Important Guidelines for New SJTUer

to start-off
This document is based on an individual’s experience (of first few months) and to the best of experience encountered, and doesn’t certify the information
furnished is applicable for every individual, it may vary. The sole purpose is to serve a guideline for those students in particular, who travel alone, & are
unaware of the challenges faced in first couple of weeks at SJTU Minhang campus. Later on, living alone (in foreign) is convenient.

1. DOWNLOAD APPS: Metroman, Shanghai metro, Alipay, Wechat, Ofo, Turbo VPN,
Shareit, Microsoft Translator, Baidu Translator, Amap, Didi, Pleco, Pinyin keyboard. Those apps
required in China INCLUDE: Chinese playstore, Taobao, JD, Bank of china, Cango, Hallobike, etc.
Moreover, please install Hoxx VPN and/or Ultra Surf VPN extension for Firefox and Browsec for
Google Chrome in your laptops. Phsiphon VPN also works well in laptop. Take a Windows
bootable USB with you as well, as you will need USB for variety of purposes, later on. It’s
preferable to have 10 copies of your Passport and Admission notice, each. Also, you must have
10 passport size pictures (or more), that will be needed during registration, medical, police
verification etc.

2. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: Learn to drive bicycle and / or Motor cycle. Regarding food,
the Chinese eat “boiled rice” with many indigenous dishes using chopsticks, most of the time. It
is a nice experience. One can develop taste for it, and try to learn about some basic cooking in
order to be on safe side in case the adaptability with this food is not developed.

3. MEDICINES & MONEY TO BRING: Bring all important medicines including tablets
(5-10 packets each), Antibiotics, syrups preferably in a shoes-packing box which is to be placed in
luggage bag and not in the hand-carry. If you have kids, bring all kind of medicine for them as
these are quite expensive here. You will need antibiotics at times. Lastly, bring at least 4000 yuan,
for first time, when coming here.

4. GENERAL IMPORTANT ITEMS:

o Bring two/three plates (preferably plastic) with 2-3 spoons & forks, one MUG (Preferably not
plastic).
o Take pair of light-walks, Chappals (good quality) and joggers (casual shoes preferred) with
you. Casual dressing is common here so jeans, shorts t-shirts are the way to go. Dress pant
shirt is rarely used, though one must have at least one for conferences or proposal
presentations. Summer is not very hot here but winter is tough so pack accordingly.
Obviously, you can buy all these here as well but in the start, you may find it difficult because
of language issue.
o Bring a prayer mat.
 o Bring 2-3 big packets (2-3 kg) of black tea, if you are a tea-lover. Tea is quite expensive here.
o One more thing, bring a “plastic lota”, you will find it helpful as washrooms don’t have Muslim
shower. It can also be bought from here though via taobao.
o Bring 3 pin to 2 pin converter, you will also need.
o One good quality umbrella (short in size), as rains are quite frequent here. Shanghai is often
called Toranto of Asia, probably.
o A good quality laptop bag (preferably smaller & stylish), you need to take it daily to lab as
well as for outings.
o Wifi on Airport does not work without a Chinese Sim. You can tell your family members in
advance that I will contact you after reaching the university.

5. LEARN BASIC CHINESE: IT’S HIGHLY HIGHLY SUGGESTED TO UNDERTAKE “A MONTH

OR 2 COURSE” OF CHINESE LANGUAGE. YOU WILL FIND THE BENEFITS WHEN YOU ARRIVE.
LANGUAGE IS AN INEVITABLE BARRIER IN CHINA.

6. BOOK A ROOM IN CAMPUS: If you are on scholarship, book a room in dorm before
coming even if you plan to live outside. You can email the International students office that you
will pay later. The room can be left after 80 days of registration date. It is suggested to book one,
as the first days are a bit challenging and you need to have a proper residence in order to make
friends and have information about lab environment and general living.

7. TICKET BOOKING: Book at least a month ago, so that you can find a reasonable and cheap
air ticket. Stay at Urumqi is generally not suggested (because of strict checking sometimes, also
luggage have to booked again from Urumqi) so, try to avoid those flights. Prefer that you reach
Shanghai within business hours, and not late at night.

