China runs on two super-apps: Alipay and WeChat handle payments, buses, taxis, food and every conversation with classmates, and foreign cards are rarely taken at the till. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram do not open on Chinese networks, so install what you need in Baku, and make sure your address is registered with the police within 24 hours of arrival. Zhuhai sits next to Macau and across the bridge from Hong Kong, but every crossing uses an entry on your visa.
Money
Renminbi, yuan (¥, CNY)
Language
Mandarin Chinese; Cantonese is widely spoken in Zhuhai
Places, programmes and the minimum cGPA are from ADA’s list. Confirm them with the Office of Global Outreach and Partners before you apply: exchange@ada.edu.az
Payments & banking3
Almost everything is paid by QR code in Alipay or WeChat Pay; link a foreign card before you fly and carry some cash as a backup.
Al
AlipayEssential
Scan-to-pay everywhere, plus taxis, tickets and food delivery
Before departure
Why you need it: Canteens, street stalls, buses and online shops in Zhuhai take a QR code before anything else, and Alipay also opens DiDi, Meituan and other services as mini-programs inside one app.
Free, paid extras · Free for small payments; on a foreign card, larger payments can carry a service fee, shown before you confirm (2026)Varies by nationality
Install Alipay at home and sign up with your Azerbaijani phone number
Verify your identity with your passport
Link a Visa or Mastercard and make a small test payment before you fly
Switch the app language to English in Settings
Before you rely on itForeign-card limits are US$5,000 a payment and US$50,000 a year. Your own bank may add a currency fee on top, and some foreign cards are declined when you link them, so bring a second card from a different bank. Without a Chinese bank account you can pay shops but not easily receive money from friends.
Source: english.www.gov.cn · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
WP
WeChat Pay (Weixin Pay)
The second QR wallet, built into WeChat
Before departure
Why you need it: Some small shops and campus services take only WeChat Pay, and classmates split bills in WeChat chats, so set up both wallets.
Free, paid extras · On a foreign card: free under 200 yuan a payment, 3% on any single payment above 200 yuan (2026)Varies by nationality
Open WeChat and go to Me, then Pay and Services, then Wallet
Tap Bank Cards, then Add a Bank Card, and add your Visa or Mastercard
Verify your identity with your passport and upload a copy when asked
Test it with a small payment once you land
Before you rely on itA foreign card pays for everyday purchases, but WeChat says it does not support red packets or money transfers, so friends cannot simply send you money. Your Azerbaijani number works as long as it receives SMS codes. On a refund, the fee comes back in proportion to the amount refunded.
Source: cs.help.wechat.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
CU
Cash, UnionPay and ATMs
A cash and card backup for when the phone fails
On arrival
Why you need it: If a QR payment is declined or your phone dies, cash still works, and you will want some yuan on landing before the apps are tested.
Withdraw a few hundred yuan at a bank ATM that shows your card’s logo, at the airport or in Zhuhai
Keep small notes for taxis and markets
Tell your bank in Baku you will be in China so it does not block the card
Before you rely on itSmall vendors may struggle with change for large notes. UnionPay cards work at every POS terminal; Visa and Mastercard only where the shop shows their logo at the till.
Source: english.www.gov.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
Essential apps5
A handful of super-apps cover taxis, food, shopping and tickets, mostly through mini-programs inside Alipay and WeChat.
WW
WeChat (Weixin)Essential
Messaging, class groups, payments and mini-programs
Before departure
Why you need it: Your BNBU buddy, classmates, lecturers’ course groups and campus services all run on WeChat, and new contacts are added by scanning each other’s QR code.
Install WeChat in Baku and register with your Azerbaijani number
If asked to verify, have an existing WeChat user scan your QR code, or verify with your payment card or by activating WeChat Pay
Add the BNBU International Development Office or your buddy as soon as you get their contact
Set up WeChat Pay in the same app
Before you rely on itRegistration sometimes asks an existing user to confirm you; turn off any VPN while signing up, and do it at home so there is time to sort out problems. WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram do not open on Chinese networks, so WeChat is the way to stay in touch with people in China.
