Get your visa
Every foreigner must have a valid passport and visa/residence permit to stay in China. Please ensure your passport and visa/residence permit do not expire. Foreigners who reside in China illegally shall be given a warning; where circumstances are serious, they shall be imposed with a fine of RMB 500 yuan per day, with a cap of RMB 10,000 yuan in total, or be detained for not less than five days but not more than 15 days.
Apply for a student visa from outside China
After receiving the Admission Notice and Foreign Student Visa Application Form JW201 or JW202, you can apply for a Student Visa (X1 or X2 visa) at a Chinese embassy or consulate.
Chinese student visa, also known as the X visa, is issued to aliens who come to China for study, advanced studies, or fieldwork. It can be divided into two types:
X1 visa: For long-term study > 180 days
X2 visa: For short-term study ≤ 180 days
X1 Visa issued to those undertaking long-term study in Mainland China (more than 180 days). Students holding an X1 visa must apply within 30 days after entry for a residence permit, otherwise it constitutes illegal residence.
International students studying in China must possess ordinary passports with either visa for study (X1 or X2 type). The validity period of X2 visa is indicated on the visa page. The validity of X1 visa is 30 days from the date of entry.
International students entering China with other types of visas may not be able to apply for student's visa or residence permit, and therefore may not be accepted for enrollment. In this case, all the consequences shall be assumed by the student in person.
Requirements & Documents
The materials listed below are general. The requirements of different countries may vary. The specific requirements shall be subject to the local Chinese embassy or consulate.
1. Passport
- Applicant's original passport valid up to at least six months with at least one blank page.
2. Application Form
- One accurately and truthfully completed China Student Visa Application Form.
3. Recent Photo
- Affix one recent passport style color photo with full face, front view, no hat, and against a plain light background onto the application form.
4. Admission Notice
- Original and a copy of Admission Notice from the Chinese university or school.
Admission Notice can be downloaded from the Online Application System from the end of June.
5. JW201 or JW202 Form - for X1 application only
Original and a copy of approved Foreign Student Visa Application Form JW201 or JW202.
Download link of the electronic Confirmation Form for Study in China （for visa）will be sent to the permanent email address filled in the application system by the applicant in early July.
A Few Necessary Steps Before Entering China
Open a bank account and activate an international debit or credit card. For example, VISA; they will allow easy transaction with a small fee per transaction. Sending money to local Chinese bank accounts is hard and might rack up the cost per transaction, thus using local ATMs to withdraw from an international card and deposit in a local card will make life easy.
Open a trustworthy email account. Gmail remains a favourite among mail users, however Google and all its services will be blocked and you will be unable to access them during your study period without VPN. Thus, opening a second account in mail providers like outlook, zoho etc will ensure you do not have to wait for VPN to connect to check mail. In regards to mail, you will also be provided with a school mail ID in the school mail system.
Must have APPs before arriving in China
1. WeChat
The alternate to WhatsApp in China. It’s key to communication here, and every individual you are bound to meet in your 6 year journey will have a WeChat account. It also has various others uses including payment functions which will require more careful activation preferably after opening a Chinese bank account. You can also use it to order food, in its inbuilt food software called Meituan (美团).
2. Alipay
A payment app that forms the cornerstone of the cashless ecosystem that China has created. But Alipay is more than just for payment, it allows you to order food, buy train tickets, pay for buses, order taxis etc. Having Alipay is a sign you are integrating into live in China. Alipay activation requires passport authentication and identity verification, international bank cards can be linked but if that doesn’t work then Chinese bank cards are a simple alternative.
3. Baidu Map
Baidu map is the google map alternative, its the most effective map application in China, and after familiarising yourself with certain symbols and Chinese characters, the map app is easy to use and will make sure you are updated about travel alternatives all the way to possible traffic en route. Alternatively, apple map and any other map alternative will also work, but baidu map remains a trustworthy application for any traveller in China.
4. Translation App
Translation will be essential especially if you are unfamiliar with the language, thus it is essential to download a trustworthy translation app. There is no particular recommendation for an app but some local apps such as baidu translate, youdao etc can be particularly helpful. However, international alternatives are just as effective for simple translations.
Pack for school Checklist
Important Documents: passport, visa, Admission Notice, Foreign Student Visa Application Form, insurance document, itinerary, plane tickets, ISIC card, etc.
Electronics:phone + charger, laptop + charger, USB stick/external hard drive, adapter/converter, etc.
Clothing:several sets of clothes for different weather conditions (to deal with the changable weather in Southern China), outfit for formal occasions, different types of shoes (shoes size run small in China).
Toiletries:towel, toothbrush and other hygiene essentials for the first few days.
Accessories:belt, scarf, and other seasonal additions.
Medication Products: If you have to take medication regularly, you can bring enough to last you the entire duration of your stay or bring some for the beginning of your experience and research how you get more while in China (going to a doctor, etc.).
