All the Items Needed for Your Trip to China

Whether you’re only visiting Beijing and Shanghai, to study in China or for an adventure, there are always things to take into account when packing your luggage. With this handy list, we will help you with a good start on your travel to China.  Would you rather make your own list? Please take into account the tips below for creating the perfect packing list for China.

1. Tip 1: Tumble dryers are rare

Washing your clothes in a laundry is fairly easy. Unfortunately, finding a tumble dryer is a lot more difficult. Are you planning to wash your clothes yourself? Then opt for fast drying materials such as nylon and polyester. Also, fast-drying towels and washcloths are very convenient to carry.

1. Tip 2: Cover yourself

Cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Hong Kong are fairly ‘Western’ when it comes to clothing. However, it is not always appreciated to wear shorts or non-concealing shirts. If you visit the smaller towns and villages, make sure you are dressed ‘neatly’. By the way, did you know that in China a lot of people like to have white skin? The sun is shunned by many people as much as possible. Do you really want to blend in with Chinese society? Then take sunscreen lotion with you on sunny days!

1. Tip 3: Do not count on central heating

The Northern part of China happens to be the coldest of all and there are heaters installed in rooms. In the southern parts of China, there is no central heating. Are you going to China in a cold season? Then bring a warm pajama. Chinese often sleep with a jug in winter. If you want to use it, you can buy it in China.

1. Tip 4: Pack your digital backpack

Most travelers no longer travel without a phone, tablet, or even a laptop. If you want to continue using the Internet in China as you are used to, you can’t do without a VPN. This VPN should be installed on your phone and tablet before you leave for China. In addition, a translation app, offline maps or travel guides, and the metro app of Shanghai and Beijing should not be missed. Finally, you can install WeChat so you can message people you meet in China.

VPN for China

China has some of the strictest censorship laws in the world and therefore you need a VPN to access the websites and services you normally use. The Chinese government blocks thousands of websites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter that many people use every day. Many major news channels and messaging apps and streaming services are also blocked.

If you want to open Gmail or chat with your friends on WhatsApp while you’re in China, you’ll need a VPN. But many VPNs don’t work in China because the government is actively trying to block the use of such services.

If you want to make sure you have full access to the Internet in China, you need to opt for a VPN on this list:

Best Paid VPNs for China

• NordVPN – NordVPN has servers in its neighboring countries and can unblock virtually anything (including Netflix USA). This is the most popular option to get full internet access in China.
• ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN offers sky-high speeds and has proven to bypass the great firewall.
• VyprVPN – The unique Chameleon technology helps bypass YOUR VPN blockades while keeping your connection private and secure at the same time.
• Surfshark – Surfshark can help you bypass censorship and tricky VPN blockades while protecting an unlimited number of devices at the same time.
• PrivateVPN – Anonymity mode allows PrivateVPN to bypass the large firewall and give you access to your favorite sites.
• Astrill VPN – Thanks to impressive security features and content unblock options, Astrill is one of the most popular VPNs to use in China.

Best free VPNs for China

• Hotspot Shield gives users 500MB of data for free every day.
• Windscribe offers free accounts with 10GB of data per month.
• TunnelBear gives users of the free version 500 MB of data per month.

Comprehensive Packing list for China

There is a distinction in this list between things that are necessary and things that do not necessarily have to go with you to China

Necessary

1. Copy of your passport
2. Other ID, such as your driver’s license
3. Medical passport
4. Travel Guide
5. Debit card (with world coverage) and credit card.
6. Cash for emergencies. (Dollars or Yuan)
7. Travel insurance
8. Emergency numbers of your own Country’s Embassy
9. Pen or pencil
10. Travel pillow
11. Sheet bag (if you’re going to stay in hostels overnight)

Electronics

1. Travel plug (adapter fit for Chinese power sockets)
2. Ear pods
3. Phone
4. Tablet
5. Chargers and batteries
6. Digital camera
7. Power bank (strict rules apply in China!)
8. VPN on phone and/or tablet
9. On your phone: a translation app, public transport app, travel guide, copies of important documents
10. USB stick or memory card

Toiletries

1. Shampoo and conditioner
2. Toothbrush and toothpaste
3. Soap
4. Hair wax
5. Shaving gear
6. Deodorant (this is hard to get in China)
7. Baby wipes
8. Tampons (If you are a woman)
9. Lenses and/or glasses
10. Lens fluid
11. Medicines (e.g. paracetamol, ibuprofen, ORS etc)

Clothing

1. Long trousers (3-4 pair)
2. Shorts (1-2 pair)
3. Belt
4. Short-sleeve T-shirt (3-5)
5. Shirt long sleeves or sweater
6. 1 set of ‘neat’ clothes
7. Fleece jacket or hooded jacket
8. Underwear
9. Socks
10. Raincoat
11. Hat or cap against the sun
12. Swimwear

Shoes

1. Sturdy sandals (e.g. Teva)
2. Well-fitting sneaker or walking shoe
3. Slippers for showering

Backpack or travel bag to China?

