‘Architecture, Nature, Cuisine—Everything in China Is Astonishing’

Photo courtesy of Elizaveta Zorina

This year, Elizaveta Zorina is completing her Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence Hardware and Software at the HSE Tikhonov Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics (HSE MIEM). In autumn 2025, she spent six months in China as part of an academic mobility programme. In this interview, she shares her experience of studying at the School of Information Science and Engineering at Shandong University.

Choosing a University in China

During the first semester of the second year of my Master’s programme, I enrolled in the School of Information Science and Engineering at Shandong University’s Qingdao Campus through an academic mobility programme. I studied Information and Communication Engineering there for a full semester at the university, from September 2025 to January 2026.

Elizaveta Zorina

Photo courtesy of Elizaveta Zorina

Three factors influenced my choice of university. In addition to the subject area itself, I was very keen to experience studying in a different climate, and Qingdao offers both mountains and the sea.

Another important consideration was that, by the application deadline, I did not have enough time to obtain a TOEFL certificate. Fortunately, Shandong University (山东大学) accepted applications based on the English language grade listed on my Bachelor’s degree diploma, which proved to be a lifesaver. Here is another useful tip: many Chinese universities now accept the Duolingo English Test, as well as HSE University’s Linguatest.

Key Features of Studying in China

To be honest, I did not notice many significant differences, apart from the fact that teaching was conducted in a combination of English and Chinese. The grading system, timetable arrangements, and examination procedures at the Chinese university were very similar to those at HSE University. Perhaps this is because both institutions incorporate many elements of the international higher education system.

At the beginning of the semester, we were given the opportunity to choose our courses. There was a set of compulsory modules related to the degree programme: Stochastic Process, Information Theory and Coding, VLSI System Design, and AI in Medicine. I attended these classes together with Chinese students and was the only international student in the group. As a result, the lecturer delivered most of the lectures in English, while particularly important points were explained in Chinese to ensure that the majority of students fully understood the material. As the saying goes, the only thing worse than stochastic processes is stochastic processes taught in Chinese.

There was also a group of compulsory courses specifically designed for international exchange students. Chinese Language and China Survey were taught exclusively to international students. In addition, some modules could be selected from other academic tracks, so I chose several courses offered by Shandong University’s Business School.

One important point to bear in mind is the approval of your individual curriculum by all relevant parties. It is essential to ensure that everything is properly agreed in advance in order to avoid difficulties later on. Overall, foreigners are treated very warmly in China. Both local students and academic staff make every effort to help international students and are always willing to accommodate their needs.

Favourite Courses

Several courses became my favourites during the semester. One of them was Chinese Language. We had a wonderful Chinese teacher—kind, cheerful, and genuinely caring about his students. He had previously studied in the United States as an exchange student himself and would often joke that he knew exactly what it was like to study abroad, far from home. He used to say: ‘While you are here, let’s try to support one another and be there for each other.’ Thanks to him, we celebrated birthdays together with other international students, organised an engaging poster session at the end of the course, and whenever someone fell ill, he would always recommend the best medicines to buy. On top of that, he was an excellent teacher: my Chinese improved significantly during my mobility period.

My second favourite course was Stochastic Process, largely because of the lecturer’s support and positive attitude. The subject itself was fascinating as well. One amusing aspect was that Russian physicists and mathematicians enjoy a strong reputation in China, as they do in many parts of the world. Since Russian surnames appear frequently in stochastic process theory, every time we covered topics such as Markov chains, Kolmogorov’s theory, and related concepts, the lecturer would look at me—I was the only Russian student in the class—and say, ‘There you are, Russian scientists!’ Each time, I felt a sense of pride in my fellow countrymen.

The third course that left a lasting impression on me was Management. One class in particular stood out. We were divided into two teams and asked to build a tower out of toothpicks. Through this exercise, we learned how important effective role allocation and time management are in project work. The winning team was not the one that built the tallest tower, but the one that built the most stable structure—the only tower that remained standing during the final evaluation.

Research Activities

Professionally, I work as an AI systems developer in the field of robotics. As a result, my Master’s research focuses on embodied intelligence technologies for industrial robots. During my mobility period, I continued working on this area. I worked on my thesis under the supervision of Sergey Nefedov from HSE MIEM. At Shandong University, I was also assigned a supervisor who provided me with access to a laboratory and a training robotic manipulator so that I could continue my research. It was fascinating to become part of the daily life of a Chinese research laboratory, even for a short time. The local students were incredibly hardworking and often spent entire days in the lab, from morning until late evening.

