Nanjing
Jiangsu Province Major cityA former national capital on the Yangtze, Nanjing layers city walls, mausoleums and memorial sites under plane-tree avenues — while running one of China's strongest university clusters: Nanjing University, Southeast University and a dozen more. It delivers Shanghai-tier education at lower cost, one hour up the rail line, with a slower, greener city rhythm.
- One of China's ancient capitals — city walls, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, world-class museums
- Dense top-university cluster led by Nanjing University and Southeast University
- A full metro city one hour from Shanghai at lower living cost
- Plane-tree streets and the Xuanwu Lake campus scenery
Living here
Monthly budget
CNY 2,500–4,800 (USD 350–670) / month incl. dorm or shared flat
Dorms affordable; off-campus sharing near the Gulou and Xianlin campus belt is moderate by eastern-China standards.
Getting around
Metro system in operation. Lukou (NKG) with solid Southeast Asian coverage and some long-haul; Shanghai's international hubs are an hour away by rail.
Halal food
Good: Nanjing's historic Hui community and its famous halal duck tradition mean established halal kitchens and butchers beyond the Lanzhou chains, plus campus halal canteens.
Healthcare
Gulou Hospital of Nanjing University and Jiangsu Province Hospital lead East-China-tier care; student insurance covers designated hospitals.
Climate
Four distinct seasons: hot humid summers (one of China's classic "furnace cities") and cold damp winters around 0–8°C.
A large metro network with English signage plus bike-share makes the long city navigable; life is cashless — set up a local SIM and wallet immediately. English is moderate in the university districts around Gulou and Xianlin.
Factual fields as of 2026-09-21 — editorial estimate, not official figures.
Universities in Nanjing (14)
5 English-taught programs tracked in this city — see them.