Whether you bring a backpack, travel bag or suitcase during your trip through China depends on the transport you will use during your trip. Do you travel a lot with public transport? Then a backpack is easy because you probably have to transfer frequently or walk a few kilometers from the station to your hotel. A backpack is also easier to store in the luggage rack or hold of a bus or train and in luggage safe at a station.

The disadvantage of a backpack is that your belongings stay less well in place and that you often have to empty your entire backpack for that one little thing that happens to be at the bottom of your backpack.  And having to lift it on your back from 20 kilos of luggage becomes a lot less fun if you have to walk 2 kilometers at 30 degrees.

A good alternative to a backpack is a travel bag. Because these are made of flexible materials, you can easily store them in a luggage rack or a safe. They are also flexible to classify. This makes it easier to find your belongings and keeps your clothes tidy. A good travel bag usually has 2 or 4 wheels, so you don’t have to carry them constantly on your back.

Do you travel mainly by plane and taxi? Then feel free to bring a suitcase. In a suitcase, your things will stay in place. In addition, a suitcase is more difficult to break open and vulnerable equipment is well protected.

Whatever you choose, always get a good luggage tag on your backpack or bag. Put your phone number on that label (with the country code) and your email address.

Daypack in China

When choosing a daypack for your vacation in China, you should first think about what you’re going to use and what you’re going to keep in it. Are you planning to bring your laptop or tablet with you during your visit to the Great Wall of China? Then opt for a sturdy backpack, preferably with a lock. If you are only going to use the backpack for your water, noodles and your travel guide, then a light backpack is enough.

What you need to buy in China

Not everything you need in China is on the packing list. You don’t have to buy everything you need in your own country. A number of products are also available in China and are sometimes also a lot cheaper.

• Toilet paper: make sure you always have enough toilet paper with you. There is no toilet paper in most toilets (also at the airport).
• SIMcard: Buy your SIM card at the airport where you enter China. Or ask someone in your hotel to help you with this.
• Train tickets: Buying a train ticket can be done in China from 10 days before the actual train journey. You can do this yourself at the station. Many hotels can also help you with this, for a small fee.
• Thermos bottle: are you planning to make a cup of tea or prepare instant noodles, just like the Chinese? Then buy your thermos bottle to store your hot water in China.

What to buy before you leave for China

• Passport with Visa: you will not enter China without a visa.
• VPN: Once you’re in China, you won’t be able to put a VPN app on your phone or tablet. You will therefore need to purchase and install these before you leave for China.
• First aid set: a good first aid kit should not be missing from your luggage. Make sure that it contains at least plasters, bandages and disinfectants.
• Adapter: buy it in in your own country. Then you are sure you have the adapter and plugs that fit your equipment
• Electronics: the story that you can buy electronic equipment for little money in China is a myth. Branded goods are often just as expensive in China as they are in Europe and America.

Want to study in China?

China Scholar has one of the best admission services in China. We assist over 5000 International students in China every year. Our partnership traverses several industries to deliver real opportunities and value to our clients.

China Scholar will help you secure admission to Chinese Universities for your study in China. With over a decade of experience, we are the most extensive student mobility program in China, covering all aspects of what you need. We also support you through your stay in China, offering comprehensive packages. Aside from getting a professional admission process, we encourage you through Career Development, Internship programs, study success, and job introduction. While in China, you will get full access to our community of entrepreneurship programs, career events, and Senior coaches.

Click to Enquire now to speak with our Admission Experts for free consulting

Best Chinese Universities in the year 2020

If you’re looking for an International-student-friendly university, you might also be looking at rankings. The 2020 World rankings showcased some of the best Chinese Universities. They seem to easily and quickly give a closer picture of the quality of education these universities have to offer. But don’t let this impact your decision when choosing a school to study in China.  University Ranking and popularity is just one of the factors you should consider to choose a university in China. Although the international ranking of universities gives a clear view of which schools offer the best education, the experience might be different for you. If you are very ambitious and want to enroll in one of the best Chinese universities, then this article will undoubtedly help you to make your final decision.

What do rankings say?

Rankings are usually based on multiple criteria. But it’s the overall score that gets the most attention. And that could, at the same time, rankings could be a pitfall and not tell the full story about a particular university. They are very general, and therefore sometimes a bit short by the bend.