Finances: RMB cash, credit card/debit card, etc.
Campus Arrival Guide
Arrival in China
When booking tickets please take note of available transportation that might facilitate your travel to the campus. If you book an overnight late-night trip, you may miss metros, buses and intercity trains that stop running after midnight, which will cause delays and extra travel expenses.
Most international students arrive in China via three gateway cities: Hangzhou, Shanghai and Yiwu. Among them, flying into Yiwu Airport is the most time-saving and hassle-free choice, as it provides direct transit links to our campus and eliminates long cross-city land trips from the other two cities. This travel guide will give a brief introduction to the various transport facilities available, though details will not be heavily specified due to possible changes in itineraries.
Yiwu
Route to Campus
1. Taxi
A taxi ride from Yiwu Airport or Yiwu Railway Station to ZJU-ISM costs approximately 40 RMB. After boarding, show the driver this destination phrase: 我要到湖山路200号浙大国际医学院 (Wǒ yào dào Hú Shān Lù Èr Bǎi Hào Zhè Dà Guójì Yīxué Yuàn), which means “I want to go to the International School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 200 Hushan Road”. Always request a printed taxi receipt once you arrive at your destination.
2. Bus
Bus schedules are adjusted regularly based on real-time transit conditions. You can currently take public transport to International School of Medicine, Zhejiang University (ZJU-ISM), which in Chinese is: 浙大国际医学院 (zhè dà ɡuó jì yī xué yuàn).
Hangzhou
Xiaoshan International Airport is the only available airport for international arrivals in Hangzhou. Key information will be quoted obtained from various websites, but site links will also be included for further details.
Route To Yiwu
1.Railways
There are three railway stations in Hangzhou:
-Hangzhou East Station 杭州东站 (Hangzhou Dong Zhan)
-Hangzhou South Station 杭州南站 (Hangzhou Nan Zhan)
-Hangzhou West Station 杭州西站 (Hangzhou Xi Zhan)
All three stations are reachable via metro from Xiaoshan Airport. Train tickets may be booked via third-party travel websites, or through the official national ticketing platform 12306, which can be accessed within Alipay for users familiar with the app. High-speed trains to Yiwu take 30 to 40 minutes on average.
You must carry your physical passport for all railway security screenings. After arriving in Yiwu, station staff may require you to submit contact details and complete an identity registration before exiting the station if you have not verified your passport information on the 12306 website in advance, per official railway regulations.
2.Bus
There are buses travelling from the airport to to Yiwu. The tickets can be booked at the airport, via phone reservations or through third parties like mobile apps or websites. The arrival point in Yiwu is Yiwu International Trade City Bus Station (义乌国际商贸城客运中心).
Ticket Office: Ground Transportation Center, Terminal 4
Boarding site: Northwest of Ground Transportation Center, Terminal 4
3.Taxi/Car
There are options to book a car or taxi directly to Yiwu from Xiaoshan airport, but the cost might be high depending on the company, the estimated cost can range anywhere between 400-700 CNY. Online booking options are available, and apps like Alipay also have services of third-party applications like 高德打车(Car Hailing) which allow people to immediately book a car/taxi. However, if such applications are being used, the drivers might request you cancel the order or you pay double, so please verify a definite amount before you decide to choose this option.
Useful links:
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/zhejiang/hangzhou/airport-transportation.htm
Train Tickets:
https://www.chinaticketonline.com/trains/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAvdCrBhBREiwAX6-6UlnXMwpoe4PEaoRZv0uHIs5UnG7zemCS7eBsNMlRx_d9BthEE6wg8hoCvaEQAvD_BwE (Third party)
https://www.chinatravel.com/china-trains (Third party)
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/ (Third party)
https://www.12306.cn/en/index.html
Shanghai
There are two international airports in Shanghai: Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. This section details all viable transit options and includes relevant reference links.
Route to Yiwu
1.Railways
There are four railway stations in Shanghai:
-Shanghai Hongqiao Station 上海虹桥站 (Shanghai Hongqiao Zhan)
-Shanghai Songjiang Station 上海松江站 (Shanghai Songjiang Zhan)
-Shanghai South Station 上海南站 (Shanghai Nan Zhan)
-Shanghai Train Station 上海火车站 (Shanghai Huoche Zhan)
Important Reminder: China’s high-speed trains operate on strict schedules. Please arrive at the railway station well in advance.
2.Bus
Shanghai Pudong airport is connected to Yiwu by long distance buses. The tickets can be booked at the airport, via phone reservations or through third parties like mobile apps or websites.
3.Taxi
You may take regular airport taxis to any of Shanghai’s four main railway stations or bus terminals to connect to onward travel. Private direct car transfers from Shanghai to Yiwu can also be reserved, though this service carries a steep price tag with fares reaching 1200 CNY.
