Discover the best housing options, read reviews from those who've already done this exchange, and connect with peers from universities worldwide!
Discover the best housing options, read reviews from those who've already done this exchange, and connect with peers from universities worldwide!
Julien
From: Mines Nancy
To: Tsinghua
2025 • Fall
China's global initiative on sustainable development class is a free credit. I would not recommend taking Biotechnology. Air pollution control engineering is…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
120€/month
Where was it located?
On campus
How can someone find this place?
When you arrive to the university
Would you recommend it?
Highly depends on the roommate you get. Mine was very chill and nice
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Wudaoukou, Sanlitun
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
China's global initiative on sustainable development class is a free credit. I would not recommend taking Biotechnology. Air pollution control engineering is pretty interesting, easy if you come from french engineering school.
Do you have some tips?
Crazy campus, registration quite easy. In China i'd definitely make the same choice of uni again.
Best trips to do?
Amazing travel opportunities, cheap flights and hotels. High speed trains is a kind of 'first come first serve' to book. Price is not so cheap but for the distance traveled it is quite ok.
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
Didi's (uber equivalent) are very cheap. Meituan rental bikes are everywhere and a subscription can be taken very easily
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Thomas
From: Neoma business school
To: Tsinghua University
2025 • Fall
Take into account that Beijing is huge so It often takes at least 30 minutes to get in the city center (from Tsinghua), especially during the peak traffic…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
120€
Where was it located?
Tsinghua University
How can someone find this place?
Through the registration process
Would you recommend it?
Yes
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Sanlitun, new PH, Barcadi, Martini, Commune X (restaurant/bar), Pyro (next to Tsinghua)
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
I'd recommend macro/micro economics if It's not ur major at ur home uni. Be careful when selecting, It recquires quite a lot of work since u need to learn the characters.
Do you have some tips?
The campus is really amazing: many sport infrastructures (ice skating, baseball, tennis courts...), supermarkets, libraries....
Best trips to do?
Datong, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Guilin (look up the best season), Chengdu/Chongqing, Shenzhen/ Guangzhou, Pingyao/ Xi'an, Yunnan...
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
Take into account that Beijing is huge so It often takes at least 30 minutes to get in the city center (from Tsinghua), especially during the peak traffic hours. There are many parks and cultural places which are nice to visit.
Ines
From: ieseg
To: BJTU
2025 • Fall
Xian, Zhangjiaje, Shanghai, Shenzen, Hangzhou, Gangzhou..
What kind of place was it?
Classic Apartment
How much was the rent per month?
300 €
Where was it located?
in Shijingshan
How can someone find this place?
Website
Would you recommend it?
yes
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Bacardi
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
managerial economics
Do you have some tips?
yes
Best trips to do?
Xian, Zhangjiaje, Shanghai, Shenzen, Hangzhou, Gangzhou
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
live in the downtown but it's expensive,
Emrys
From: IESEG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
To: RENMIN BUSINESS SCHOOL
2025 • Fall
Campus is huge, make sure you reach out to your peer (he will send you an email) or attend the campus tour to know about the places to shop essentials and…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
250€ - 300 € per month
Where was it located?
International Culture exchange center, inside the Campus, near all the facilities and the courses buildings.
How can someone find this place?
You need to download AMAP (chineese google malps) Western app don't work there. It is near the East Gate of the University. A map of the Campus will be provided during your inscription but I recommand to ask someone inside.
Would you recommend it?
YEAH absolutly ! But make sure to take a single room, there is one kitchen per floor, you have a private bathroom and an effective room service. Laundry machines are available every two floors and it is a highly social place, if you live outside the campus, you might miss a lot !
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Beijing is very boring if you don't have friends who know the good spots ! I advice you t o go to Sanlitun. It is a big mall with a lot of (expensive) restaurants and a rooftop club named CASA BACARDI, wangfujing and wodaoku are also good places. Concerning the night clubs, go to SUPERMIAMI, New PH or MARTINI, watch out, most of the shops close at 22 in beijing. There are also a lot of KTV, cinemas, 8 pool and others funny activities to do ! make sure you ask a local about the goods spots that can be hard to find for strangers like us !