Source: cs.help.wechat.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
DC
DiDi China
Ride-hailing with an English interface and translated chat
Before departure
Why you need it: Late arrivals, airport runs and trips from Tangjiawan to Gongbei are far easier by DiDi than flagging a taxi, and you can show the driver the destination in Chinese.
Install DiDi China and register with your phone number
Switch to English and add a Visa or Mastercard; if the card is refused, pay through Alipay or WeChat Pay
Type the destination in Chinese if you have it, or pick it on the map
Before you rely on itDrivers call or message in Chinese; the in-app chat translates both ways. DiDi is also inside Alipay as a mini-program if you would rather not install another app.
Source: apps.apple.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
AG
AMap (Gaode Map)
The map and route planner that knows Chinese streets
Before departure
Why you need it: Google Maps is unreliable in China, and AMap has the bus routes, walking directions and shop listings that the rest of the country uses.
Install AMap before you fly and switch the language to English
Save BNBU (北师港浸大) and your hostel as favourites
Copy a place’s Chinese name to show to drivers
Before you rely on itMany place names and reviews are only in Chinese, so search with the Chinese name where you can. Baidu Maps is the other local option.
Source: apps.apple.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
Me
Meituan
Food delivery, groceries and local deals
Optional
Why you need it: Students order meals and groceries to the hostel gate through Meituan, and it is the most common way to find nearby restaurants with reviews.
Open it as a mini-program inside Alipay or WeChat, or install the app
Save your hostel address, in Chinese, as the delivery address
Pay with Alipay or WeChat Pay
Before you rely on itThe app is mostly in Chinese; use your phone’s screen translation. Couriers deliver to the campus gate or a locker, not always to your door, and call your Chinese number when they arrive.
Source: apps.apple.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Ta
Taobao
Online shopping for bedding, kitchen things and everything else
Optional
Why you need it: The fastest way to kit out a hostel room for one semester: bedding, a kettle and adaptors arrive at the campus parcel station in a day or two.
Collect parcels at the campus pick-up point with the code you are sent
Before you rely on itMostly in Chinese; use screen translation. Check the seller’s ratings, and remember that returns take time if you are leaving in June.
Source: taobao.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Transport4
Zhuhai has no metro: buses, DiDi and the intercity train to Guangzhou cover it, and every train ticket is tied to your passport.
ZJ
Zhuhai Jinwan Airport
Zhuhai’s own airport, for domestic connections
Optional
Why you need it: With a connection in a Chinese hub you can land in Zhuhai itself, one of the places where your BNBU roommate can meet you.
Before you rely on itFlights are mostly domestic, so from Baku you usually change in a major Chinese city or come via Guangzhou or Hong Kong. The airport is in Jinwan, on the far side of the city from Tangjiawan, so plan the transfer or arrange to be met; a DiDi is the simplest option late at night.
Source: intl.hkbu.edu.hk · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
CR
China Railway 12306
The official railway booking site and app, with English
On arrival
Why you need it: The Guangzhou–Zhuhai intercity line stops at Tangjiawan, close to BNBU, and high-speed trains from Guangzhou reach the rest of China; 12306 sells every ticket at the official price.
Register on the English site or app with your passport details
Complete identity verification online, or at a station ticket office with your passport
Book tickets in your passport name; the e-ticket is linked to the passport
Show the passport at the station entrance and the ticket gates; use the staffed lane if a gate does not read it
Before you rely on itEvery ticket is real-name: carry the same passport you booked with, both at the station entrance and on the train. Tickets sell out around public holidays, especially the Spring Festival in February and the 1 May break, so book as soon as sales open.
Source: 12306.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
HK
Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridge coaches
Coaches across the bridge from Hong Kong airport to Zhuhai
On arrival
Why you need it: Hong Kong airport often has better connections from Baku than Zhuhai, and the bridge coaches bring you to Zhuhai Port, one of the places where your BNBU roommate can meet you.
