Are you considering finding an apartment in a university or renting a place yourself? Many universities have accommodation and the price can be very cheap. There are advantages and disadvantages to staying on campus. You can read more about that here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtlwdRCGkBY&ab_channel=ChinaAdmissions
If you are looking to rent an apartment yourself, we would like to recommend Wellcee as an easy to use platform.
Whether you’re a young adult or a student searching for your first apartment, or just a seasoned renter in need of a new place, looking for apartment can be an exciting yet very exhausting process.
So be prepared that renting an apartment in China is far different than anything you experienced before. In this guide, we will walk you through all the most main districts and average prices. As well as how to sign a proper rental contract and resources to help you along the way. So, let’s get started!
Rent an Apartment in Beijing
Traditional but vibrant, Beijing is a city that encapsulates the spirit of China perfectly with a slew of ancient places, temples, modern business district and hutong areas. Compared to other cities in China, apartments in Beijing are quite expensive.
Districts: Chaoyang, Donghcheng, Xicheng, Haidian
Top Chinese universities: Tsinghua University, Peking University, Beijing Institute of Technology
Wellcee has also written a more in-depth guide about finding an apartment in Beijing here.
You can read more about studying in Beijing here.
Rent an Apartment in Shanghai
As one of the world’s largest cities, Shanghai can be an overwhelming place to figure out where to live. Some districts boast sprawling botanical gardens and green parks, while others are hotbeds of nightlife and culture. Apartments in Shanghai are quite expensive compared to other cities in China as well as the average price is similar to Beijing.
Districts: Puxi (Jing’An, Xuhui, Changning, Huangpu), Pudong, Hongkou, Putuo
Top Chinese universities: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, Shanghai University
Here you can find the renting apartments in Shanghai City Guide.
You can read more about studying in Shanghai here.
Rent an Apartment in Shenzhen
Shenzhen is one of the most vibrant cities in China, a city which has embraced gleaming modernity which is still retaining lots of natural beauty and charm. Compared to Beijing and Shanghai, apartments in Shenzhen are relatively cheap.
Districts: Nanshan, Futian, Baoan, Luohu
Top Chinese universities: Shenzhen University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Southern University of Science and Technology
Wellcee has made a Shenzhen city guide here.
We have made a studying in Shenzhen city guide here.
Rent an Apartment in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has long troubled individuals in terms of its high rental price and the limited housing size. They are significantly more expensive than the rest of Mainland China.
Districts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories
Top Chinese universities: The University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong city guide apartment apartments on Welllcee here.
Options for studying in Hong Kong is here.
Rent an Apartment in Guangzhou
Guangzhou (Canton), a city with many labels, such as “The city of cuisine” and “Garden City”, but no label will ever be able to justify the beauty of this metropolis. Compared to Beijing and Shanghai, apartments in Guangzhou are much cheaper. To make it easier for you to settle in and explore the city,
Districts: Tianhe, Yuexiu&Liwan, Haizhu and Panyu
Top Chinese universities: Guangzhou University, Sun Yat-sen University, South China University of Technology
Rent an Apartment in Hangzhou
Known to be the “Capital of Tea”, “Home of Silk”, Hangzhou is now home to some of the nation’s largest technology companies, even some of the world’s leading organizations like Alibaba.
Districts: Binjiang, Shangcheng, Xiacheng, Gongshu, Jianggang.
Top Chinese universities: Zhejiang University, Hangzhou Normal University, Zhejiang University of Technology
Hangzhou apartment guide is here.
Hanghzou studying guide is here.
Rent an Apartment in Chengdu
Unlike Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen, renting apartment in Chengdu is far less stressful. You can find a place with a more reasonable price while ensuring enough space for a decent social life. To help you navigate through different areas with different qualities,
Districts: Jingjiang, Wuhou, Qingyang, Chenghua
Top Chinese universities: Southwest Jiaotong University, Sichuan University, Chengdu University
Chengdu city guide is here.
Some Tips on Renting an Apartment
Having chosen the area and type of accommodation and budget the next step is to rent. Renting in China is slightly different from renting abroad and can be tricky for anyone unused to the process. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
- If you utilized a housing agent for finding your suitable housing, please ensure that the individual is an actual agency. Moreover, please be aware that the commission for the agency is usually equivalent to a month of the rental price. If you do not want to incur extra fees, you can use reliable websites or platforms like Wellcee for housing searches.
China Admissions suggest you can use Wellcee to find an apartment
Wellcee is a renting platform without any agents.
- An important part of renting is signing the contract, please look at the apartment in person before you sign and transfer money. It is very important that you are able to understand what you are signing. If you sign the contract on Wellcee the contract will be in English and any queries can be answered.
- It’s common to pay a 1-month deposit and 3-months rent at a time. That means on move-in day, you might need to have four months of rent prepared to pay at once. But everything is negotiable, you can discuss it with the landlord and choose a convenient way for both of you.
- When coming to the end of the contract be sure to get back your deposit, if you have any problems getting this done you may have to seek legal advice if you didn’t sign on Wellcee where your deposit is secured by the site.
Conclusion
No matter where you choose to live, your time in China will be marked by great food, fun, and be sure to immerse yourself in the exciting culture of this city. While it can be daunting to find an ideal apartment or find like-minded roommates, Wellcee is here to help you!
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