Erasmus experience at Tianjin, China by Louise

Why did you choose to go to Tianjin, China?

I'm in Tianjin for a University exchange between my University in France and the University of Tianjin.

How long does your trip last? How much grant money do you receive?

I'm staying for 5 months in total, so for a term. The University of Tianjin has helped us a lot because many Chinese people in Tianjin don't speak French.

Source

What's the student atmosphere in Tianjin like?

There are lots of students in Tianjin because there are two big universities: Tianjin University and Nankai University. There aren't many expatriates but there are several bars and nightclubs where it's easy to meet other students.

Would you recommend the city and the University of Tianjin to other students?

Tianjin is called the "Shanghai of the North". Tianjin is a university city and it's close to Peking (30 mins on express train). Tianjin is a great city to study in.

What's the food like in this country?

Chinese food is quite spicy and very oily but also very good. The speciality of Tianjin is dumplings, a must-try for sure.

Source

Did you have any trouble finding a place to stay in Tianjin?

It's not easy as a foreigner to find a place to stay in Tianjin because not many Chinese people speak English and they make foreigners pay much more.

What's the cost of living in Tianjin?

You can rent somewhere with 50m2 for 300 euros/month. A restaurant meal is about €5. A 20 min taxi journey is €3. Life in China is really pretty cheap.

How has it been learning the language? Have you been to any language classes organised by the university?

I've had Chinese classes at the University of Tianjin.

What's the cheapest way to get to Tianjin from your home city?

You have to go by plane.

Where would you recommend going to party in Tianjin?

Near the university of Tianjin there are lots of bars and clubs for students.

And to eat at Tianjin? What are your favourite places?

The best for local food is in any of the little restaurants you find on the streets. They're often little rooms with just two or three tables.

Source

And what cultural visits would you recommend?

In Tianjin, you've got to visit the city centre along the river. Tianjin is an industrial, very modern city so there aren't many cultural things to see and you have to go to Peking to learn about the history of China.