At Hong Kong airport, do not go through immigration or collect your bags: go to the SkyPier Terminal Transfer Coach counter in Transfer Area E2
Buy a coach ticket to the bridge’s Zhuhai Port, showing your same-day arrival boarding pass, passport and X2 visa; with checked bags, show the airline’s baggage tag receipt
Be at the counter at least 60 minutes before the coach leaves (30 without checked bags), and clear mainland immigration at Zhuhai Port
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: Hong Kong requires a visa for ordinary passports, so use the transfer coach, which keeps you in the airport’s restricted area and skips Hong Kong immigration; it only works on the day you land, and once you pass immigration you cannot go back to it. With a Hong Kong visa, or a passport that does not need one, you can instead cross the city to the bridge’s Hong Kong Port and take the shuttle bus to Zhuhai. Leaving the mainland for Hong Kong or Macau later uses an entry on your visa.
City buses between Tangjiawan, the centre and Gongbei
On arrival
Why you need it: BNBU is in Tangjiawan, north of the city centre, and Zhuhai has no metro, so buses and taxis are how you reach Gongbei, the Macau border and the malls.
Paid · About 100 yuan a month for regular bus use (BNBU estimate)Varies by city
Pay with the ride code (乘车码) in Alipay or WeChat, or with coins
Board at the front and scan or pay as you get on
Before you rely on itBuses are cheap but slow across the city; for late evenings a DiDi is quicker. Announcements are mostly in Chinese, so follow the route on your map.
Source: intl.hkbu.edu.hk · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
SIM, eSIM & internet2
Google, WhatsApp and Instagram do not open on Chinese networks; a local SIM needs your passport, and roaming bridges the first days.
CS
Chinese SIM cardEssential
A local number for verification codes, deliveries and DiDi
On arrival
Why you need it: Couriers, DiDi drivers, campus systems and many apps send codes to a +86 number, and a local plan costs far less than roaming for five months.
Paid · About 100–200 yuan a month, depending on the plan (BNBU estimate)
Take your passport to a China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom business hall (营业厅)
Ask for a SIM card (我要办SIM卡) and choose a monthly package (套餐)
Register the SIM in your name with your passport, as the law requires, and test data before you leave the counter
Before departure in June, ask the store how to cancel the plan
Before you rely on itReal-name registration with your passport is required by law, and the passport should be valid for six months or more. Not every small branch registers foreign passports; a larger branch in the city centre is a safer bet. China Unicom is the one most often compatible with foreign phones; make sure your phone is unlocked before you fly.
Source: edu.sh.gov.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
RO
Roaming on your home number
Working data from the moment you land
Before departure
Why you need it: You need data at the airport to open Alipay, call DiDi and message your BNBU buddy, before you can buy a Chinese SIM.
Paid · Azercell, for example: 500 MB for 3 days for 10 manat, 5 GB for 30 days for 50 manat (2026); Bakcell and Nar price their own packsVaries by nationality
Turn on roaming with your operator in Baku and buy a data pack for China before you fly
Keep the Azerbaijani SIM active so bank codes and your Alipay login still reach you
Switch to a Chinese SIM for everyday data once you have one
Before you rely on itWithout a pack, Azercell charges data at pay-as-you-go rates, which add up fast, so buy the pack before the plane lands. Azercell’s packs work on China Mobile and China Unicom. Roaming is expensive for a whole semester, so treat it as the bridge for the first days and for contact with home. Do not rely on any unlicensed tool to reach blocked services.
Source: azercell.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
Visa, registration & legal5
X2 visa from the Chinese Embassy in Baku, address registration within 24 hours, and no residence permit for a single semester.
XS
X2 study visaEssential
Entry visa for a study stay of up to 180 days
Before departure
Why you need it: A spring semester is longer than the 30 days the visa-free agreement allows and is study, so you need an X2 visa, applied for at the Chinese Embassy in Baku.