8. REACHING AIRPORT LATE: If you reach late, go to the police officers at airport who
will help you in taking Taxi. They are meter-based and will cost around 170-200 yuans. Prefer
Orange taxi as that is small but cheap. The yellow one is a bit expensive, and is spacious. Also, you
may contact any senior scholar in wechat group “Jiaoda 18” to be properly guided.

Keep with you the address of “Siyuan gate, Dongchuan 800, Minhang district, Shanghai Jiatong
University” WRITTEN IN CHINESE to show to taxi drivers, they seldom speak and understand
English.

9. REACHING RESIDENCE: When you reach your residence e.g. Dorm-8 or 9 or 51, the
aunt will process everything for you. You must have pictures, admission notice (original and
copies), Proof of booking your room and maybe educational documents. You will be given card
key of the room, where you can enjoy your stay with many facilities.
10. TAKE CHINESE SIM: It is not suggested to buy sim from airport. There are student
package Sims in the campus, which are cheap. (the student package worth 200 yuans, and valid
for 2 years). That offers 40GB internet every month, and lots of local calls and messages. Take
Passport (Original +Copy) with you when buying sim.

11. REGISTRATION AT SJTU: Try to register as early as possible, it IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO

GET REGISTERED before the registration date that you booked. Go to administration building,
take passport+admission notice+educational documents+pictures. You will be added in Wechat
group of Intl students, and keep following the group conversations about further processes. You
will be sent to your respective school, from where you will receive University card and bank ATM
(unactivated).

12. BANK ACCOUNT: After finishing registration, go as soon as possible to Bank of China for
opening account. Token system is in place everywhere in china, so first come first served principle
is followed every nook and corner.
After opening account, ask the officials roaming inside bank to help you link the bank account
with Wechat and Alipay in the bank. The bank staff will help you a great deal.
Using these apps and after being inter-linked, You will be able to pay.

13. JACCOUNT & COURSES REGISTRATION: Register for courses on “Jaccount” AS

SOON AS POSSIBLE after making a “training plan” in consultation with your supervisor,
otherwise slots are filled and you may not pick the subject you want to choose. The Jaccount profile
information will be shared with you by concerned coordinator in the Wechat group.

14. MEDICAL / MEDICAL VERIFICATION: You would be taken for medical

examination, the date of which is given ON THE DAY OF YOUR REGISTRATION. Keep an eye on
that date. Do reach in time for the bus at allocated date, time and venue. Don’t miss the bus, as
the hospital is far. Keep all relevant documents and pictures with you while going. If you have
done medical from Pakistan, they will only take blood for test (please keep 50 yuan in cash with
you) and take a copy given to you by Chinese Accupuncture centre in Pakistan.

15. APPLYING FOR RESIDENCE PERMIT: When you receive the medical verification,
you have to go to Exit-Entry Visa office (near Chunshen road) by metro / taxi (22-25 minutes travel
on metro, and a 10-15 minutes walk) for applying to Permanent Residence. Take the medical
verification & visa form (from Aministration building), Passport copy+original, Admission notice
copy+original, Hostel / off-campus residence orignal+copy, and pictures. Don’t forget to take
your address written in Chinese. They will process for you. Recall the” First come, first served
basis” here, too. This is delivered in 8-10 working days. When delivered, pay the fees it’s 800 0r
1000 yuan (depending on visa validity).
 16. FAMILY TO BRING: Those who want to bring family require 4 letters:

o Scholarship letter (from Administration building) B-807

o Self support letter from Chen Requi building, Room# 328
o Application for invitation (sample attached below)
o Professors invitation for family (sample attached below)

Scan these four, and email back to your home in Pakistan. Spouse shall get medical done from Pakistan
(Chinese acupuncture, Islamabad) 4500 PKR (Normal) / 5400 PKR (urgent). In case of kid, the vaccination
certificate is to be confirmed by Chinese acupuncture worth 2000 PKR.

Book slots for visa at Chinese embassy, and apply by filling the form for each individual family member
and take a feasible appointment date. When they arrive the same process as yours will be repeated i.e.
for Residence permit of 4 years, you need to pay 1000 yuan each for the respective family member.

