Study medicine in China: China in a student’s Perspective

China is reputed for traditional Chinese medicine & acupuncture since ancient times.
Since China opened the doors for international medical students, China became the most favorite destination for those who want to study medicine abroad from the 2000s until the COVID crisis.
This article is developed from the students’ & parents’ perspectives in order to shed some light on the grey areas of misconception about China by many.

Geopolitics & Culture

Geography & related	Location: East Asia (World’s most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019). Area: Covering an area of approximately 9.6 million square km The world’s third- or fourth-largest country by area. Time zones: Follows the system of a single time zone (Beijing time: + 2.5 hrs from IST). Capital: Beijing. Read more: About China Country visuals Landscape
Connectivity	Well connected. Flights: daily flights with very short transits. Delhi to Beijing To & Fro 50,000 INR Approx. Chennai to Moscow To & Fro 45,000 INR Approx.
Culture	Chinese culture is one of the world’s oldest cultures, originating thousands of years ago. The area over which the culture prevails covers a large geographical region in East Asia and is extremely diverse and varying, with customs and traditions varying greatly between provinces, cities, and even towns as well.
Official language	The predominant language is Standard Chinese, which is based on central Mandarin. There are hundreds of related Chinese languages, collectively known as Hanyu (simplified Chinese: 汉语; traditional Chinese: 漢語; pinyin: Hànyǔ, ‘Han language’), that are spoken by 92% of the population.
Currency	Chinese Yuan 1 RMB = about 10.50 INR Current exchange rate.
Proximity to India	Around 3000 Km.
Climate	China is a vast land spanning many degrees of latitude with complicated terrain, the climate varies radically. China has a variety of temperatures and rainfall zones, including continental monsoon areas. In winter most areas become cold and dry, in summer hot and rainy.
Development	Highly Developed. The economy of China has transitioned from a centrally-planned system to a more market-oriented economy since 1978 or earlier. As of 2019, ranked as the second-largest in the world by nominal GDP. As of 2017 the largest in the world by purchasing power parity.

Lifestyle & safety

Availability of food & grocery	Good varieties of vegetables, meats, fruits, and milk products are widely available in supermarkets and local markets. Even Indian grocery shops are available in various cities in China. Still, some have the misconception that in China people eat only all the exotic, unsafe, and dangerous animals. Yes, there are people eating strange thing but that is not the case in common.
Local Transport	Highly efficient & economical transportation system with a very good network to travel around China. Almost all modes of transport are available in China such as Metro, Bus, Trolley Bus, Mini Bus, Tram, Monorail, Waterways, Railways, Airways, High-speed bullet trains, etc.
Indian food	Mostly Chinese and Asian cuisine is available in university campus canteens. In some colleges, Muslim canteens are available where they serve halal food. Some universities have Indian Canteen maintained by Indian contractors offering Indian food at economical rates. A lot of food kiosks available around the College and hostel campus. Indian restaurants are available in many big cities but are a bit expensive. As there are a lot of economical and hygienic food options available in China Self-cooking is not much recommended as you can save time spent on cooking.
Safety	Very safe (One of the safest countries in the world). Can roam around even in the night without any fear. Global Peace Index: China ranks 110^th amongst 163 countries listed where India ranks at 141. Download the Global Peace Index 2020 Pdf listing with various statics.
Leisure	Students can enjoy their leisure time visiting Parks, Theme parks, Theatres, Cinemas, Malls, world heritage sites, and Museums

Cost of living comparison (2020)

The cost of living in China is slightly expensive when compared to India, but some cities like Shanghai & Shengzhen are quite expensive.
We compared the prices of Chennai with Shenyang city because both these cities are with an average living expenditure in their respective countries.

Markets
	Chennai	Shenyang	Difference
Milk (regular), (1 liter)	48.88 ₹	173.71 ₹	+255.37 %
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g)	34.24 ₹	98.34 ₹	+187.22 %
Rice (white), (1kg)	53.07 ₹	101.55 ₹	+91.35 %
Eggs (regular) (12)	60.43 ₹	146.98 ₹	+143.23 %
Chicken Fillets (1kg)	227.44 ₹	235.17 ₹	+3.40 %
Apples (1kg)	157.38 ₹	138.96 ₹	-11.70 %
Banana (1kg)	59.53 ₹	85.52 ₹	+43.64 %
Oranges (1kg)	87.24 ₹	171.03 ₹	+96.06 %
Tomato (1kg)	32.18 ₹	121.15 ₹	+276.50 %
Potato (1kg)	35.75 ₹	117.59 ₹	+228.91 %
Onion (1kg)	38.40 ₹	55.23 ₹	+43.83 %
Water (1.5 liter bottle)	28.79 ₹	42.76 ₹	+48.53 %

Transportation
	Chennai	Shenyang	Difference
One-way Ticket (Local Transport)	20.00 ₹	21.38 ₹	+6.90 %
Monthly Pass (Regular Price)	1,000.00 ₹	1,015.51 ₹	+1.55 %
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)	100.00 ₹	85.52 ₹	-14.48 %
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)	15.00 ₹	26.72 ₹	+78.16 %
Petrol (1 liter)	77.65 ₹	75.47 ₹	-2.81 %

Rent Per Month
	Chennai	Shenyang	Difference
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre	13,567.07 ₹	20,539.20 ₹	+51.39 %
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre	7,800.00 ₹	15,728.91 ₹	+101.65 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre	33,031.65 ₹	39,551.33 ₹	+19.74 %
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre	18,440.48 ₹	25,298.60 ₹	+37.19 %

Utilities (Monthly)
	Chennai	Shenyang	Difference
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment	2,489.36 ₹	5,066.85 ₹	+103.54 %
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans)	0.86 ₹	2.39 ₹	+178.33 %
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL)	855.79 ₹	1,104.59 ₹	+29.07 %

Sports and Leisure
	Chennai	Shenyang	Difference
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult	1,422.37 ₹	1,803.86 ₹	+26.82 %
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend)	388.52 ₹	133.62 ₹	-65.61 %
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat	200.00 ₹	374.13 ₹	+87.07 %

Restaurants
	Chennai	Shenyang	Difference
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant	120.00 ₹	267.24 ₹	+122.70 %
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course	1,000.00 ₹	1,603.43 ₹	+60.34 %
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal)	250.00 ₹	374.13 ₹	+49.65 %
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle)	34.81 ₹	38.75 ₹	+11.30 %
Water (0.33 liter bottle)	15.43 ₹	21.38 ₹	+38.57 %

Most common misconceptions of the students & parents about China

Is Chinese impossible to learn? No. It’s true that Chines is difficult to learn but it’s not an impossible task. Many foreign students take about 1 year to clear the “Chinese Level Test/HSK-level 3” which assesses student’s ability in the application of everyday Chinese.

Do all Chinese eat only weird foods? No. Chinese eat regular food like us where rice is one of the staple foods, however, delicacies are available in special markets or restaurants only. It’s wise to emphasize that delicacies are very expensive compared to regular food.

Does no Chinese speak English? Times have changed & many Chinese speak English nowadays compared to the 1990s, especially in the bigger cities. The new school curriculum brought an absolute necessity for the newer generation to learn English.

Do universities provide only traditional Chinese medicine courses (No MBBS courses)? No. China is renowned for the traditional Chinese medicine courses, however, there are currently more than 170 universities providing MBBS courses In Chinese & English languages.

Do all Chinese cheat? No. This is probably another misconception from Social media. It’s true that you shall be cheated in any roadside/ wholesale markets around the world regardless of the location of the market.