Jiangsu is located along the eastern coast of China and boasts a highly developed economy and a multitude of ancient historic sites; it has become a haven for both international and Chinese students and visitors.
Great Travel and Exploration
Jiangsu has been a tourist destination for thousands of years and over many different dynasties. Nanjing, Suzhou, Yangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changshu, Xuzhou and Huai’an are all famous historical and cultural cities that embody China’s rich and diverse history. Sixteen cities in the province have been noted as exemplary tourist destinations, including the cities of Nanjing, which has been the capital of six different dynasties, and Suzhou, a relic of ancient China. There are also 3 major tourist centers in Jiangsu, namely the Yangtze River, Tai Lake and the Xuhuai twin cities (Xuzhou and Huai’an). There are now twenty renowned scenic destinations, twenty-three national parks, six holiday resorts and 461 historical sites under state and provincial protection. Nine classical gardens in Suzhou are designated by UNESCO as world cultural heritage sites and in 2010, income from domestic tourists visiting Jiangsu amounted to over 468.5 billion Yuan. The cities in Jiangsu are refreshingly green and boast a wide array of gardens and trees, covering the cities with a lush canopy of greenery and aromatic flowers. Although many are under the impression that all cities in China must be heavily polluted, this is not the case. Many people visiting China are awestruck by the care that is put into maintaining the native greenery in the city which benefit the citizens of Jiangsu by providing shade and refreshing oxygen.
Easy to Get Around
Private car ownership in Jiangsu is a relatively recent phenomenon, meaning that it's extremely easy to get around in China without a car. China has one of the world's most well-developed railway systems, making it both convenient and affordable to travel around this vast and fascinating country. Urban public transport systems are also efficient, modern, and, in most cities, vastly superior to those in Western metropolises. The only downside is, with so many people, it's not always easy to get a seat! Taxis are also readily available and extremely affordable, although it may be difficult to hail a cab unless you’re with a Chinese colleague, as many of the drivers have little to no English language skills.
Lower and Affordable Cost of Living and Studying
It may come as a surprise to many western students that the costs associated with attending a university in Jiangsu will definitely be significantly lower than those in the UK, USA, Australia or elsewhere in Europe. Students from the west are accustomed to racking up large amounts of debt in the pursuit of higher education, where tuition fees can easily reach $10000-$50000 per year for domestic students, not including living expenses. Even within China, Jiangsu offers significantly lower tuition fees and costs of living in comparison to other large Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, where living expenses can be between 25%-50% higher than in the university cities of Jiangsu. Comparatively, studying in other developed Asian countries, such as Japan or Korea, can be quite costly as well as the cost of living is equal to, if not more expensive than many western cities due to high population density and lack of natural resources. For example, the city of Seoul is ranked as one of the top five most expensive cities for expatriates.
In Jiangsu, the cost of studying at a high ranking university can be significantly lower than the tuition fees at an equally well ranked school in any western country. The average cost of living in combination with tuition fees can still come in at a significantly lower price than just the tuition fees at an average western university. The average tuition costs for a foreign student in Jiangsu are between ￥5000 and ￥30000 Yuan ($800 – $4800 USD), per year, varying heavily depending on the university and the program of study. It is also important to note that these fees could potentially be waived if the student applied to the many scholarships available in Jiangsu, such as the “Jasmine Scholarship” or Chinese government scholarship. The Chinese government is looking to heavily invest and to forge bonds with foreign economies, meaning that the opportunities for western students to study inexpensively in China are rapidly increasing.
Another reason that students may want to study in Nanjing is the extremely low cost of living compared to western countries. In a city like New York, where the transit costs $2 per ride and an inexpensive meal costs between $10 and $30, the daily spending may quickly surpass the average student’s budget long before the day is done. In Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu, the average subway ride costs approximately 30 cents and an average meal will cost between $1 and $5 dollars. A meal at a mid-range restaurant may cost between $10 and $14 per person, which by western standards, is very low. If one chose to consume the many different varieties of food sold in local stands, the food costs could potentially be less than $1 USD per meal. The quality of food is generally very high, even for street food, making for an exciting opportunity to eat out on a daily basis, tasting the local Chinese food, as well as the multitude of international cuisines that have made their way to China. In the city of Nanjing, one can find Italian, German, Indian, Korean, Japanese and Turkish cuisines. If excessive shopping is avoided, one could potentially spend less than $20 per day on food and other living expenses, potentially reducing student debt and making for greater freedoms after graduation. Living a more indulgent lifestyle, with expensive meals and local trips may still be possible for those students who have come to China with some personal savings.
Tips: Useful and Emergency Phone Numbers
Police：110
Fire：119
Ambulance：120
Traffic Police：122
Local Telephone Number Inquiry：114 (To inquire for another city dial the area code of that city first.)
Time Inquiry：12117
Weather Forecast：96121 or 12121
Mail Inquiry：11185