15. BUYING E-BIKE: Buy a new e-bike (preferably between 2200 – 3000 yuans, esp for PhD
students, if you can afford and are on Type-A scholarship otherwise you can go for buying a second hand
e-bike or buying a bicycle). It is very important. It is to be registered in nearest police station, ask the
shopkeeper, when finalizing price, to do it for you (Generally if the rate of bike is 2500, the shopkeepers
lower it to 2400 or 2350, at most, for you.). While buying your e-bike, If a friend who can speak some basic
Chinese accompany you, that’s more preferable. The shopkeeper will accompany you (on the next day
you bought it, after re-setting it “temperorily”,) to police station and you need Admission notice copy,
Student card copy, passport original and copy when visit there. On doing, you will get the number plate
& bike papers ( including two cards). Don’t forget to take the “bigger” wire lock, it’s safer. The shopkeeper
will again set the bike for you. Charging points are installed at different places in campus, first get the app
downloaded and then you would be able to charge your bike in those slots by paying more or less one
yuan each time you charge. Charging time is 6-8 hours.

16. LEAVING UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE: If you want to leave it, say you are in Dorm, you
would be charged 80 yuans/day. You have to go to the administration building B-204, and they will
confirm the number of days you lived in hostel. Pay using wechat in the respective dorm, and the aunt
will clear your account. Again go to Administration building, they will hand over you a “Check-out form”.
This is to be taken to police station for stating that you have changed residence and they register you
accordingly. In administration building, Insist & don’t pay the whole 6600 yuans (if it works its fine,
otherwise pay the whole amount and it would be reimbursed into your account within 10 days). The
process of registration within 24 hours is to be done by yourself if you don’t reside inside campus.

For Registration form of temporary residence you need:

a. Passport Original + Photocopy (Photo page, visa page and China entry date page)
b. Apartment rental contract (Original + Photocopy)
c. Landlord ID card + Property ownership certificate (Photocopy)
d. Form- Permission to live off campus (Original)
 17. THINGS TO REMEMBER IN FIRST DAYS: Be an active participant in different
wechat groups, and always greet everyone you meet especially Pakistanis. Try to know and stay
in contact with every Pakistani SJTUer, to remain united and help each other in future ☺.

____________________________________________________________________

(Please remember in your prayers, may Allah SWT grant all of us the courage, determination and
persistence to help others and contribute good to the society as much as we can. May He grant all our
elders/relatives/acquainted (Late), highest of places in Jannat-ul-firdous. And, may He grant our
family members & us, immense success in this as well as in the world hereafter. Ameen, Jazakumullah
Khaira)

Family Invitation letter#1

The China Embassy (Pakistan),
Immigration Section
November 10, ______

Dear Visa Officer,

Subject: Letter of invitation for the family of Mr. XYZ (PhD/MS student)

This letters is to support the temporary visit visa application of Mr. XYZ’s family
member, who is a PhD student in our Research Lab in
_________________________ Department, School of
_________________________________, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Minhang
Campus, China. His passport no. and other details are as given bellow.

Name: XYZ
Student ID: -----
Passport No: ------
Cell No: +86-------

The details of his family members who are going to be invited are as under.
Name: ABC
Relationship: ------
Passport No: -------
Date of Birth: -------
Thank you in advance for considering the visa application of Mr. XYZ’s family.

Sincerely,

Professor _______________
Department of __________________
____
Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
Tel: +86-________________
Cell: +86-______________________
Email: ______@sjtu.edu.cn
Family Invitation letter#2
The Chinese Embassy, (Pakistan)
Immigration Section
November 10, ________
Dear Visa Officer,

Re: Letter of invitation for my wife (name)

This letter is to support the Visa application of my wife name----- (Date of Birth: ---
--) living at ---(Pakistan address)--- . Her home phone number is +92---- and cell No
is +92------.

I am currently an international student of PhD at Shanghai Jiao Tong University,

Minhang Campus, Shanghai China. I have attached a copy of my passport and
study permit. My date of birth is ----. My address is Building no.
_________________________________________________ Dongchuan Road,
Shanghai, P.R China.
My phone number is +86-______________________ and my email address is ------
--@sjtu.edu.cn

Thank you in advance for consideration of my family’s visa application.

Sincerely,

____________________________
PhD/MS Scholar
Passport No: -------
Cell No: +86-------- (China)/
+92-------- (Pakistan)