Living in China: FAQ's:

Can we drink the water in China? All tap water must be boiled before consumption.  A hot water machine is installed on each floor of the dorm (but only the one on the first floor is open 24 hours), and each student has one thermos.  For cold drinking water, you may either buy bottled water or cool the boiled water in your own bottle.

I know we don't have a meal plan.  May we cook in the dorm?  There is a simple communal kitchen for student use on the fifth floor of the dormitory.  On the third floor, there is a refrigerator and microwave.  The hot water mentioned above is good for coffee, tea, and instant noodles. 

Do I need to bring my own sheets, towels, etc.?  The rooms are furnished with pillowcases, sheets, blankets, towels, etc. The dorm's custodial staff changes linens weekly.  Please be courteous to the dormitory staff and maintain good relations with them.  This is obviously in your own interest.  The same applies to your contacts with the staff of the dining hall.

How will I do my laundry in Beijing?  Coin-operated washing machines are available to students on the fifth and sixth floors, although dryers are not available.  Conditions in the dorms are warm and dry, which will allow your clothes to dry fairly quickly on drying racks.  You may plan on setting up a clothesline in your room, a common Chinese practice.  You can buy rope to run across the room and a clothespin hanger for smaller items at a nearby store.  There is a laundry service available as well.  The fee is 2 kuai (about $0.25) per garment without ironing, or double that to include ironing.

Do I need to bring my own hangers?  No.  The university does not provide them, however they are available very cheaply at local stores.

Where can I work out when I'm in China?  Does the university have a gym?  CUEB has a few athletic facilities (track, tennis court, basketball and volleyball court, ping pong) but does not have a complete gym as do many American colleges.  One option is to join a nearby commercial gym called Evolution.  Rock-climbing is available at a park about 1.5 miles from CUEB.  More information will be available at orientation.

Will there be a problem for me to practice my religion in China? Only the Falungong, which the Chinese government considers to be a cult, should not be publicly avowed.  Freedom of religion is being touted these days.  It is true that some Chinese consider all religions, and especially the traditional Chinese religions, to be beneath the dignity of a modern cultivated person, but interest in religion has been rising generally speaking. In the U.S. there has been a rise in all religions among the educated youth, and several ACC students recently wanted to do independent projects on religious issues (such as Buddhism) in China, and they were able to do that quite successfully.

May I arrive early (before the program starts) just to get acclimated to Beijing?  Or, may I stay on after the program is over?  You may arrive early and stay in the dorm, or stay after the dorm is 'closed' at the end of the term, at your own cost. The nightly fee for your room is $6-20, depending on the amenities in the room and whether it is single or double. Simply let the ACC staff know of your intentions well in advance.

What if I want to travel around China for a few weeks after the end of the program?  Do I have to take all of my things with me?   The dormitory building will store your belongings for 1 RMB per piece per day while you travel.  Please speak with ACC staff to arrange this.

I am staying for two terms and want to travel outside of China during the break.  I only have a single entry visa.  What should I do?  Speak to the ACC staff before you leave for your travels.  They will direct you to the Public Security Bureau, where you can obtain a re-entry visa, which allows you to re-enter and stay through the validity period of your original visa.  If you leave China without taking this step, you will have to get an entirely new visa, which can be complicated.  Your student visa is good for six months.  Should you be remaining with ACC for longer than 6 month, the ACC staff in Beijing will assist you in having your visa renewed during your stay.  

I know that ACC has a very strict language pledge.  What about communicating via telephone and e-mail with my family and friends?   We do take the language pledge very seriously, however we understand that your family and friends for the most part cannot speak Chinese.  You may of course speak English to them on the phone, however we request that you keep your dorm door closed during those times so as to avoid too much English floating around the hallways.  If your family or friends visit you in Beijing, we ask that you speak English only outside of the dorm.  E-mailing is fine as well.

May I have friends stay overnight with me in the dorm?  Are there regulations or cultural mores that should be followed in Chinese dormitories that would differ from what I'm used to?  The dormitory has rules pertaining to visitation hours and overnight guests.  Normally, guests are not permitted to stay in your room overnight, but if the dormitory has empty beds, your friend may arrange to stay for a small fee.  Keeping an overnight guest of the opposite sex in your room is strictly forbidden, and will result in a stiff penalty.

How much am I likely to spend on local transportation during a term?  Are the buses and subways expensive?  Public transportation is extremely inexpensive, ranging from 1 RMB for the non-express buses, 3 RMB for the in-city subway system, to 8 RMB on the express bus clear across town. Taxi's are metered, and cost 10 RMB for the first mile or so.

Further Information Concerning Beijing

Finally, we would like to take a moment to clarify several common misconceptions concerning Beijing and to advise you about several potential problems.

It is very important that you realize ahead of time that you will be entering a different culture and a different social milieu; you must not expect to find all the conveniences that American universities provide their students.  In particular, you should be aware of the following:

• Computer availability is limited.  Furthermore, for most of your written Chinese assignments, you will be asked to write by hand.  This has many pedagogical advantages.
• Libraries:  CUEB has a library from which students can borrow books and where they can study.  Magazines are also available for students.  The Computing Center inside the CUEB library provides Internet access and is quite user-friendly. 
• Part-time jobs:  Generally speaking, these are not available.  For both legal and social reasons, we discourage this.  Moreover, the intensity of the Program is such that you would not have time for a part-time job.
• Public transportation:  Students should use public transportation as much as possible, mainly because doing as most Chinese people do is a wonderful cultural experience.  While many local Chinese still ride bikes around the city, the CUEB campus is too small to warrant the use of a bike, and the neighborhood around CUEB has fairly heavy auto traffic.  If you do decide to buy a bike, a decent local brand, not as high quality as American ones ? can be had for about $40 U.S.
• While Beijing is considerably safer than many American cities, in recent years there has been an alarming rise in the amount of petty theft (purse snatching, pick pocketing on crowded buses and subways).  Our orientation will include information on this problem, with specific suggestions on how to minimize, if not eliminate, the chance that you might fall victim to such an occurrence.  Please take this advice seriously.

To avoid complications, make a copy of the pages in your passport that contain personal data and information regarding when and where the passport was issued.  Make certain your passport number is legible.  Carry two extra passport photos.  This packet will enable you to replace your passport quickly.  Even before contacting your embassy or consulate for a replacement, notify the local police of the loss.