Teaser: Shanghai Guide!
Forget dusty temples and slow strolls. Shanghai hits like a neon uppercut.
Skyscrapers, soup dumplings, rooftop clubs, and high-speed trains to ancient cities.
You’ll get lost, frustrated, amazed — and end up never wanting to leave.
🏠 Housing (Preview)
Some students live in brand-new towers with cafés, gyms, and smart locks. Others find hidden gems through WeChat or colivings.
We tell you which neighborhoods actually work, how far is too far, and why being near a metro line = survival.
“My apartment had a gym, café downstairs, and was spotless… but it took 35 min to get downtown. Worth it though.” — Martin, SISU
📚 Uni Life
You’ll take Chinese classes, navigate language barriers, and still find time for hotpot and KTV nights.
We break down SISU life, class hacks, and the courses that give you credits without killing your weekends.
“Some profs didn’t speak English. But with Google Translate and classmates, you make it work. It’s all part of the adventure.” — Arame, SISU
🎉 Going Out
Start at Perry’s for €1 beers. Then head to TREC-style chaos at Taxx, Celia, or Revolución Cocktail.
Shanghai clubs love international students — free drinks, no cover, just don’t forget to dress up.
“Found 158 is wild. It’s like a secret underground party maze. You don’t plan the night, it just happens.” — Everyone
✈️ Travel Life + Weekend Escapes
Fast trains, cheap flights, and total culture shock guaranteed.
From water towns to panda cities, we map out what’s close, what’s unmissable, and how to explore China without getting scammed or stranded.
Hangzhou, Suzhou, Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an… or hop to Japan, Korea, or Thailand for the weekend. We’ve got the cheat codes.
Student Reviews
SISU, Hongkou Campus
🇨🇳 Exchange in Shanghai
🏠 Housing
Booked a studio on SmartShanghai before arriving. €620/month, all new, gym downstairs, 5 min walk to Line 10. Landlord spoke zero English, but we managed everything with Google Translate and screenshots. The place was far from downtown (35+ min), but super quiet and safe.
🚗 Getting to Campus
15 minutes by metro to SISU. Easy. Just avoid rush hour feels like the whole city is in the subway with you.
✈️ Travel Life
Weekend in Hangzhou? 25 min by train. Spent Golden Week in Beijing and squeezed in Xi’an for the Terracotta Warriors. Also flew to Seoul for €90 roundtrip. China’s train system is chef’s kiss.
🎉 Social Life
Started slow, but once I joined the WeChat student groups, it took off. Pre-drinks at someone’s place, then nights at Revolucion, Taxx, or rooftops on the Bund. Clubs are wild you don’t even need to spend money if you arrive early.
📚 Classes
Took “Cross-Cultural Communication” and basic Chinese. The Chinese class was actually super fun and useful. Most of my courses had projects instead of exams, which made travel way easier.
🦙 Other
Install two VPNs before landing. Bring cash. Be patient with everything once you embrace the chaos, Shanghai is magic.
🇨🇳 Exchange in Shanghai
🏠 Housing
Lived in a shared flat in Jing’an with 2 other exchange students. Found it through a WeChat group a week before arriving. €550/month, nice apartment with AC, 10 min from Line 1. Super central, close to bars, cafés, and dumplings on every corner.
🚗 Getting to Campus
40 minutes door-to-door, but totally worth it for the location. I’d rather live in the action than near school plus, metro in Shanghai is cheap and spotless.
✈️ Travel Life
Spent almost every long weekend on the move: Suzhou, Tianjin, Guilin, even went to Japan with two flatmates. You just book the train or flight and go no one thinks twice.
🎉 Social Life
Perry’s for €1 drinks, then to Celia for techno or Bar Rouge for the view. Shanghai nightlife never ends before 6am. Met most of my friends just by saying “yes” to random invites on WeChat.
📚 Classes
I focused on business courses in English. Chill vibe, presentations, no heavy exams. Campus was peaceful and clean, and Chinese classmates were super curious and friendly.
🦙 Other
Don’t try to control everything. Have cash, backup apps, and a bit of chaos tolerance and you’ll have the time of your life.