SAC Guide - China

Know Before You Go 

A. Packing Tips 

Tip: You may be able to buy some of these items once you get there. We've used * to mark anything that is likely to be readily available once you arrive. 

Essentials: 

• Passport 
• Debit card to withdraw cash 
• Laptop 
• USB flash-drive 
• Computer/electronics chargers
• adapter or converter for power outlets 
• Pleco App or other Chinese to English dictionary app 
• 1 pencil, 1 pen* (buy the rest there)
• backpack 
• smaller bag for day trips*
• study, comfortable clothes 
• 1 waterproof jacket
• umbrella* 
• water bottle* 
• sunscreen/bug spray 
• deodorant/toothpaste/lotions
• Tums/Pepto Bismol or equivalent
• Band-Aids/Neosporin 
• Allergy medicine, cough meds, prescription meds 
• Small Gifts 
• Camera 

Supplementary

• Sunglasses 
• Guide Book 
• Nutritional Supplements (suggested by someone who was not a meat-eater on program) 
• Two sets of nicer clothes 
• Tampons (harder to find in China) 

Better without

• Paper and bulky school supplies 
• towels, sheets, pillows
• shampoo/conditioner (if you do not have specific requirements) 
• detergent and bulky liquids 

Note: Check baggage limits for the airline with which you are traveling. Try to "underpack" your suitcase for your trip there. You'll likely acquire souvenirs and things in China. 

B. Passport & Visa 

Note: You need a passport and the correct visa to enter China! Talk to your program for any documents you might need and be aware of the timeline and visa status. If you're unclear, ask your program! You will need to hand your passport into the consulate in order to receive the visa. For U.S. citizens: you'll need to apply at the post office using your original birth certificate or some proof of citizenship if you were not born in the U.S. More information about applying for a U.S. passport can be found here. Passport processing times can take a while, so budget this into your visa timeline.

• Defer to guidelines put forth by the U.S. State Department and the International SOS Online Member Center. For non-U.S. citizens, refer to the equivalent in your passport-holding country 
• Check your visa after receiving it to make sure that all information is correct! 
• If you are granted a single-entry visa, note that this will only permit you to enter China once on that visa. If you travel to Hong Kong, Taiwan, or anywhere else, you will not be able to re-enter for your program

Getting Settled 

A. Getting from the Airport to your program 

light: Write down or take a screenshot of the address at which you'll be staying in English and Chinese. You will need this for customs. If you're not sure, have the address for the office of your study abroad program.

• Some programs (CET and PiB) arrange shuttle buses to pick you up from the airport (Beijing Capital) to take you directly to your program location. Confirm with your program beforehand and if so, find out what time the shuttles depart from the airport. 
• Taking a Taxi: Follow signs to the official taxi stop outside of the arrivals lobby - look for a person in uniform assisting passengers. Know the destination in Chinese and have the characters in writing.
  • Be careful! - Stationed in the arrivals lobby may be opportunists trying to take you to their taxi - DO NOT take those! They are unofficial and will be much more expensive. 
• Taking the Subway (地铁）： The Airport Express line takes you to Sanyuanqiao (line 10) or Dongzhimen (lines 2 and 13), where you can transfer lines and get to the station nearest your program. The Airport Express is more expensive than the rest of the subway system, but is an option. We suggest using this option if you have no other options and/or you're already familiar with travel around Beijing. 

B. Accommodations 

• For students staying on-campus housing arranged by the program, defer to the program on what to prepare (if anything). 
• For students attending IUP, whether you choose to find your own housing or apply for IUP's dormitory, it's a good idea to have a temporary plan on where you'll be staying for your first night or two, especially if you haven't heard back about the dormitory. You can consider staying in a hostel - these are relaxed atmospheres where it's common to meet new people and start building community. You can even arrive early and spend a few days exploring! 

C. Finding Housing 

• Students attending IUP have the option of living in the dorm or in off-campus housing. Refer to the following pros and cons from former students.

