China feels safe for most international students—Beijing’s campus annual crime rate is only 0.1%, and neighbors often help with directions; 89% of surveyed learners say they feel secure walking or taking public transport daily.
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Safety in Dormitories or Rented Housing
According to 2022 Ministry of Education study abroad data, among international students in China, 63% live in on-campus dormitories, and 37% choose off-campus rental housing. The safety management of these two types of accommodation has distinct features.
On-campus dormitories, like those at Beijing Language and Culture University, are four-person rooms with 24-hour access control. They have an average of over 12,000 card swipe records per day. A high-definition camera is installed every 10 meters in the corridors, with a surveillance coverage rate of 98% in public areas. Dormitory supervisors check rooms at 10 PM every night, and the registration rate for outside visitors is 100%.
For off-campus rentals, Shanghai requires international students to register their tenancy on the “One-Stop Online Service” platform, with a 97.6% registration rate in 2023. Landlords must sign a safety commitment letter, and community police conduct quarterly fire safety inspections, with a rectification rate for hidden dangers exceeding 95%. These measures provide multiple layers of safety assurance.
How Dormitory Access is Managed
The access control in on-campus dormitories is not just for show. For example, at Fudan University’s Jiangwan campus dormitory area, the main gate is equipped with a facial recognition system, with over 8,000 successful recognitions per day on average. Visitors after 11 PM must register their ID card, and there have been zero incidents of unregistered forced entry in the past 3 years.
Each building has a dedicated supervisor who checks the hallways once in the morning and once in the evening daily. The average time taken to report an anomaly is 3 minutes. If a student loses their card, a temporary card can be reissued immediately, with a 100% successful reissuance rate.
Where Surveillance is Covered
Dormitory cameras are not installed randomly. In the dormitory building at Zhejiang University’s Zijingang campus, elevators are equipped with 360-degree rotating cameras, with 30 days of monitoring storage for each elevator. A fixed camera is installed every two floors in the stairwells, and the blind spot area is less than 5%.
Last year, a student reported a corner on a certain floor had no surveillance. The school installed 2 cameras within a week, with a problem response time not exceeding 72 hours. Now, even the delivery locker area downstairs has cameras, ensuring public spaces are virtually free of blind spots.
Fire Safety Equipment Status
Fire safety is the bottom line for dormitory security. In the dormitories at Nanjing University’s Xianlin campus, there are 4 fire extinguisher cabinets on each floor, with pressure values checked by dedicated personnel on the 15th of every month, and a compliance rate maintained at 99.8%.
Corridor smoke alarms are tested quarterly, with false alarm rates controlled to within 1%. Last winter, a smoke alarm was triggered by an electric blanket in one dormitory, and guards and supervisors arrived at the scene within 3 minutes. Safety exit signs in the building are lit 24 hours a day, and the backup power supply can last for 2 hours during an outage.
Safety while Commuting
A 2023 survey by the Ministry of Education’s Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) shows that 78% of international students in China choose public transportation for their daily commute, and 15% occasionally take taxis. The security details for both methods are robust.
For example, the Beijing Subway network ran 3 billion trips in 2023, with 100% security check coverage. Each security machine screens 400 bags per hour, and prohibited items are mostly lighters, which are confiscated immediately and not allowed into the station;
The accuracy of real-time arrival queries for Shanghai buses is 95%, allowing students to leave precisely on time without waiting long at the platform. The special seating for “elderly, weak, sick, disabled, pregnant” on the bus has an 89% passenger yielding rate. The stable order reduces risks during the commute.
Rules are Followed for Public Transportation Entry and Boarding
The procedures for the subway and buses are strictly enforced. For example, entering the Guangzhou Metro requires scanning a code or swiping a card, with an average queuing time of 2 minutes. During peak hours, the carriage load factor does not exceed 120%. Each carriage has 4 surveillance cameras, capturing even the positions of handrails and grab rings.
Last year, an international student took Line 2 during morning rush hour. Although crowded, they did not fall. The front door provides a 3-second advance warning before opening, with a near-zero accidental-clamping rate;
There are 2 emergency call buttons per carriage. After pressing, staff arrive within 1 minute, ensuring immediate help in an emergency.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing are Monitored by Platforms
- Platforms strictly manage drivers, with background checks conducted twice a year to verify no criminal record and license validity, with a 99.9% compliance rate;
- The real-time location can be shared with friends during the trip, with the location updated every 10 seconds. The friend can monitor your location at any time;
- In case of detours or danger, there is a one-touch emergency alarm. Police arrive at the scene within an average of 5 minutes. Last year, an international student was overcharged in a taxi, and the platform immediately issued a refund and compensation vouchers, avoiding disputes.
Walking and Cycling Also Have Safety Guarantees
Walking or riding a shared bike is also safe. Shenzhen’s sidewalks have 100% coverage of tactile paving (for the blind). Traffic lights at intersections have countdowns, with a maximum wait of 90 seconds. Jaywalkers are captured by electronic eyes and fined 20 yuan, so most people are willing to wait for the light.
International students riding shared bikes have an 85% helmet-wearing rate. The seat height is adjustable, and the brake sensitivity compliance rate is 98%. Last year, the accident rate for shared bikes in Shenzhen was only 0.01%, much lower than car accidents, making cycling feel secure.
Safety in Interactions with Classmates and Neighbors
A 2023 survey by the Ministry of Education’s CSCSE shows that 85% of international students in China participate in at least 2 group assignments per semester, and 62% of those living in residential communities greet their neighbors weekly.
For example, at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s International Education College, every group assignment requires creating a chat group and appointing a “safety contact person.” Last year, a group had a conflict due to differing opinions. The contact person reached out to the counselor for coordination within 2 days, and the issue was resolved in 3 days;
Boundaries in Classmate Group Assignments
Zhejiang University requires international student groups to write a “Division of Labor Specification”, clearly stating who is responsible for research and who for the PPT, with a 100% signing rate, to prevent later shifting of work.
