highlights of my sem exchange to Zhuhai, China!
quick summary of my sem exchange to china 😋 why i went straight for china when i saw it on our school’s exchange programme list:
- convenience
> wechat, alipay, taobao, meituan, didi, gaode, pinduoduo, dazhongdianping, xiaohongshu
> just all the apps you need to eat, shop, pay, get good deals!
> transport is very simple and convenient, i took didi 70% of the time, but also opted for their public transport especially when on budget! (usually 1-2rmb flat rate)
- safe & friendly
> i went on a solo trip to Xi’an and Nanjing and stayed at a youth hostel during my first 3 nights! For $7sgd/night it was really a good deal ngl. I opted for a good night’s rest during my last night at the hostel so i booked a solo room for $25sgd & it turned out really worth!
> i also stayed alone for 2 nights in Suzhou before my friend joined, and the hotel owner was soooo friendly. he sent me a list of things to take note, such as the common “tourist scams” and even provided free traditional snacks 😆 apparently they don’t usually receive foreigners and they were so friendly when they saw my sg passport hahah
> female solo travellers are also getting more common in china so even better!
> my friends & i travelled to guilin for a weekend trip & the locals were so passionate that we managed to get a 50yuan personalised trip to all the must-see scenic areas 😋 taking a didi to these areas would have easily costed us >200rmb…. 😳
- language & familiarity
> i would say my chinese is better than average so i felt that china’s language barrier is almost non-existent for me 🤣 i visited china 3-4 times prior to my sem exchange for other school programs back then so i was rly familiar w the country as well!
it was a fun & wild ride overall…. & would definitely head back there again soon 😋😋
During my semester exchange in Zhuhai, I quickly realized how integral technology is to daily life in China. Apps like WeChat and Alipay made every transaction seamless — whether ordering food through Meituan, booking transport with Didi, or shopping on Taobao and Pinduoduo. For any traveler, mastering these apps is a game-changer for convenience and savings. Solo traveling in China was surprisingly comfortable and safe. Youth hostels are affordable and provide opportunities to meet fellow travelers, while local hotel owners often go out of their way to welcome foreign guests, offering helpful tips or even traditional snacks. This warmth helped me feel at ease exploring cities like Xi’an and Nanjing on my own. One of the standout moments was a personalized weekend getaway to Guilin, arranged for just 50 yuan through local contacts I met during my trip. This cost was a fraction of what conventional transport like Didi would have charged. It taught me that diving into local culture and building connections can lead to unique and budget-friendly experiences. Moreover, having a decent command of Chinese removed many language barriers, enabling smoother interactions and deeper cultural exchanges. If you’re planning an exchange or solo trip to China, strengthening your language skills can significantly enhance your overall experience. Lastly, the rising number of female solo travelers in China reflects broader cultural openness and safety improvements, which is encouraging for anyone considering a solo adventure there. Overall, my exchange was not only educational but also an unforgettable blend of convenience, adventure, and cultural discovery — something I’m eager to revisit soon.