Paid · For citizens of Azerbaijan: US$30 single entry, US$45 double entry (embassy fee table, 2026)Varies by nationality
Wait for BNBU’s International Development Office to send the admission letter and the DQ form (short-term study information form)
Fill in the application online at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA and upload your documents
Once the online check is approved, take your passport (valid for more than six months, with at least four blank visa pages), ID card, a 3×4 cm colour photo on white, the admission letter, DQ form and proof of funds to the embassy in person
Pay the fee at the bank the embassy names, and collect the visa on the date you are given
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: the embassy at 67 Khagani Street, Baku, takes applications, fees and collections on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 09:00–12:00, and asks for proof of funds of at least US$1,500 or a scholarship. Questions go to +994 12 493 16 34 (Monday to Friday, 14:00–18:00) or to the desk on Tuesday mornings; the old 050 number is no longer in use. Short-stay applicants, X2 included, are excused fingerprinting until 31 December 2026; after that, expect to give them. The 30-day visa-free entry does not cover study. An X2 is for study of up to 180 days; the number of entries and the days allowed per stay are printed on the visa, and a full academic year needs an X1 instead. If you plan to visit Hong Kong or Macau, ask whether a double-entry visa is possible. Other nationalities apply at their local Chinese embassy or visa centre.
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan with an ordinary passport, in force since 16 July 2025: up to 30 days per visit and 90 days in any 180. Study, work and residence need a visa before entry. Other nationalities: China runs its own visa-free and transit schemes, which change often; check the Chinese embassy where you live.
Source: migration.gov.az · the provider or a government body · Checked
AR
Accommodation registrationEssential
Register your address with the police within 24 hours
On arrival
Why you need it: The law requires every foreigner staying outside a hotel to be registered within 24 hours of arrival; in the BNBU hostel, ask the International Development Office on day one whether it registers you or you do it yourself.
Moving into the BNBU hostel, ask the International Development Office how registration is done for hostel residents
Anywhere else, register online through the NIA 12367 app, its WeChat or Alipay mini-program or the NIA website, or at the local police station
Register again each time you change address, including after a trip
Before you rely on itOnline registration has been available since 21 September 2026 and has the same legal effect as registering in person; the host can register you instead of you doing it yourself. Keep the registration record, as other offices may ask to see it.
Source: en.nia.gov.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
HI
Health insuranceEssential
Medical and accident cover for the whole stay
Before departure
Why you need it: BNBU asks exchange students for a copy of their insurance with the application, and you may have to pay a hospital up front and claim the money back later.
Buy a policy covering medical treatment, accidents and repatriation in China for the whole semester
Upload a copy with your BNBU application
Carry the policy number and the insurer’s emergency line
Before you rely on itBNBU asks exchange students to buy insurance in their home country and sets no specific requirement for it; its fact sheet recommends cover for accidents, theft, travel and medical needs. Check whether your insurer pays the hospital directly or reimburses you afterwards, and how claims are made from China.
Source: ido.bnbu.edu.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
XS
X2 stay limit and residence permit
How long the X2 lets you stay, and when you need a permit
On arrival
Why you need it: An X2 covers one semester, and often only one entry, so a weekend in Macau or Hong Kong can end your stay unless you plan for it.
Check the number of entries and the duration of each stay printed on your visa
Before any trip to Macau or Hong Kong, ask the International Development Office whether you can re-enter
Staying a full year? You need an X1 and a residence permit within 30 days of entry instead
Before you rely on itHong Kong and Macau are outside mainland immigration control: leaving the mainland for them uses an entry, and coming back needs another. The residence permit and its 30-day deadline apply to X1 holders, not to a one-semester X2. Staying past the days on your visa is overstaying, which is fined and can lead to detention.
Confirm your room with the International Development Office when you are accepted
Send your arrival time so your roommate can meet you
Bring bedding money or buy it on Taobao after you arrive
Before you rely on itYou share with a Chinese student; single rooms are not offered on the fact sheet. There is no meal plan: canteens and small restaurants on and around campus charge about 8–30 yuan a meal. Ask the office for the current rate.
