We went to Harbin, really in the north of China. When we arrived with Claire, it was -20 degrees. This city is known for its ice festival; unfortunately, we arrived a week after it closed, but we still saw Siberian tigers. Harbin has a lot of Russian history, so there are many Russian buildings, and most of the foreigners and international students are Russians. You can find many Russian products here. Recently, Putin visited Harbin and held a conference with some Russians and Chinese from the university. (We couldn't see him; security is very strict, and everything is blocked 1-2 km around him.)
The school we attended is called Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). It is one of the most renowned schools in China. It is part of the C9, a sort of Chinese Ivy League. When we tell Chinese people outside the school that we are from HIT, they are very impressed. In reality, it is very difficult for Chinese students to get in after their entrance exams.
We had many activities for international students. Once a week, someone could volunteer to give a presentation about their country to other foreigners and interested Chinese students. I presented France and attended other presentations.
We stayed in a school dormitory (€70/month). I shared a room with Claire, and the building we stayed in is for foreigners. We found Russians on campus, but also many South Koreans, Thais, Cambodians. We met two English people, Saudis, Africans (Algeria, Congo, Malawi, etc.). There is a mix of everyone (except Americans; Trump blacklisted this school as it is also a military-oriented space school. I heard they do nuclear research and send satellites for the government here). We were well accommodated compared to Chinese students who are six in a room with bunk beds. Moreover, we will be relocated to new, much nicer buildings.
I met another French student here from ISIMA. They have long been partnered with this school, and we took the same courses with other Chinese students. Two of them will go to ISIMA next year in France, the rest to Italy.
The curriculum was in English and very software-oriented. Some courses were relevant to Claire and me, who are in applied mathematics, but we mainly came for the cultural experience rather than the curriculum.
During Labor Day in China, a week of vacation, I traveled to Beijing and Xi'an (the ancient capital of China). I visited many historical monuments over 10 days, including the terracotta statues and the Great Wall of China. Unlike Harbin, which feels very Russian and is nicknamed Little Russia, I got to really discover Chinese history. It will remain a very good memory for life!
The behavior of the Chinese towards foreigners is surprising. We are like stars. The Chinese are very numerous, so seeing foreigners is rare for them. For some, it was the first time they saw foreigners in their lives. So, they are very enthusiastic, especially if you say a word in Chinese. They get very excited and say you speak Chinese very well. We were often stopped by schoolchildren who wanted to take pictures with us, even adults.
Traveling to Beijing and Xi'an made me realize that Harbin is great for studying. The cost of living is very low (an average salary here is €600). You can have a full meal for €2-3. Beijing and Xi'an are a bit more expensive, but still affordable. The taxi is cheap, but most importantly, it's calm and quiet. The campus is perfect. It's also a city with 30,000 students and visitors. On campus, there is a gym, piano rooms, a shopping center (on campus, for students), restaurants, and several cafeterias. You could even not leave the campus and live very well. With Claire, we went to spas for €10 with several services included (scrubbing, cupping, for example).
Moreover, the payment system in China is computerized. You register your card in an app and pay by QR code. I never used cash here. You need to keep your phone well charged and have an external battery. Also, I discovered, as we came in winter, that below -20 degrees, I can easily lose 30% of battery in 5 minutes.
The weather is better now. We are between 20 and 30 degrees, but lately, there has been a lot of rain. We are still in China. We are finishing our last courses and exams, and we should be returning soon.