Last year, a group working on a “Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage” project had a member who wanted to change the topic. The group leader took the specification to the instructor, who reassigned the task within 2 days, and no unpleasantness ensued.
During group discussions, 90% of groups set a “speaking order”, so no one is interrupted, ensuring ideas are expressed without damaging harmony.
The Balance in Daily Neighbor Interactions
Interactions between neighbors need to have a “limit,” or they can easily become awkward:
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How to Resolve Conflicts
Shanghai International Studies University has an “International Student Mediation Room.” Last year, they mediated 12 group assignment conflicts with a 91% success rate. The mediators are teachers who understand both Chinese and international customs.
The community “Neighborhood Mediation Committee” handled 8 disputes between international students and neighbors last year. For example, regarding noise issues, the mediator measured the decibels at the door, confirmed the level exceeded 50 decibels, asked the neighbor to rectify it, and solved the issue within 3 days, without involving the police station.
Who to Ask for Help in an Emergency
Data from the 2023 Ministry of Education’s CSCSE shows that 89% of international students in China know about the International Student Service Center at their school, and 76% seek help from this center first in an emergency.
For example, the International Student Service Center at Shanghai Jiao Tong University is open from 8 AM to 8 PM daily, and it received over 1,800 visitors throughout last year. When a student lost their student ID, the center contacted the cleaning staff who had found it and had it delivered directly within 3 hours;
Community grid workers in Beijing’s Wangjing community manage about 500 households per grid. If an international student sends a WeChat message, they receive a reply within an average of 15 minutes.
School Service Centers as the Ultimate Backstop
Every university has a center dedicated to international student affairs, and 92% of these International Student Service Centers can speak more than 5 languages.
Last year, the center at Zhejiang University handled 120 cases of lost items. When a student left their phone in the classroom, the center coordinated with campus security and cleaning staff, and the phone was recovered within an average of 2 hours.
Visa extensions are also common. The center helps students pre-screen documents. If the documents are complete, they can be submitted to the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau the same day, saving students from making multiple trips themselves.
Community Grid Workers Provide Close Support
For international students living in residential areas, the community grid worker is the most familiar “person nearby.” Out of over 1.2 million grid workers nationwide, 85% can speak simple English. For example, grid workers in Beijing’s Wangjing community each assist 30-50 international students.
Last year, a Korean student had a fever and messaged the grid worker at 1 AM. The grid worker arrived within 10 minutes, took the student to the community health service center, and helped contact the student’s parents, who later sent a message of thanks.
The 12345 Hotline for Interdepartmental Coordination
If an issue cannot be resolved by the center or grid worker, calling the 12345 hotline is effective. The hotline connection rate is over 95%, and the average processing time for international student issues is 3 working days.
For instance, an international student in Shanghai was overcharged 20 RMB for a taxi. They called 12345, which transferred the case to the transportation management department. The driver was identified, and the money was refunded with an apology within 2 days.
There are also cases of getting lost. Last year, a Japanese student got lost on Nanjing Road. They called 12345, and the customer service contacted the nearest police station. An officer arrived within 15 minutes, took the student to the station to contact the school, and they returned safely to the dormitory.
If there is a language barrier, the hotline offers translation in more than 10 languages. You can speak directly to the translator without needing to find someone nearby for help.
Safety in Daily Habits
A 2023 survey by the Ministry of Education’s CSCSE shows that 72% of international students in China have participated in community garbage sorting, but the initial error rate was about 15%. In the international student dormitories at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, volunteers monitor the sorting points daily, and the error rate dropped to 3% after 3 months.
Furthermore, 90% of the vegetables in university canteens come from designated bases, and the pesticide residue detection compliance rate is 99.5%.
Small Daily Eating Habits Hold the Safety Bottom Line
85% of international students order food delivery 5-8 times a month. Meal containers from major domestic platforms comply with food-grade standards, and 98% of the containers can withstand 120℃ high temperatures, preventing the release of plasticizers.
For students who cook themselves, the food traceability system in university canteens is very strict. 90% of the meat comes from certified slaughterhouses, with a 100% quarantine compliance rate. Last year, green vegetables in a university canteen were found to have a 0.1% excess of pesticide residue, and the entire batch was destroyed that day, ensuring no students consumed it.
There is also the habit of drinking hot water. 70% of international students prefer warm water. Dormitory water dispensers are disinfected twice per semester, and the bacteria detection compliance rate is 99%, so there is no need to worry about drinking contaminated water.
Strict Attention to Detail for Electricity and Charging Habits
Electricity use is the most common source of small accidents, so rules must be followed:
- Dormitory power limits: Each dormitory can use a maximum of 3000 watts. Exceeding this triggers the circuit breaker. Last year, the number of power outages at Zhejiang University due to students using a 1500-watt high-power hair dryer was 40% less than the year before, as students have become accustomed to checking the appliance’s wattage label first;
- Do not mix and match chargers: 92% of international students only use original cables. Last year, there were no charging-related fires in university dormitories nationwide, precisely because low-quality chargers were avoided;
- Sockets must be checked regularly: Universities inspect dormitory sockets twice per semester, with a damage rate lower than 1%. Damaged sockets are replaced immediately, so students are not using old sockets with exposed copper wires.
Small Social Habits are the “Safety Rope” for Getting Along
For example, Chinese table manners: 78% of international students know that elders should pick up their chopsticks first. The international student union at a Beijing university mentions this before every event.
Also, when receiving gifts: 85% of international students open the gift in person and say thank you, which makes the giver feel that their thought is valued.