉雅) / Xiaoyuzhou(小宇宙) 📖🎧

  • WeChat Read(微信阅读): Affordable e-books, huge selection
  • Ximalaya(喜马拉雅): Chinese podcasts and audiobooks
  • Xiaoyuzhou(小宇宙): Popular Chinese podcast platform for young people

Baidu Netdisk(百度网盘) / Kuake(跨克) 🌐

Like Google Drive or Dropbox

  • ✅ Store files, share materials
  • ✅ Essential for school and work!

🎉 You've Got This!

Adjusting to life in a new country can feel overwhelming at first, but trust me - life in China is incredibly convenient, vibrant, and exciting! 🌈

Once you've tackled these essentials, you'll be navigating daily life like a local in no time. Remember, every expat started exactly where you are now!

Have questions? Feel free to reach out! We'll be sharing more guides on student life, city exploration, and food recommendations soon. ❤️

#ChinaLifeGuide #LivingInChina #InternationalStudents #Alipay #WeChat #GaodeMap #ChinaTravel #VisaGuide #StudentLife #BikeSharingChina