• Dormitory Pros		Dormitory Cons
  Singles (160 RMB) & Doubles (80RMB) Available		Mattress is thin and hard
  5 Minute bike ride from IUP		Maintenance requires communication skills
  School cafeterias nearby		Coffee shop/nearest subway about 10-min bike ride
  Easy to find local and international friends		Can be noisy at times
  Close to the Northeast gate - take the bus to the commercial area just south of Tsinghua		Some dorms only have hot water at certain hours of the day

• Off-Campus Housing Pros	Off-campus Housing Cons
  You can find decent furnished apartments near the university	You're on your own in terms of everything, including utlities and apartment maintenance
  Gaining the experience of finding your own apartment and renting in China!	You have to cook, set up your kitchen, etc.
  For pro-longed periods, it can be more comfortable	Your barganing skills will be tested.
  Share your apartment with other IUP students	Often more expensive than dorm and can be costly maintaining the off-campus lifestyle
  Great opportunity to understand the public transportation system and bike-sharing apps	Dealing with an apartment mate that you don't know
  	Leases for shorter time periods generally have higher monthly rates
  	You may have to put down a large deposit in advance

Note: Speak to former IUP students about their experiences to learn more. 

• Don't forget to register with the local police department within your first few days! Some programs may do this with/for you. Check with your program. 

Health and Safety 

All students traveling whiel funded by a Yale fellowship are covered under Yale's International SOS policy. A description and resources related to the policy can be found here. 

International SOS Group Number: 11B824535 

24/7 Emergency Response Center [Beijing Center Number] +86 (0) 10 6462 9100

• Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics - 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016 TEL: +86 (10) 5927 7000/ Emergency Hotline: + 86 (10) 5927 7120 
• International Medical Center (IMC) - St. 106, 50 Liang Ma Qiao Rd, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100016 TEL: 010 - 6465 - 1561/2/3 

Note: procure your medications in advance - check legality of your medication in China and Remember to bring the prescription documents along with your medication 

A. Seeking Help for a Health Issue 

• proper attention to food, drink, and activities can prevent a number of accidents and illnesses - take care when hiking, traveling, or working out in hot weather 
• if you're ever faced with something your OTC meds and cough syrup can't handle, go to one of the places listed above. For referrals, call ISOS before or during your time abroad. 
• If you're in dire need of treatment, refer to your program's RD or program guidance first. 
• In many cases, it'll be faster to grab a friend and hail a taxi rather than call for ambulances - keep the International SOS health insurance and travel assistance cards, information describing any allergies you may have, or medication you take on your person. 
• Keep your program administrators in the loop! 

Adapting to Life in China 

A. Paying for Things 

• You will need to have a smart phone to get around in China - cash is uncommon, even for street vendors. Most people are using wechat pay or alipay. You should become well-aquainted with these two apps as they will be connected to paying for most things, including the subway, taxis, and bikes!
  • You can now attach a non US banking card with alipay to pay for things. 
  • You will probably need a Chinese phone number for wechat pay or to set up a chinese bank account to link up. 
• Check your bank card/credit card to ensure that you are not paying exhorbitant transaction fees! 

B. Getting Around 

• Subway - The subway system is extensive, clean, and convenient - you can go anywhere in Beijing (or other cities), just be aware that it typically closes and you should pay attention to closing times. If you're traveling by subway, don't forget to include extra travel time in case you need to transfer or the subway car is too packed. 
• Bus - Pretty much anywhere you want to go is accessible via bus - if you're unfamiliar with it, you should consider using 百度地图 or any bus transportation map. You can swipe using alipay, or explore getting the app for the transportation card. 
• Bicycle - biking is an extremely common and convenient way to get around the city - you can download one of various bike-share apps or access it through wechat. Keep in mind these all need a smartphone and an online method of payment - definitely download alipay! 
• Walking  - walking is a great way to see the sights and get to know the roads in Beijing - keep in mind that norms for road rules might be different than what you're used to, but take a look at a map so that you have the general directions of the city and know where landmarks are relative to your position. 
• Taxi - Download the didi dache app - you'll need an online method of payment. You can also use wechat to do this. Some services might require that you have a Chinese phone number to do so. 
• 高铁 - You can take high speed trains to travel outside of Beijing. 

