City guides · · 2 min read
Hangzhou for international students: Zhejiang University, Alibaba and West Lake living
One of China's most liveable cities, home to its largest university by international enrolment and to Alibaba's headquarters.
Quick answer
Zhejiang University's seven campuses
ZJU is not one campus but seven, spread across Hangzhou and beyond. Zijingang, in the north-west, is the largest and takes most first- and second-year students. Yuquan is the historic city-centre campus. The Haining International Campus, about an hour from central Hangzhou in Jiaxing, is a purpose-built English-language campus hosting the joint institutes with the University of Edinburgh and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
This matters a great deal when you apply: a programme listed as "Zhejiang University" may be taught in Haining, which is a small town rather than Hangzhou. Read the programme page carefully.
Costs
Hangzhou is roughly 20–25% cheaper than Shanghai. A dormitory-based student budget is CNY 3,000–3,800 per month, and a room in a shared flat near Zijingang is CNY 1,800–3,000.
Food is a highlight: Hangzhou cuisine is sweet and delicate, and the city has an excellent and affordable restaurant culture at every price point.
Alibaba and the digital economy
Hangzhou is the headquarters city of Alibaba, Ant Group and NetEase, and ZJU's computer science graduates are the single largest recruiting pool for them. The Xixi campus area is the centre of this ecosystem.
For students in computer science, e-commerce, logistics or design, Hangzhou offers internship access comparable to Beijing or Shenzhen with a much gentler lifestyle.
Climate and daily life
Hangzhou has four distinct seasons, a humid summer reaching 35–38 °C and a cool, damp winter at 2–10 °C. Spring is spectacular and the city fills with visitors during the plum-blossom and tea seasons.
The metro is extensive and cheap, bikes are everywhere, and Shanghai is 45–60 minutes away by high-speed rail — close enough for a day trip or a weekend internship.