For example, many universities are active in different fields of science. How they perform in each of these areas is difficult to grasp in one digit.
Also, some rankings look at how much a university publishes, or how often the university is quoted in publications. Universities in the specific fields of science score higher because they traditionally publish more in scientific journals than universities specializing in the social and humanities.

World University Rankings with 52 Chinese Universities

52 Chinese universities are listed in the World University Rankings of Times Higher Education (THE). The ranking of 980 educational institutions was released yesterday. Peking University stands at 29 and Tsinghua University at 35. Hong Kong, the special region in China, has five mentions. That is the largest number in the top 200 of all Asian countries or territory. The University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ranked 43rd and 49th, respectively.

Asia is advancing

Five percent of Chinese universities (980 institutes) are among the world’s top Universities. According to Times Higher Education (THE), a total of 289 Asian schools for scientific education achieve higher rankings. In 2020 an Asian elite of 19 universities got into the Top 200 global list. The number is increasing every year. Five of them are located in small Hong Kong. That is a legitimate reason for pride in china’s Special Administrative Region. The equally small Singapore is doing even better. The city-state, with many Chinese inhabitants, is independent of China.
Mainland China is a demonstrably strong gainer. In the Asian list of THE University Rankings, China and Japan each have 39 institutes in the Asian top 200. Mainland China has the strongest advance with 22 unis in the top 100, a ‘power shift’ against Japan with its 14 unis.

World University Rankings?

The 2016 rankings are the 13th Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The British magazine “THE” puts them together with the cooperation of Elsevier, the major publisher of scientific literature. PricewaterhouseCoopers is their consultant. Universities receive a performance assessment based on five indicators. THE looks at education, research, influence through quotations, international appearance, and knowledge transfer.

The University of Oxford comes first. American and British universities still deliver the best performances in the world. However, the researchers and spokespeople of the World University Rankings acknowledge the rise of Asia and especially China. Two Asian educational institutions have only entered the top 100. It is the University of Hong Kong and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Four are in the top 200 for the first time: University of Science and Technology and Fudan University of mainland China and The Polytechnic University and City University of Hong Kong.

Government, Quantity, Quality

Phil Baty is the editor-in-chief of the academic world rankings. He attributes Hong Kong’s success to productive research with results used worldwide. Universities in the rest of China enjoy an ever-improving academic reputation and influence. They also attract a lot of international talent.

According to Baty, the strategic key to Chinese progress is in the hands of the government. ‘Since 1990, China has invested heavily in the development of world-class universities, setting a good example for other countries (…) With the correct level of financial support and the political will to reform the institutions, it seems that it is possible to achieve excellent results’. The leading author of the World University Rankings gives an opinion to do even better. ‘After the massive quantitative increase in funds and research, there is now, even more, to focus on quality. International cooperation can ensure this. Combine the best practices of the great Chinese scientific tradition with the academic practice in the West’.

Education in China

Education has always played an essential role in China. The imperial examination system was still used until the beginning of the twentieth century (1905) for the selection of civil servants.

Today, the Chinese education system plays a central role in the lives of the Chinese people from a very young age, the Gao Kao (the entrance exam for the best and best-known universities). In a way, it already determines the path to the career and fate of the students. Getting a master’s or bachelor’s degree from a prestigious university makes it easier to find a job at a higher level. As Chinese students have been under severe pressure from the start of their academic careers, it is no wonder that they have developed a high resistance to stress and competition. Exams and tests are taken every semester, months, weeks, and students are assessed with a points system. The higher the score, the better the student, if he/she can continue to achieve top results, the chances are higher that he/she can go to a prestigious high school and university.

Higher education

Higher education in china, which also includes vocational schools, usually starts at the age of sixteen. It costs between 4,000 and 6,000 yuan annually, and in general, students from rural areas choose to study at vocational schools to find a job immediately after graduation. A local company can find competent technicians among these recent graduates.

The education program of a higher secondary school consists of traditional subjects (Chinese, mathematics, chemistry, biology, IT), plus languages such as English (and other languages, e.g., Japanese).
Higher education schools are divided into tertiary vocational schools (two or three years), technological academies (three years), and undergraduate schools (four years).

Remember that if you are looking for staff with a bachelor’s degree, only students at undergraduate schools get this.
After three years of teaching at a graduate school, students receive a master’s degree. These students can apply for a Ph.D. (three years).

Top 5 universities in China

In China, there are many universities. In 2020, the top 5 is:

• Tsing-Hua University
• Peking University
• Fudan University
• Zhejiang University
• Chinese University of Science and Technology

(check here for  a full list of Chinese Universities by Rank)

Generally speaking, all Chinese universities are multidisciplinary, but they are known for specific directions. Fudan University is very well recognized for their modern languages and political training, while if your company is looking for a highly trained engineer, you should consider candidates from Shanghai Jiaotong University and the Chinese University of Science and Technology.