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
If you want to chill, Leadership management and culture, management communication, chineese culture and society are good courses. If you are here to get places, take asset pricing, accounting or mathematical fundations !
Do you have some tips?
Campus is huge, make sure you reach out to your peer (he will send you an email) or attend the campus tour to know about the places to shop essentials and food. Registration was a bit complicated for non chineese speakers, but your peer (only for exchange, master don't have a peer) will help you go trough the process. The staff is very helpful but be ready to struggle with translation if you cannot speak chineese at all ! Tips : Seven 11 is pretty expensive, go to the convenience store near the east gate, it is on the right road when you enter the campus trouhought this gate. The campus is full of facilities, gym, swimming pool, tennis courts basketball football badminton ping pong kendo.... !! make sure you attend to the student club day to find your hobby ! Get in touch with older BBA student, they know everything about the campus and can really make a difference on your experience. They often chill in front of the International Culture exchange center (korea building). Share a drink or a cigarette to get to know them or just talk to them !! they are very open :=) I would defenitly come back or stayed longer if I had the opportunity but I also need to see other places !
Best trips to do?
Depending your visa , you can explore the whole China ! I recommand going to the student trips organized and payed by the school. You can also visit japan and korea, vietnam,indonesia, thailand for very cheap !! Make sure to check wether you have X1 or X2 visa. X2 is a bit more complicated to go abroad but i managed to go to japan for 9 days ! Inside china mainland, go Shanghai, Datong (very cheap for a week-end), or Avatar mountains, inner mongolia is absolutly incredible. Chongching also of course
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
Safety is really good, policemen are everywhere. Make sure you download amap, wechat and alipay to visit beijing. Otherwise you are cooked. A picture of your Visa and passeport can also be very useful make sure to keep one always. Taxis (Didi) are quite cheap compared to western prices, but metro is also very conveninent in rush hours (didi are very slow around 6 to 7 pm)
Make sure to look for event between your country and china ! Contact the international commerce chamber of your country to know events ! And make sure to talk to everyone !!! every knew encounter is a knew tip to improve your experience !
Jeanne
From: IÉSEG
To: BJTU
2025 • Fall
Living in the dorm was the best idea, especially in Beijing. The city is so big that it's almost impossible to find good accommodation near the school. Classes…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
175/month
Where was it located?
Within the school
How can someone find this place?
You discover it when you arrive in the campus
Would you recommend it?
Living in the dorm was the best idea, especially in Beijing. The city is so big that it's almost impossible to find good accommodation near the school. Classes can start as early as 8am and finish as late as 10pm, so staying on site is a real bonus. What's more, it makes it easier to make friends from all over the world, ensuring your exchange is a wonderful experience and you meet some amazing people. Of course, dorm life has its drawbacks, such as the midnight curfew and the occasional lack of privacy, with three or four people sharing a room. But you get used to it quickly, and it wasn't a problem for me at all during my exchange. On the contrary, it was the best thing to do
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
We had quite a few nights out in Sanlitun, where the clubs and bars are really nice. I especially recommend going to the international clubs. In Chinese clubs, people don't dance, they just smoke. The Bacardi nightclub is the best club we've tried.
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
I took the MBA programme and the courses were quite affordable and straightforward. We also took Chinese classes to learn the language better and be able to get by more easily in our daily lives. But you have to be diligent because the learning is quite intense and studying regularly helps you understand the language better.
Do you have some tips?
The campus is really huge, with lots of canteens, supermarkets, hairdressers, shops... but it's very difficult to find your way around the first few times because the campus is so big. It will also be difficult to ask for help at first, as very few people speak English. Administrative tasks can be tedious, and it is very difficult to get a response from the university before you arrive, but nothing is impossible; you just have to know how to get by.
Best trips to do?
Large cities are very accessible thanks to high-speed trains, but the cost can be very high. Beijing is a large city with many things to see, such as the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, Universal Studios, and various sections of the Great Wall.
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
Live is very cheap from a French point of view. The food is really good, especially Beijing duck, you have a lot of place where you can buy souvenirs and the transports are really cheap (bus, metro and also didi). The city is really crowded at every time so sometimes you have to be patient but the city is really amazing especially during the night.
