• Population: 1.4 billion
• Capital: Beijing
• Demographics: China legally recognizes 56 distinct ethnic groups, who altogether comprise the Zhonghua Minzu. The major ethnic group in China are the Han Chinese, who constitute about 91.51% of the total population, while the ethnic minorities account for about 8.49% of the population.
• Type of government: The main body of the Chinese constitution declares that "the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC)."
• Currency: Renminbi
• Common foods: Mainly rice, wheat-based breads and noodles, but highly diverse in terms of what vegetables and proteins are used and how they are spiced/cooked.

Standard Mandarin is the official and most common language of China, but the region is home to a diverse amount of regional dialects and indigenous languages such as Shanghainese and Jiangxinese - though these are considerably more popular and common among older generations.

In Hong Kong (as well as Southern China), the most common language spoken is Cantonese, though English is also an official language. Many HK residents can code-switch between the two languages and mix English words into their Cantonese sentences whilst speaking.

English is most commonly spoken by younger generations and businesspeople in concentrated urban centers such as Beijing and Shanghai. In smaller cities and with older generations it will likely be harder to get by if only using English.

As a University of Illinois student, you have access to library resources (such as Rosetta Stone and Libguides). You may also want to consider free sources to learn basic phrases, or to refresh your language skills prior to departure.

It is each students responsibility to independently verify the visa information below and ensure they apply and secure the appropriate documentation to travel and stay in their host country for the duration of their program.

U.S. Students and many international students studying abroad in China will have to apply for an X1 visa if their program lasts longer than 6 months, or an F visa if the program lasts less than 6 months, and the application process is relatively quick and simple when compared to some other countries. The cost to apply is roughly 140 USD, and the processing time after submission is roughly four days.

If you are already a Chinese citizen and have a Chinese passport, then you will likely not need to obtain any additional visa.

To read more on passport and visa terminology see the Passports & Visas page of this website.

Phones

• A local number may be useful for safety and communications purposes.
• SIM card is available for purchase once you arrive in China. Average monthly payment is usually between 5 to 10 dollars including around 5GB data.
• Three biggest telecom companies are China Unicom, China Telecom and China Mobile.
• Make sure you have the Duo Mobile app set up on your phone. If you get a new SIM card, use the passcode options instead of PUSH, or go to UI Verify website to enter your new phone information.

Internet

• Internet infrastructure in China is well developed, and you will likely have internet access through your housing and on campus.
• WiFi service is widely available throughout the country. It usually requires a cell phone number to log in for free in many locations.
• VPN (Virtual private network) is required for the usage of foreign websites and some university resources.

Electricity

• While an adapter makes your device fit into the local outlet, a converter converts the voltage. The voltage will not be the same as in the U.S. For that reason, it is recommended that you do NOT bring appliances such as hair dryers or hair straighteners with you unless you also purchase a voltage converter.
• In China, the standard voltage is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

China uses Renminbi, or "the people's currency". The Chinese Yuan is the unit of Renminbi. Hong Kong, on the other hand, uses the Hong Kong Dollar as a measure of currency. Both use an assortment of coins and banknotes as monetary units.

Banking Tips

• Online payment is the preferred payment method among Chinese. Downloading WeChat and Ali Pay prior to departure can be very helpful.
• Cash can also be used anywhere. Cards may not be accepted in many places.
• If you plan to use a U.S. credit or debit card while in China, be sure to notify your bank that you will be using it abroad and find out how much of an international surcharge will be added for each card swipe.
• Many U.S. banks will allow you to exchange dollars for CNY in advance of your trip at little to no cost. It is recommended that you travel to China with enough CNY to last you several days, or exchange dollars for CNY directly at the airport upon arrival so that you have an emergency back-up option if you have issues with your cards.
• Checks, including traveler’s checks, are not used in China and it will not be possible to cash them.
• There are several wire transfer services available in China if you need money sent from the United States to China while you are abroad. Carefully research all the possible surcharges and safety concerns before selecting a wire transfer service.

Geography

• Placed in Eastern Asia, China borders the East China Sea, the Korea Bay, the Yellow Sea, and the South China Sea.
• China, due to its large land area, has an extremely diverse climate that can range from tropical in the south and subarctic in the north.
• China's terrain consists of mostly mountains with high plateaus and deserts in the west, with plains, river deltas and hills in the east.

Climate

The Chinese climate highly varies from region to region.

• Beijing has continental climate category, with cold but sunny winters, and hot and rainy summers.
• Coastal areas (Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen) usually have the humid subtropical climate category. Winters are mild and summers are hot and humid.
• Hangzhou weather is generally warm and mild all year round, with abundant sunshine and rainfall.

Packing

• For packing considerations, view the Packing List (PDF).

Traveling Locally

• China has convenient and cheap public transportation including rail, buses, subways, and shared bikes in almost every single city.
• High-speed rails are used to commute between cities, typically cheaper than airplane.
• Buses and subways are present in most cities, used to commute within a city. Cost for a single trip typically falls in the range of 2 to 10 CNY (0.3 to 1.5 USD). Note that they can get busy during commuter time. It is encouraged to buy local transportation cards. They can all be great measures to get to the campus from the airports.
• Shared bikes can be found everywhere.
• Taxi is always a choice.

Flights

• Common Airlines: Air China, China Eastern Airline, China Southern Airline, Hainan Airline

Each student faces different barriers and unique challenges based on their identity. For example, how you identify in the United States may not be how you choose to identify abroad because of the local social culture. We encourage all students to reflect on the different aspects of their identity and consider how they may play a role in their study abroad experience. To help with this thought process: visit the State Department website and look into the Identity & Inclusion resources available on this website.

International Safety and Security provides important wellness tips, along with using your insurance and the emergency phone number. Be sure to become familiar with this website and the resources available to you. Review the U.S. Embassy page and the Department of State website for additional safety resources.

Enroll yourself in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) with the U.S. Department of State. Registration in STEP will allow you to get alerts on the latest safety and security information. In addition, the information you provide enables the U.S. embassy or consulate to contact you in an emergency.