China Abroad: Travels, Subjects, Spaces
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Then you won't have to resort to calling mom and dad to mail you new ones in a hurry. Different types of shoes. This is the always one of the biggest packing struggles, especially for those ladies who brought an entire suitcase of just shoes with them to college. Being smart about packing your shoes is important because shoes are heavy and can easily make your luggage overweight at check-in. But it's also important to bring enough variety because shoe sizes run small in China. If you have room for one more pair of practical shoes, boys and girls, add Chaco.
They slip on and off easily, are waterproof, and are easy to clean when they get muddy or sandy. Most of all, they support your foot much better than flip-flops and you'll be grateful you have them for big city life and for how easily you can disinfect them after going in nasty Chinese bathrooms. Another area where sizes run small.
Bring plenty so you also can avoid having to do laundry so often.
Where Should I Study Abroad in China: Beijing or Shanghai? | Go Overseas
There probably won't be dryers were you go and you'll have to line-dry your items after washing them yourself. Much easier to bring extra undergarments and do wash as little as possible in China. There might be a commencement ceremony, a banquet, an awards night, or an expected job interview. For women, a nice dress and a black blazer; for men, a button-down shirt and tie, khakis, and a blazer bring you up to a sharp business casual.
Leggings for the ladies. An essential layering piece, although you'll find plenty of cheap options in China, too. I always have a 3oz bottle of liquid Shout in my carry-on. What happens if you arrive and, despite all of your best packing efforts, something leaks all over your favorite white shirt? Or your blossoming chopsticks skills leave splash marks all over your front?
Better to have the remedy on-hand from an American brand you can trust to get the stains out. The alternative is to buy a "burner phone" upon arrival and use that cheaper phone for the semester. In any case, call your normal cell phone provider before you leave and suspend your contract usually you can pay a small fee to keep your phone number. Check with your phone carrier to be sure. Instead of packing books, pick up a Kindle before you go. You can use it to download most, if not all, of your semester's reading, and it's wonderfully convenient if you read for pleasure.
Go through all the electronics you use on a daily basis a few days before you leave and make a list. Check the list right before you leave the house for the last time to make sure you have those items and all of their corresponding chargers before you go. They may be hard, but not impossible, to replace in China. Remember, TSA can now ask you to boot up your laptop, cell phone, or iPad at some major airports.
If you fail to have those devices charged or readily chargeable, you can be denied boarding.
Pick up at least 3 universal power adapters, since the outlets are different in China. You'll use these on every trip abroad for the rest of your life, so they are a good investment. I like the Insten Universal Travel Adaptor.
The Essential Packing List for Study Abroad in China
First of all, you're going on a long flight. Visit a travel health clinic weeks before you leave, and bring your immunization records from your family doctor. They'll give you everything you need. Take travel size shampoo, conditioner, and body wash until you are unpacked enough to go out and get full size at the pharmacy. You can find them easily in China, but pack full-size and extras of anything you're particular about, ie.
Very hard to find in China, bring them from home. I take them out of the boxes and put them in large plastic zip-lock bags to minimize the space they take up. Alternatively, you could look into getting a reusable menstrual cup, like Diva Cup. Bring a supply for the amount of time you'll be in China, plus a few extras in case you lose some. Pollution is VERY bad in China and your eyes may feel irritated if you're using traditional weekly or monthly contacts.
- Duet No. 1 - Violin 2.
- Black Sheeps Daughter.
- China Abroad: Travels, Subjects, Spaces?
- The Fall of Kings.
Medications including birth control. Bring that all with you, and make sure to keep the prescription attached, whether you're bringing them in your checked luggage or carry-on.
For some reason, I find insect repellent in other countries to not be as effective as American brands. I like " Deep Woods Off! Small gifts for hosts or friends. Good ideas are candies, non-perishable food particular to your hometown, postcards from home, university t-shirts, and small American toys for children.