Don't hesitate to interact with people; the Chinese are very friendly and welcoming. Prepare well before you arrive and find out as much as you can about life here (install WeChat/Alipay, get a good VPN, etc.) and be prepared for the culture shock, which can be quite intense. This country and this city are full of resources, so if you are well prepared, you will live here without difficulty and without experiencing too much homesickness.
Maréva
From: Sciences Po Paris
To: Peking University
2025 • Full year
All around China because of how cheap are the flights..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
Around 450€
Where was it located?
On campus
How can someone find this place?
See with the uni
Would you recommend it?
A bit overpriced but perfect accomodations
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Casa Bacardi - Kultur - PH club
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
Africa and China class was amazing
Do you have some tips?
Amazing and huge campus
Best trips to do?
All around China because of how cheap are the flights
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
Basing apps (alipay and WeChat)
Solène
From: Kedge BS
To: Beijing Foreign Studies University - IBS
2025 • Spring
The go-to club for international is certainly Bacardi or Martini. We liked going to Pyro to eat some international food. For a coffee, definitely Luckin…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
Around 350 euros
Where was it located?
In Beijing, in the school
How can someone find this place?
https://ibsis.bfsu.edu.cn
Would you recommend it?
I liked living all together but each one having its personal space and its own bathroom. I would obviously pick the same place, it was a wonderful experience to live with different nationalities and cultures.
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
The go-to club for international is certainly Bacardi or Martini. We liked going to Pyro to eat some international food. For a coffee, definitely Luckin Coffee. You can find great places on Alipay or Baidu maps, some maybe on TikTok also :)
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
International Finance, Intensive Chinese, Business Law, International Business I don't think I would recommend M&A because the course was interesting but the teacher wasn't that invested and was just reading her powerpoint.
Do you have some tips?
I would definitely pick the same uni again. You have everything near you, and you can easily take a didi or the metro to join a commercial center or have a drink somewhere. The registration was easy and the integration was pretty cool too.
Best trips to do?
I went to Chongqing and Zhangjiajie by train and plane. I did a road-trip to Shanghai, Suzhou, Guilin, Yangzhou, Xi'an by train, car, boat and plane. I also went to Sanya by plane. Best advice : Use Trip.com
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
Transfer your own SIM into an e-sim and buy a SIM card in China to have a number. Learn a bit Chinese Install AliPay, Baidu Maps, WeChat, Trip.com, Take LetsVPN
Mattéo
From: Kedge BS
To: UIBE
2025 • Spring
It depends if you want to live alone or not, basically if you live on campus it is with either 1 ou 3 people that share the same room. If I had to choose again…..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
385
Where was it located?
Inside the university
How can someone find this place?
by talking to the university staff
Would you recommend it?
It depends if you want to live alone or not, basically if you live on campus it is with either 1 ou 3 people that share the same room. If I had to choose again I'll look into solo apartment in the capital
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
Lot of bars, clubs and events and very cheap
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
Not many classes choices and not very hard to pass
Do you have some tips?
campus was fine, registration wasn't easy to understand at first but then it was fine. I would still pick the same uni because it was the best one provided for China
Best trips to do?
Xi'an, 20euro train to go there
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
nothing, you can buy everything when you arrive, it is very cheap
download didi, WeChat, and meituan before coming. Didi is the Chinese Uber, have it before coming so you won't get scam by the taxi at the airport
Mohamed
From: Kedge Bs School
To: Tsinghua
2024 • Fall
Wechat group to get informed on everything, the international student groups..
What kind of place was it?
Student Residence
How much was the rent per month?
500
Where was it located?
In campus
How can someone find this place?
School website
Would you recommend it?
Ask university accommodation
What are some top bars, clubs, or events you recommend?
WUDUAKU is the road, you can do bacardi, supermiami,
Which classes do you recommend… or not?
Financial Statement Analysis, International Business
Do you have some tips?
Wechat group to get informed on everything, the international student groups
Best trips to do?
Shanghai, Shenzen, Guandzhou
What do you absolutely need to know to live your best life in Beijing?
VPN,