Most Chinese universities organize masters after masters such as EMBA (Executive Master of Business Administration), M.A., and M.Sc. It is not uncommon to find a senior executive in these classes: the reason is usually that these people want a master’s degree that can take them further into their careers and sometimes provide more credibility to their employer and future partners.

Bear in mind that each university has its own rules on enrolments, but if you are applying for an English taught Degree program, a copy of your TOEFL or IELTS diploma is generally required. In contrast, if you are applying for a course in Chinese, you must have an HSK certificate to demonstrate your Chinese language level. In general, letters of recommendation are also very welcome.

5 Most Affordable Top Universities in China for International Students

Do you want to enroll in an affordable Chinese university? According to the Chinese University Admission center, which is the authority on admission issues in China, some universities are top-ranked yet affordable. The following are the most affordable and best universities in China. This is especially good for students on a budget. Read the post carefully.

These schools that you will read below are hand-picked, they are among the best schools in China and are still very affordable.

Beihang University

Beihang University is one of the most affordable universities in China. It’s a public university found in 1952. The university is highly specialized in the field of technology, engineering and communication. Based in Beijing, the university is ranked as one of the best universities in China. There are 12,523 students and 10,282 postgraduate students studying here.

A large number of different subjects are taught here by the world’s best teachers. Beihang University is commonly known as BUAA. BUAA stands for Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Below are the courses offered at Beihang University:

• Avionics
• Astronautics
• Aircraft construction
• Electrical engineering
• System designs
• Mechanical engineering
• Many other postgraduate and doctoral programs

Tuition:

International tuition fees for all technical programs per academic year are RMB 30,000 in the English language. Tuition fees for autumn-long courses in the language are RMB 8,600 per course.

Capital Normal University

Capital Normal University is in Beijing, China. It was founded in 1954 as a public university. The number of students following different programs here is 27,940. It is by far, one of the affordable universities in China. The quality of the education at Capital Normal University is high. The university has a diverse number of professional courses. Capital Normal University consists of 17 different departments and colleges.

Below are the courses offered at Capital Normal University:

• Literature
• Languages
• Political science
• Music
• Art
• Engineering
• Sciences

Tuition:

International tuition fees for undergraduate courses in engineering is RMB 27,600 per year. Tuition fees for international postgraduate courses are from RMB 27,600 to RMB 31,600 per year.

 Tongji University

Do you know that Tongji University is one of the best universities in Shanghai, China?. The University is said to be among the top 5 most affordable universities in China. Founded in 1907 as a public university, It offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

There are about 30 thousand students here studying different subjects. It offers industry-leading courses that are professionally designed. The courses available here are both Chinese and English.

The following courses are available at Tongji University:

• Medicine
• Engineering
• Company
• Applied sciences
• Languages

Tuition:

International tuition fees for all non-graduate courses at Tongji University range from RMB 20,000 to RMB 35,000 per year. Tuition for postgraduate students for all classes is from RMB 22,960 to RMB 32,800 per year.

Southeast University

Southeast University is also one of the affordable universities in China. It was founded in 1902. The university is public and offers a large number of courses. It is located in Nanjing, China. There are 43,643 students studying here.

There are a large number of courses offered at Southeast University. The courses available here are available in both Chinese and English.

The next courses are available here:

• Engineering
• Architecture
• Automation
• Applied sciences
• Medicine

Tuition:

International tuition fees for all non-graduate programs range from RMB 16,000 to RMB 30,600 per year. Tuition for all postgraduate courses is from RMB 23,000 to RMB 35,000 per year.

Hunan University

Hunan University is one of China’s oldest universities. It is the traditional Chinese signature of education offering the best and affordable courses. It was established in 976. About 46,000 students are studying here.

Courses offered here:

• Engineering
• Medicine
• Design
• Applied sciences
• Languages

Tuition:

International tuition fees for all undergraduate programs start from RMB 15,000 to RMB 17,000 per year. Tuition for postgraduate courses starts from RMB 17,000 to RMB 21,000 per year.

Want to study in China?

China Scholar has one of the best admission services in China. We assist over 5000 International students in China every year. Our partnership traverses several industries to deliver real opportunities and value to our clients.

China Scholar will help you secure admission to Chinese Universities for your study in China. With over a decade of experience, we are the most extensive student mobility program in China, covering all aspects of what you need. We also support you through your stay in China, offering comprehensive packages. Aside from getting a professional admission process, we encourage you through Career Development, Internship programs, study success, and job introduction. While in China, you will get full access to our community of entrepreneurship programs, career events, and Senior coaches.

Click to Enquire now to speak with our Admission Experts for free consulting