Student Life in China: Safety, Food, Transport & Culture for Pakistani Students Student Life in China: Safety, Food, Transport & […]
Student Life in China: Safety, Food, Transport & Culture for Pakistani Students
Adjusting to a new country is the biggest challenge, one of the most important part of students' life in China for Pakistani students. Understanding cultural differences, local habits, language barriers, adequate, social norms, festivals, and culture is really important.
Additionally, make budget of living expenses like accommodation, food, internet, transport, and other additional expenses is crucial. Many students don't know how life works in China.
This guide explains how Pakistanis successfully adapt to culture, manage monthly costs, find halal food, and travel more safely. For complete guidance on study in China, explore expert resources.
Safety & Security in China for Pakistani students
Student life in China for Pakistani students offers a unique blend of global exposure and safety. Security is always a priority among campuses, transport, accommodation, and public areas. Many Pakistani students choose programs like MBBS in China due to the safe and supportive environment.
No Racism Concerns
Pakistani students can get more respect due to long-standing friendship and cultural ties. 10000+ Pakistani students graduated from China and never faced problems like discrimination or physical racist attacks. The Chinese government has introduced special legal rules to prevent violence and harassment. There is a large Muslim community in China that is treated equally and respectfully.
Universities & cities are aware of religious practice and provide facilities like prayer rooms, halal food options, and Ramadan fasting.
Strict Drug-Free Policies
China has strict rules related to addiction, especially zero-tolerance toward drugs. There are really low drug-related crimes in universities and public areas. Pakistani parents can feel confident knowing their children are protected from drug addiction and safety risks. Unlike other countries where drugs can be easily accessible, there is strong supervision in students' hostels, and suspicious activities are taken seriously.
Political Stability
Unlike Pakistan, in China, you don't face political disputes. The strict law enforcements ensure campus security regulation, strict traffic rules, and legal access to Pakistani students to access police. International students don't have permission to discuss political issues in public or on social media.
Safety for Female Students
Females studying in China get special treatment, like separate hostel floors, 24 security cameras, and counseling services. Chinese society generally has more respect for females and promotes gender equality. The cities of China are safe and give freedom to walk even at nights providing styles for females for campus events.
Public Transportation Safety
Universities issue Pakistani students special student ID cards to get a 20% to 40% discount on Metro or city buses. The private rides like taxis have CCTV and tracking apps. The patrols monitored every ride at the metro stations to maintain safety.
Campus Security Measures
In the accommodation & campus, the guards are available 24/7 to monitor entry or exit. CCTV is installed on campus and in public areas to give instant reports on incidents. To enter the hostel rooms, students are required to do biometric or student ID verification. Any outsider is not allowed, especially at female hostels.
Halal Food Option: student life in China for Pakistani students
Where Can You Find Halal Food in China?
Every city in China offers a rich and diverse world of the Muslims cuisine. Majorly, there is a large availability of halal restaurants, local markets selling street food, grocery stores, food delivery, and halal campus cafeteries. Mostly, you can find halal food places near your university campus, making it easier for students to access.
Does Halal Food Taste Good?
In China, most Pakistani students are concerned about Halal food quality. But in reality, food tastes delicious, spicy, and rich-flavored.
Halal food is popular among international students, Chinese Muslim and even non-Muslims. Most are managed by Chinese muslims with years of experience ensuring authentic halal dishes.
Popular Halal Food Menu
While exploring Chinese cities, there are common Halal food dishes available includes: Lamb Kebabs, Biryani, Xinjiang Rice, beef noodle soup, Chuan, Laghman, Dapanji, Yangrou Paomo, vegetable dumplings, Beef Jerky, and Steamed Chicken.
Is Pakistani cuisine also Available?
Yes, in some modern cities like Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Chongqing, Pakistani cuisine is widely available. These restaurants often attract a large number of customers due to their authentic taste. The most requested Pakistani dishes included Seekh Kababs, Pani Puri, Pulao, Handis, Chicken Haleem, Sajji.
