Worlda Tips: Things to expect in your first 48 hours in China

1. Lots and lots and lots of people
China’s huge population is on show from the moment your plane touches down. Airports tend to be extremely crowded and full of exhausted people jostling to get their bags and get home as quickly as possible. My advice: get your head down, collect your bags and make your way out ASAP to meet your school’s representative.

2. Different weather
The north of China in particular is a land of extremes with freezing cold months in the winter and dry hot summers. Southern China is a lot milder throughout the year but can be incredibly hot and humid in July and August. Do your research before you land so you know what you should be wearing.
3.Language problems
OK so you might have dabbled in a bit of Chinese before you arrive but most people don’t so in your first couple of days it’s going to be overwhelming language culture shock. There’ll be lots of “huhs?!”, “what?” and “Do you speak English?!” but you’ll soon realise that hunger is a great motivator. Hand gestures, pointing and phones will help you to survive and order your first meals. Plus, any decent school should help you out with dedicated administration staff and lots of settling in assistance.
4.Wowed by the evening lightshow
Chinese cities have grown hugely in the last 20 years with lots of rural villagers flocking to them for work. This growth has manifested itself with skyscrapers often adorned with multi-coloured flashing lights showing everyone who visits that this is the place to be and that it’s growing rapidly. At night this can be really quite impressive and it’s not just Beijing and Shanghai. Most cities are so covered in neon and LEDs that you definitely feel you’re in a different world

5.The Noise
Life in China seems to happen on the streets as much as in the apartment. It’s a 24 hour environment with plenty of hustle and bustle. While exciting, this does come with it’s own problems: noise! At Worlda we find apartments that are as secluded as possible but I’d definitely recommend bringing earplugs if you’re a light sleeper, just for the first few nights at least.