The past four months have been filled with unforgettable memories and friendships. My exchange experience in Shanghai has exceeded all expectations. Aside from studying, weekend travels to neighbouring cities and even far up north have been the peak highlight of my exchange. Balancing university life with travel has never been easier!
For a broke university student like me, spending in China is like heaven; it is only a fraction of what I spend back at home minus the convenience and service!! As a Gen Z (but lowkey a boomer when it comes to technology), experiencing an advanced technological landscape has been an eye-opening journey. Shanghai is one of China’s top cities, and it has been such a pleasure to be immersed in it. The convenience in China is literally at the next level, as I can tell you, everything can be managed with just your phone. Public Transport? Phone. Didi? Phone. Entering campus? Phone. The sheer level of technological integration continues to amaze me every single day.
As much fun and excitement as Shanghai has to offer, let’s bring this back to our university life! Apart from my 3 days a week of classes, Fudan prepares many events for its students to learn about Chinese culture! Throughout the semester, I’ve had the privilege of participating in traditional activities like mooncake making and dumpling making, where I not only learned new skills but also connected with fellow exchange students from around the world. Besides cooking classes, I had the unique opportunity to visit the headquarters of Bilibili, a prominent Chinese streaming platform, where we toured their building and learnt about the company’s logistics and its global ambitions.
One of the most refreshing aspects of studying at Fudan has been the active and responsive nature of class WeChat groups. These groups serve as central hubs for announcements, course-related questions, and prompt communication with classmates.
The readily available and affordable bike rental system further enhanced my exchange experience. Living off-campus, I could easily commute to university within 10 minutes by bike. A monthly subscription for unlimited bike rides cost me a mere 16RMB (approximately $4NZD), providing a budget-friendly and eco-conscious transportation option. The bike rental app even tracks my mileage and calculates the calories burned, adding a fun fitness element to my daily commute.All the advice I have for you if you visit China for an exchange or travel is to have your phone connected to WeChat Pay or Alipay and you’ll have a blast here! AND Be prepared for a fair amount of walking, as exploring this vibrant city will involve a minimum of 10K steps per day!!
Harbin Ice and Snow Festival! ❄️