Source: intl.hkbu.edu.hk · the provider or a government body · Checked
HF
Hotel for the first nights
A bed if you land before the hostel opens
Before departure
Why you need it: If your flight lands late or before the hostel takes you in, a hotel registers you with the police at check-in, which covers the 24-hour rule.
Book a hotel near Zhuhai Port, Gongbei or Tangjiawan for your arrival night
Show your passport at check-in; the hotel registers you
When you move to the hostel, register the new address
Before you rely on itSome small guesthouses may not take foreign guests; a chain hotel avoids the problem. Ask BNBU when the hostel opens for spring arrivals before you book flights.
Source: en.nia.gov.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
Student life2
Your university ID and student card open campus services, canteens and some discounts.
BI
BNBU International Development OfficeEssential
Your contact for visa papers, arrival, orientation and housing
Before departure
Why you need it: It sends the admission letter and JW202 you need for the visa, arranges for your roommate to meet you, and runs a three-day orientation for exchange students.
Check with ADA’s exchange office that your nomination has reached BNBU, then fill in the application on BNBU’s iTraining system
Upload your enrolment certificate, transcript, two recommendations (one from ADA’s international office, one from an academic adviser), passport copy, photo, insurance and an IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 score
Send your arrival details so your roommate can meet you at Zhuhai Port, Jiuzhou Ferry Terminal or Zhuhai Airport
Before you rely on itBNBU’s deadlines for the spring semester are 5 October for the nomination and 15 October for the application, so for spring 2027 the nomination date has passed and your papers must reach BNBU by 15 October 2026; confirm with ADA at once. BNBU asks students from non-English-speaking countries for an English score, and a health certificate is optional. After admission, BNBU applies for your JW202/DQ form, which normally takes two to three weeks to arrive. Teaching is in English, 15–21 units (five to seven courses) a semester, and exams cannot be taken early, so stay until the exam period ends.
Source: ido.bnbu.edu.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
BA
BNBU academic calendar
Semester dates, holidays and Saturday make-up classes
Before departure
Why you need it: The spring semester starts after Chinese New Year, not in early February, and some Saturdays are working days; book flights with the calendar open.
Before you rely on itAs of October 2026 only the autumn 2026 calendar is published. In spring 2026 the university was closed for Chinese New Year until 23 February, classes ran from 24 February to 29 May and final exams from 2 to 11 June, and BNBU does not set exams early; expect a similar shape in 2027, with Chinese New Year falling on 6 February. Book a return flight only once the spring 2027 calendar is out.
Source: ar.bnbu.edu.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
Communication & language2
Little English off campus; a translator app and WeChat are how you get things done.
AT
Apple Translate (or Microsoft Translator)
Offline Chinese translation for text, camera and conversation
Before departure
Why you need it: Google Translate does not work reliably on Chinese networks, so you need a translator that works offline for menus, signs, forms and conversations with drivers.
On iPhone, open Translate and download Chinese (Mandarin, Simplified) for offline use
On Android, install Microsoft Translator or Baidu Translate and download Chinese offline
Try conversation mode before you need it
Before you rely on itFine for reading a menu or a notice, not for anything you sign: ask the International Development Office or your buddy to check forms and contracts. Inside WeChat, long-press a Chinese message and tap Translate.
Source: support.apple.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Pl
Pleco
Chinese–English dictionary with handwriting input
Before departure
Why you need it: When you see a character you cannot type, you can draw it and get its pinyin and meaning, which a translator does not show you.
Before you rely on itThe basic dictionary is free; the camera reader and extra dictionaries are paid add-ons. English only, so Russian speakers may want a Chinese–Russian dictionary as well.
Source: pleco.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Words for the first week
你好nǐ hǎo
Hello
谢谢xièxie
Thank you
我是交换生wǒ shì jiāohuàn shēng
I am an exchange student
我听不懂wǒ tīng bù dǒng
I don’t understand (what I hear)
多少钱？duōshao qián?
How much is it?
