Exchange Report

• Download essential apps in advance: Amap (maps), WeChat and Alipay (communication and payments), Didi (ride-hailing), Airalo (eSIM for the first days), and Ziroom (apartment search). • Get in touch with the buddy assigned by Peking University before arrival. • Speak with former exchange students to clarify practical questions and learn from their experience. • Bring a bicycle helmet, as cycling is often the most convenient mode of transport on and around campus. • Students can usually use bicycles for free for one semester; access may require help from other exchange students, especially those with Chinese language skills. • Rely on other exchange students during the first week to set up payment methods and manage initial administrative and practical challenges. • Do not bring cooking equipment unless you plan to cook regularly; eating out and food delivery are inexpensive and convenient. • Research early whether Chinese government grants or scholarships for exchange students are available, as this information is not always communicated proactively.

• Accommodation is the main stressor. • I initially aimed to live in the Global Village (low cost, excellent location, university-operated “official” student housing at Peking University), but it was fully booked almost immediately. • I later learned from other students that if you inform the program manager (Sherry) that you have not found any accommodation, there is a reasonable chance of being allocated a room after a few days. • Some students stayed in hotels temporarily and moved into the Global Village later; however, hotels can be expensive. • Since I could not secure a place at the Global Village and wanted to guarantee accommodation upon arrival, I booked a hotel for the first three nights. • As the hotel only charged upon physical check-in, I was able to leave my luggage there for free on the first day. • During this time, I contacted several apartment managers and requested viewings via the Ziroom app, focusing on locations close to PKU and within my budget. • Apartment prices are determined by Ziroom’s algorithm, not by individual managers. • I was fortunate to find a more experienced apartment manager who spoke some English and offered two available apartments close to PKU. • Apartment managers usually do not speak English; communication is generally done via WeChat’s translation feature. • On the same day, he showed me both apartments (by e-scooter), and I rented one immediately, allowing me to avoid paying for the hotel—but at a high cost. • Be aware: private accommodation prices are extremely high relative to other living costs in China. • Expect rents comparable to Vienna. • Typically, a deposit plus several months of rent (e.g. three months) must be paid upfront. • Additional monthly cleaning, service, and electricity fees are paid via the Ziroom app (these are relatively cheap). • Payments made with international bank cards via WeChat or Alipay incur an “International Card Service Fee” (around 3%), which can be substantial. • Attempts to avoid this by opening a local bank account can be risky; I advise extreme caution when transferring money to foreign banks. • Although WeChat offers a translation function, housing and contract-related apps are not designed for non-Chinese users. • For sensitive decisions such as accommodation and rental contracts, the language barrier is severe. • Due to time pressure, I had to sign my rental contract without fully understanding the Chinese text. • Based on my experience and that of others, Ziroom appears legitimate and not fraudulent, but rental contracts tend to strongly favor the landlord/platform. • The area around PKU and Beijing in general felt very safe. • Living close to the university is crucial: Beijing is enormous, public transport is less efficient than Vienna’s, and distances that appear short on map apps can take a long time in practice.

• Peking University is an absolutely excellent university. • Campus infrastructure is top-notch, and the academic culture is highly impressive. • Students are extremely hardworking, and the university clearly strives for excellence at every level. • Classes are generally small and, in most cases, of very high quality. • Compared to WU, the examination format is very different: • Many courses do not have a final exam. • Assessment is often based on group projects and a final individual report. • Grading criteria and expectations are not always clearly outlined, which can make it feel like “tapping in the dark” for students aiming for top grades. • Class sizes are significantly smaller than at WU. • Some courses assume a very high prior knowledge level, which can be overwhelming and make it difficult to follow or fully benefit from the class. • The campus is enormous and offers excellent learning and study infrastructure. • University canteens are good quality and very affordable. • There is a wide range of facilities and academic buildings available to students. • The overall environment is very supportive; students and people on campus are kind and helpful.

• Public transport is generally good, but Beijing is an enormous city; getting around takes time, and overall convenience is not comparable to Vienna. • Both the city and the campus of Peking University felt very safe—arguably even safer than Vienna. • The university offers many sports clubs, a gym, and several sports fields and courts. • The campus is very large, includes a lot of greenery, and features beautiful natural areas as well as historical buildings. • However, the language barrier is significant and makes it difficult to fully integrate into student communities as a non-Chinese-speaking exchange student. • At the beginning of the semester, joint activities (e.g. playing volleyball with Chinese students) were enjoyable, but as winter approached and temperatures dropped, integration became increasingly difficult. • I did not regularly attend the few events explicitly aimed at English-speaking or exchange students, as they often felt low in substance and more like marketing activities designed to generate social media content rather than meaningful social or academic engagement.

It is a deeply rewarding experience to spend an extended period so far away from home. This exchange reaffirmed me in ways that go beyond academic learning. The past semester has been particularly meaningful, as I was able to gain valuable experiences that strengthened me on my personal path. Living in a completely new environment highlighted the importance of taking pauses to reflect, and to make room for aspects of life that often disappear in everyday routines. Having time that does not need to be immediately “utilized,” and being able to look at one’s own life from a more distanced perspective, is a rare luxury that enables personal growth. Being removed from my usual social and institutional environment also allowed me to recognize the normative and societal pressures that had shaped my everyday decisions almost unconsciously. This distance was liberating: it gave me the space to question expectations, redefine priorities, and act more deliberately. Through the new living environment and the perspectives I gained, I came to know myself better, learned to be more consciously “myself,” and developed a stronger sense of self-worth. This personal development represents one of the most lasting and valuable outcomes of my exchange experience.