Top Chinese cities Famous for Halal Foods:
| City | Description & Highlights | Popular Dishes | Average Per-Meal Cost (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | Famous for Food specially Muslims dishes, has more than hundreds of certified halal food places. Due to the Niujie Mosque, it is called the headquarters for Muslims and has many street Halal food stalls. Beijing Halal food specialties include Lamb Skewers, Halal Hotpot and barbecues. | Lamb Skewers, Halal Hotpot, barbecues | 400 to 3,000 |
| Kashgar | Known as the heart of inherently halal food. The Muslims Food culture was developed during the Silk Road trade. You can see local street vendors everywhere. You can find more than 800 verified halal food dining options. | Samosa, Dapanji, Naan, Mutton Polo | 400 to 3,000 |
| Urumqi | Near the Grand Bazaar of Urumqi, over 30 restaurants are offering the most affordable food prices. The dining experiences The students are very positive and mostly crowded. | Various halal options | 350-2,200 |
| Yinchuan | There is a significant Muslim population. Yinchuan offers some popular halal, authentic-ish dishes like dumplings, stir-fried noodles, and lamb soup. | Dumplings, stir-fried noodles, lamb soup | 450-2,700 |
Transportation System: student life in China for Pakistani students
China has been at the forefront of technology in transportation, creating
Culture, Language & Social Student Life in China for Pakistani Students
Language Barrier
There are only a few locals able to understand and communicate in English in only major cities. Need to speak slowly, use body language, or commonly use translation apps for communication. On-campus, only English-medium institutions offer courses, textbooks, and exams conducted in English.
Still, not all students are fluent in English. If you don't understand the Chinese language, you may face issues in group discussions or completing projects.
Social Etiquette
The Chinese greeting system is very respectful, especially for the eldest. The handshakes, Bow & little nod are body language for greeting. Their behaviour is really modest, with avid physical touch and pointing. During dining, chopsticks are usually used and wait until the elders start eating. Giving a gift for the first time, visiting someone's home, or special occasions, shows hospitality.
Classrooms in the University
The classrooms in China for Pakistanis students are very organized, clean, and spacious. The facilities, such as air conditioning, heating, smartboards, and projectors, are available. Per classroom, students count between 30 - 50 students, depending on the institute. Punctuality is very important; some universities require specific mandatory attendance.
Chinese Festivals
There are vibrant festivals like Mid-Autumn, Chinese New Year, Duanwu, Yuan Xia jie, Tomb-sweeping, and Christmas. International student communities gather with large crowds enjoy decorated streets, Performances, fireworks, lighting lanterns, and get a day off.
There are no-restrictions for Islamic festivals like Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, and Ramadhan. Students need to adjust class schedules if needed. The prayer rooms are available on campus.
Adaptation to Local Style of Life
To the lives of Pakistan students studying in China, they have to adapt to the local way of life and their habits. Food habits, daily routine, study routines, and behaviour in society are quite different from those in Pakistan. The students might require time to be accustomed to these changes, at least during the initial months. Dressing like the locals and adherence to simple manners will speed up their integration.
Experiencing Culture Shock
The Pakistani students normally develop culture shock because of differences in their social interaction, communication, and routine. As an example, in China, individuals keep personal space in both queues and transport, talk in low tones in libraries, and obey the rules of society. These little variations are easy to adapt to consciously, though they may seem shocking.
Adherence to these norms will enable Pakistani students to establish favorable relationships with the local students, faculty, and other foreign students.
Living costs of student life in China for Pakistani students
A clear understanding of monthly living expenses is a key part of a successful student life in China for Pakistani students. The table below includes the top costs in PKR that students are required to pay for maintaining a lifestyle in 2026.
| Expense | Approx. Cost (PKR) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | PKR 24,000–48,000 |
| Food | PKR 60,000 |
| Transport | PKR 9,000 |
| Internet & SIM | PKR 6,000 |
| Miscellaneous | PKR 12,000 |
| Total | PKR 108,000–138,000 |
Note: These are approximate estimates for 2026. Actual costs vary by city (e.g., lower in Tier 2 cities like Wuhan vs. Beijing/Shanghai). Recent data shows average monthly living expenses for international students around RMB 2,000–4,000 (~PKR 80,000–160,000), aligning closely with this range when including dorms and campus food.
Conclusion
For parents, safety, stability, education quality, and degree recognition are top priorities. Student life for Pakistani students is safe, beautiful, and student-friendly. China offers modern infrastructure, representative culture, and affordability. Although the culture, language differences, habits, lifestyle, religion, and social requirements, Pakistani students adjust.
Apply through Soft Consultants for complete China 2026 admission support and safe settlements. Get expert guidance at Soft Consultants.
Writer: Mahnoor
Education Content Writer — Soft Consultants
Mahnoor is an education content writer at Soft Consultants, specializing in international study programs. She focuses on helping students make informed decisions about studying MBBS in China and other top destinations through clear, research-based information.