可以用支付宝吗？kěyǐ yòng Zhīfùbǎo ma?
Can I pay with Alipay?
我要办SIM卡wǒ yào bàn SIM kǎ
I’d like to get a SIM card
我加你微信wǒ jiā nǐ Wēixìn
Let me add you on WeChat
不要辣bú yào là
Not spicy, please
救命！jiùmìng!
Help!
Emergency & safety3
Police 110, ambulance 120, fire 119; save your embassy’s number before you go.
EO
Embassy of Azerbaijan in China
Consular help for citizens of Azerbaijan, in Beijing
Before departure
Why you need it: If your passport is lost or stolen, the embassy in Beijing issues the document to get you home; Zhuhai is a long way off, so save the hotline before you go.
Save the consular hotline +86 156 2495 9899 and mailbox@azerbembassy.org.cn
Note the consular reception hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00–12:30
Keep a scan of your passport and visa in your email
Before you rely on itNot from Azerbaijan? Your own embassy’s page is the one to save. The consular section is at 5 Liangmaqiao Middle Street, Beijing, and takes state fees by bank transfer only, not cash.
Source: beijing.mfa.gov.az · the provider or a government body · Checked
CI
China Immigration Service Hotline 12367
Round-the-clock help on visas and registration, in English and Russian
Before departure
Why you need it: If your passport, visa or registration goes wrong, this is the official line that answers in English or Russian at any hour.
Install the NIA 12367 app for online registration and questions
Before you rely on itFor immigration questions only; in an emergency call 110, 120 or 119. Russian, Japanese and Korean were added in November 2024, alongside Chinese and English.
Source: english.www.gov.cn · the provider or a government body · Checked
HA
Hospitals and campus health care
Where to go when you are ill, and how paying works
Optional
Why you need it: Chinese hospitals ask you to register and pay before you see a doctor, which surprises students used to clinics at home.
Ask in orientation where the campus clinic is and which hospital it refers students to
Bring your passport: hospitals register you with it
Keep every receipt for your insurance claim
Before you rely on itLarge public hospitals run on queue tickets and pay-first counters, mostly in Chinese; take a Chinese-speaking friend. For an emergency, call 120 or go to the hospital’s emergency department (急诊).
Source: ido.bnbu.edu.cn · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Culture & practical tips
Small habits around payment, food and face matter; learning them early saves awkward moments.
01Your passport is your ID everywhere
Train tickets, SIM cards, hotels, hospitals and parcel lockers are all tied to your passport number. Carry the original when travelling, and the same passport you booked with.
02Scan, or be scanned
In shops you either scan the merchant’s QR code and type the amount, or show your own payment code for the cashier to scan. Ask which if unsure; check the amount and the shop name before you confirm.
03Hong Kong and Macau are a border
Gongbei and the bridge lead out of the mainland. Each crossing uses an entry on your visa, and an X2 is often single entry, so check before planning a weekend away. Hong Kong and Macau also set their own entry rules: for citizens of Azerbaijan with an ordinary passport, Hong Kong requires a visa.
04Spring starts after New Year
Chinese New Year falls on 6 February 2027 and the university closes for weeks around it; travel then is crowded and expensive. Classes started on 24 February in 2026.
05Saturdays can be weekdays
Public holidays are often balanced by working weekends, and BNBU schedules make-up classes on Saturdays. Read the calendar before booking a trip.
06Hot water, not iced
Canteens and restaurants often serve warm or hot water, and drinking water comes from dispensers rather than the tap. Boil tap water or buy bottled.
07Tipping is not expected
Restaurants, taxis and delivery riders do not expect a tip; the price on the menu or in the app is what you pay.
08Keep your address in characters
Couriers, drivers and forms need your hostel address in Chinese, not pinyin. Save it as a note and as a screenshot you can show offline.
09Humid, wet spring
Zhuhai is subtropical: from March the air is very humid, and heavy rain starts around May. Bring a dehumidifier bag or buy one, and a sturdy umbrella.
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