C. Bathrooms 

• Many bathrooms in China are squat toilets - don't worry! You'll quickly adjust 
• We suggest carrying some toilet paper, soap, and hand sanitizer with you as many bathrooms will not provide these for you. 

D. Laundry 

• Most programs will have laundry machines available inside the residential building
• laundry detergent can be purchased at the grocery store
• Be careful of hot water cycles, note that many machines do not have a delicate cycle - be careful or else your clothes might shrink or be damaged!
• When in doubt, you might consider hand-washing some delicate items
• Most people in China do not use dryers - you should plan to remove your clothes from the washing machine and then hang them to dry - you'll have to account for the time it takes to dry when planning your laundry day! 

E. Sending/ Receiving Packages 

• Find your nearest post office! 
• When sending a package, the post office may ask you what is inside, so you should know how to describe the contents of the package. 
• No shipping liquids! 
• Generally, its very expensive to ship to the US and most people do not do it. 

F. Electronics 

• China's outlets supply 220V as opposed to the 110V in the US - keep this in mind when packing electronics! 
• Check if your laptop chargers can support this. If not, you may need a transformer (which is different from an adapter) 
• In general, it might be cheaper to just buy the appliance you need in China rather than bring it and then invest in a transformer. 
• You SHOULD prepare an adapter and perhaps a surge protector as this will be important for laptop, camera, and cell-phone chargers
  • It's cheaper to buy these items in China, but you should keep that in mind before you try to charge your electronics on arrival. 

G. Using the Internet 

• The internet in China is censored! Note that you won't have easy access to Google, Googlesites, Instagram, YouTube, etc. 
• You can use the Yale VPN on all devices - download them before you get there! 

Note: Yale- Center Beijing is a great resource for Light Fellows - you can connect to Yale Secure there or use it as a space to study - Contact yalecenterbeijing@yale.edu 24 hours in advance to stop by. YCB also hosts a lot of events! Subscribe to YCB's wechat @YaleCenterBJ to receive information about events. 

Address: 
Yale Center Beijing - 36th Fl., Tower B, IFC Building, 8 Jiangguomenwai Ave., Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 

Food 

A. Restaurant Etiquette 

• Don't be afraid to yell out "服务员" to get a server's attention! It might feel rude by American standards, but this might be the only way you'll get service in many places 
• When in doubt, look at the pictures on a menu - most restaurants have a 照片菜单 or just ask the servers for suggestions 
• No need to tip! There's no tip culture in China - Waiters will usually not accept tips unless you're at a very Western restaurant 

B. Dietary Restrictions 

• 我是吃素的 wǒ shì chīsù de - I am a vegetarian. 
• 我不吃肉，只吃蔬菜 wǒ bù chī ròu, zhǐ chī shūcài - I don't eat meat, only vegetables. 
• 对 [something] 过敏 duì [something] guòmǐn - I am allergic to [something]

C. Useful Vocabulary 

• 烤 - roast
• 北京烤鸭 - Beijing roast duck
• 炒 - fried
• 烧 - steamed/baked
• 鸡肉 - chicken
• 牛肉 - beef
• 羊肉 - lamb
• 鸡蛋 - egg
• 西红柿 - tomato
• 茄子 - eggplant
• 白菜 - bok choy
• 青菜 - greens
• 蔬菜 - vegetables
• 米饭 - rice
• 面条 - noodles
• 包子 - steamed stuffed bun
• 饺子 - dumpling
• 串儿 - meat kebab/skewer
• 煎饼 - stuffed pancake
• 汉堡包 - hamburger
• 薯条 - fries
• 番茄酱 - ketchup
• 可乐 - Coke
• 雪碧 - Sprite
• 百事可乐 - Pepsi

Program Information

A. Princeton in Beijing 

1. Curriculum

• PiB seems to be the most difficult summer language program in Beijing. In some ways, that might be true with daily 听写, weekly 考试, 口头报告， and 作文, but if that's what you're looking for in a program, you'll find the investment is worth it. 
• Teachers spend so much time preparing and they stay up late holding office hours - they work hard to make sure students learn a lot! 