In case your dorm is noisy or if there's a lot of construction going on outside your building common in China. Great for making friends, late nights in the dorms, breaking down language barriers, and group drinking games hey, you'll be of age in China.
Elaine Yee Lin Ho and Julia Kuehn
If you miss having a regular towel, pick one up when you arrive for cheap, but this one is perfect for on-the-go, and you won't have to pay for towels in hostels on weekend trips. Thanks, Legal Nomads for this suggestion. Although both cities are centers of higher education, there are more prestigious universities in Beijing than in Shanghai. Both cities offer national and municipal universities, as well as private institutions to international and local students.
Where Should I Study Abroad in China: Beijing or Shanghai?
There is a wide range of subjects you can study, starting from technical disciplines to financial and political issues and social studies. Some of the universities, such as Tsinghua in Beijing, gladly welcome exchange students and teach many graduate-level courses in English. Private schools are a great option to consider if you want to focus your studies on language acquisition. Though relatively less of these types of schools exist, it will be a cheaper option with more Mandarin-intensive courses.
Shanghai , conversely, boasts Fudan and Jiaotong Universities, both very popular among international students.
Even the accents of the local people are different - in Beijing, you will find more speakers of er hua , or the nation's standard dialect. It should be noted that even though Beijing has colder temperatures in the winter, it does have a central heating system - so it actually feels warmer indoors there than in Shanghai. Generally speaking, Shanghai is more cosmopolitan, trendy, and expensive. For those in Shanghai, take advantage of the wonderfully cheap and delicious kabob stalls that pop up on street corners in the evening hours. Some of the universities, such as Tsinghua in Beijing, gladly welcome exchange students and teach many graduate-level courses in English.
The universities in Beijing are set in the northwest corner of the city, about a 40 minute subway ride from downtown, whereas Shanghai's universities are more integrated into the city life. Generally speaking, living in Shanghai is more expensive than living in Beijing. A quick indicator of the differences in the cost of living can be found on the menu of the McDonalds: Apartments in Shanghai are typically kuai more expensive than their counterparts in Beijing for monthly rentals, though Beijing's prices are on the rise.
University tuition prices are typically a bit more money in Shanghai as well. However, both cities offer a variety of cheap and expensive restaurants and activities. The most important means of transport in each metropolis is the subway, with more than 2 billion rides per year: It should be noted that Beijing is much more sprawling and therefore less convenient to get around. Compared to New York, which offers about bus routes, Beijing boasts more than bus lines and Shanghai more than Both bus systems offer flat rates, which means you will never pay more than 1 RMB in Beijing and 2 RMB in Shanghai when you need to get around in the city.
A student seeking highlights of ancient Chinese culture, including intricate temples, lavish gardens, and magnificent pagodas will love studying in Beijing. Here, more modern buildings congregate, including a hoard of infamous skyscrapers: While the night life in Beijing is basically limited to Sanlitun, Wudaokou, and Houhai, bars and clubs can be found all over Shanghai - but it comes at a price. For those interested in more cultural activities, Beijing is home to the Peking Opera, which is a great performance to observe after a nice feast of Peking Duck.
For those in Shanghai, take advantage of the wonderfully cheap and delicious kabob stalls that pop up on street corners in the evening hours. Additionally, Shanghai's Bund will always remain the most beautiful skyline in all of China especially when lit up at night! In the end, each student must decide independently which city they prefer to live in and which city they prefer to visit.
Generally speaking, Shanghai is more cosmopolitan, trendy, and expensive. On the contrary, if huge cities aren't really your thing, consider instead studying abroad in Kunming or Chengdu China; situated further inland, these cities don't compromise convenience but can offer a more immersive experience.
Population, Climate, and Location Beijing, the cultural and political center of China for centuries, is known for its beautiful ancient temples, gardens, distinguished museums, and exhibitions centers. Cost of Living Generally speaking, living in Shanghai is more expensive than living in Beijing.