Video story
Amina, Morocco · Medicine
From nervous arrival to calling Chengdu home
She talks about her first hospital rotation, learning to order food in Chinese, and the roommate who helped her survive the first homesick week.
Stories, care, and real life
Before students love a university, they need to feel they will not be alone.
This is the warm side of SilkStudy: real China stories, senior-student support, language partners, pre-arrival care, culture calendar, and practical guides that help students live well, not just survive.
A student should arrive with a plan and a person to ask.
Our product direction is simple: turn anonymous research into human connection.
My China Story
From nervous first days to the moment China feels close.
Stories can be video, photo essays, audio diaries, or short interviews. The goal is not perfection; it is honesty.
Photo essay
Minh, Vietnam · Mechanical Engineering
A Vietnamese engineering student’s high-speed rail weekends
A simple photo diary about campus labs, night markets, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and the feeling of seeing China become smaller by train.
Podcast
Carlos, Mexico · Business
What I wish someone told me before coming to China
A calm conversation about culture shock, making Chinese friends, using WeChat Pay, and not being ashamed of asking for help.
Peer support
Connect newcomers with someone who has already lived the first month.
This channel can later become a verified mentor directory. For MVP, it connects through the moderated community and consultation flow.
Senior student Q&A
Match future students with peers from the same school, city, or major. Ask about dorms, classes, teachers, food, exams, and what the first month really feels like.
Language partner plan
Help newcomers find Chinese-speaking partners and local students who want English, Vietnamese, Arabic, Russian, Spanish, or other language exchange.
Safe connection rules
Use public first meetings, moderated posts, no pressure to share private contact, and clear reporting tools for uncomfortable interactions.
Pre-arrival care pack
Practical checklists are necessary. Emotional preparation is necessary too.
We tell students the truth gently: homesickness is normal, culture shock is temporary, and asking for help is part of becoming independent.
It is normal to miss home. It does not mean you made the wrong decision.
Culture shock is temporary. Small routines make a new city feel familiar.
Ask for help early: international offices, classmates, teachers, and SilkStudy can all be part of your support circle.
You do not need to understand everything in the first week. First learn how to eat, sleep, pay, move around, and contact someone safe.
China culture calendar
Light, friendly introductions to Chinese festivals, traditions, arts, and campus cultural events.
Spring Festival
Family reunion, red envelopes, fireworks memories, and campus holiday arrangements.
Lantern Festival
Lanterns, sweet rice balls, and night walks in old city areas.
Dragon Boat Festival
Zongzi, dragon boat races, and stories about Qu Yuan.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Mooncakes, family calls, campus gatherings, and a gentle homesick night.
University culture festivals
International food fairs, traditional arts, music nights, and student society events.
Life guide
From how to survive to how to live well.
The most useful part of SilkStudy should help students handle the first 30 days, daily apps, housing, transport, health, and safety.
Pre-arrival and entry
- Passport, admission notice, JW form, visa, insurance, physical exam, diploma, transcripts, and emergency contacts.
- Understand X1 and X2 visa differences, and plan the residence permit process after arrival.
- Within 30 days after arrival, complete school registration, temporary residence registration, medical check, and residence permit steps where required.
Housing
- On-campus dorms are easier for new students: closer, safer, and better for first friendships.
- Off-campus housing can offer more freedom but requires contracts, deposits, neighborhood checks, and police registration.
- Compare city living costs before choosing: Beijing and Shanghai differ greatly from inland university cities.
Transport
- Learn metro, buses, shared bikes, and ride-hailing apps such as Didi for daily movement.
- High-speed rail is essential for weekend travel, city comparison, interviews, and seeing China beyond campus.
- Keep passport information ready for train and flight booking.
Apps and digital life
- Set up WeChat and Alipay for payment, messaging, campus notices, mini programs, and daily services.
- Meituan or Ele.me for food delivery, Amap for navigation, Taobao and JD for shopping.
- Get a Chinese SIM card soon after arrival; it makes banking, apps, deliveries, and campus systems easier.
Medical care and insurance
- Most international students must buy required medical insurance according to university and national rules.
- Learn the campus clinic process first, then nearby hospitals and emergency departments.
- Keep allergy, medicine, blood type, and emergency contact information in both English and Chinese if possible.
Law, safety, and emergency
- Respect visa, residence permit, work, internship, and accommodation registration rules.
- Emergency numbers: police 110, fire 119, ambulance 120. Save your university international office contact too.
- For meetups, choose public places, tell a friend, and avoid sharing passport, bank, or verification codes.
Let students feel China before they arrive.
We can help with school matching, scholarship review, pre-arrival planning, city choice, and emotional preparation.