B. Inter-University Program

1. Academics 

• IUP has a low teacher-student ratio. You'll have some classes that go up to three students - take advantage of this time to practice your grammar, experiment with vocabulary and joke using Chinese idioms without worrying about making a mistake! 
• Students who reach a higher level at IUP will eventually be in more one-on-one classes. 
• In addition to core classes, there are electives in various topics like: Classical Chinese, Idioms, Newspaper Chinese, Business Chinese, Modern Chinese History, Basics of Chinese Law, and Ancient Chinese History 
• Once you are at an upper level, you'll be able to take one-on-one "材料课" - you'll work with an instructor to design your own curriculum (ex: a previous IUP student's 材料课 topic was about the history of quantum mechanics, another tsudent studied the law system in China, etc.) 
• IUP organizes a speech contest and a final presentation/project - these are great opportunities to develop your skills 
• You may also have the option of enrolling in or auditing Qinghua courses during the Academic Year - this is a great way to improve your Chinese, meet local peers, and understand more about the Chinese education system 
• FYI: the average age of a student at IUP is 25, as most are expats in China! It's great to get to know IUP's range of students, from PhD students, to NGO leaders, to consultants, to investment bankers, to public health researchers, etc etc. 
• Language Pledge - IUP has a language pledge within the class building at IUP 

2. Outside of the Classroom 

• Field Trips - IUP organizes 1-2 field trips per term where teachers take students places
• Extracurriculars - If you're going for the term time, keep an eye out for Tsinghua's extracurricular fair in the north side of campus! This is a great way to connect with local students and meet some new friends 
• Cafeterias at Qinghua - Qinghua is known for its affordable and excellent cafeterias! (Can be challenging for dietary restrictions) 

C. CET Beijing 

• CET has its own handbook, so these are just a few pieces of advice. Refer to CET's handbook for more information!
• CET has a strict language pledge - it might be hard at the beginning, but it is so worthwhile in the end! It helps to befriend people who take the language pledge seriously and befriend your local roommate and their friends! 
• CET students stay in an international dorm/hotel with local roommates. The building functions like a hotel, has wi-fi, air-conditioning, shared laundry facilities, furniture, etc. Everything you need is provided for you! 
• Food: There are on-campus cafeterias that serve great food for a low cost as well as a lot of local spots just outside the campus gates. 
• Extracurricular Activity & Travel: CET offers a variety of excursions throughout the program & extracurricular activities weekly! 

D. Hopkins-Nanjing Center

E. Middlebury in Beijing 

Other Advice 

1. Be flexible! Anything can happen while you're study abroad! Your ability to adapt might be the most important asset for making the most out of your time. Bad weather or traffic jams can unravel even the most well thought-out plans and if you're stressed or homesick, something minor like not being able to find the kind of shampoo you might like might unravel you more than you think. Remember your goals and try to stay calm. 

2. Pace Yourself! Especially if you're going for the Academic Year. You'll be engaging in intensive academics, so take your time to get the lay of the land and adjust. Once you're getting enough sleep and becoming accustomed to your environment, you'll be able to enthusiastically explore! 

3. Get out of your dorm! You're only in China for a little bit of time, so make the most of it! You might have an instict to connect with your loved ones back home or watch English TV - try to do these things in moderation so that you can truly immerse yourself. Go out into the city, speak to people in your community and enjoy the experience!