We also had opportunities to attend joint dinners whenever visiting international professors came to the university. For example, we hosted professors from Australia, Serbia, the United States, and several other countries. One of the highlights of my mobility experience was participating as a speaker at the Digital City World Congress 2025 in Shenzhen, where I presented a talk entitled ‘Embodied Intelligence as the Foundation for the Next Stage of Smart Manufacturing Development.’ It was my first experience speaking at an international conference, both exciting and nerve-racking. Experiences like this broaden your horizons tremendously, particularly when you have the chance to exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world.

A Typical Day

Class schedules varied considerably. Some days lectures began at 8:00 am, while on others they started as late as 8:00 pm. Overall, however, the academic workload was not overwhelming. We had no more than four classes per day, although the total number of classroom hours was still greater than in a typical Russian Master’s programme.

Mornings were usually devoted to sport. The campus offered an impressive range of sports facilities, including a large stadium, courts for various types of tennis and badminton, volleyball and basketball courts, a dedicated sports centre, and a swimming pool. Chinese students are particularly passionate about basketball and badminton, and in such an atmosphere it was difficult not to join in.

After sport, my friends and I would always head to the shopping centre next to the campus. There we would buy delicious coffee from Luckin Coffee, a Chinese coffee chain. My favourite drink was the one with butter in it. It sounds unusual, but it is incredibly tasty. Another thing I loved was that both on campus and throughout China it was always possible to buy inexpensive pre-cut fruit of every imaginable variety—a kind of fruit buffet.

After our coffee-and-fruit breakfast, we would usually go to the library and stay there until our classes or the next event began. Qingdao is home to one of the largest libraries in Shandong Province: a ten-storey building with dedicated spaces for different activities. There were IT areas equipped with large monitors, 3D-printing facilities, music rooms, calligraphy rooms, chess rooms, sleeping areas, and even spaces designed for practising public speaking and reading aloud (presentations in China tend to be delivered at a very fast pace). If there were ever an image to illustrate the concept of intensive studying, it would be Chinese students in the library. Many students spend virtually all their time there—studying, sleeping, and eating—and even reserving workspaces for weeks at a time. I could talk about the library for hours because it was probably my favourite place on campus, with an incredibly motivating atmosphere.

And, of course, alongside studying and research, we still found time to enjoy ourselves. We went swimming in the sea, which began just beyond the campus gates, explored the beautiful university grounds, travelled to Qingdao and other cities, attended dinners with Chinese friends, colleagues, and professors, went hiking in the mountains, and took part in university events.

Everyday Life in China

Personally, I found everyday life in China quite comfortable. I lived in a university residence hall on campus. Therefore, one of the first things I had to do upon arrival was to obtain a temporary residence registration—or a residence permit if staying for longer than six months. This is arranged at the local police station. We also purchased local SIM cards immediately upon arrival—the service was available right on campus—and applied for bank cards. Obtaining a bank card can be a lengthy process, and bank staff are not always eager to expedite it, so patience and persistence are essential.

It is also important to make sure that your university registration has been completed successfully, that you have received all the necessary documents, and that you notify your home university administration accordingly. Students planning a longer stay may choose to rent a flat, but the university residences are perfectly acceptable as well.

There were, however, a few challenges. We lived on the ground floor and experienced issues with temperature and humidity. During the autumn, we used the air conditioner to cool and ventilate the room, while in winter we relied on the same unit for heating. Living close to the sea meant dealing either with high humidity or strong winds, so a variety of clothing was necessary.

The campus canteen was excellent, offering cuisines from all regions of China, making it possible to try something new every day. My favourite dish was malatang, a highly customisable soup in which you select your preferred vegetables, meat, seafood, tofu, and other ingredients, all of which are then cooked in a broth with an adjustable level of spiciness.

Not all culinary discoveries were equally pleasant. One dish looked remarkably similar to a shawarma wrap and had the intriguing name ‘Everybody’s Home.’ After tasting it, however, I discovered that it contained virtually every type of pork offal imaginable. I had similar reactions to durian pizza, chicken feet, and donkey meat. Some students preferred to buy groceries and cook for themselves in shared kitchens. Food delivery services are also extremely well developed in China. For getting around campus, students could rent scooters, and a Qingdao metro station was located just outside the university grounds. We also used taxis frequently, as they are relatively inexpensive in China.

In terms of cost of living, China is a very comfortable place to be. Food, transport, and everyday necessities are often cheaper than expected and, in some cases, even less expensive than in Russia. However, English is rarely spoken, and cash is accepted almost nowhere. For that reason, it is essential to plan your currency exchange and payment arrangements well before arriving in China.

Socialising with Other Students

I was fortunate to become part of a wonderful and supportive Russian student community made up of students from different universities and cities. Thanks to them, the adaptation process was smooth and straightforward. They helped us complete paperwork, navigate administrative procedures, and settle into everyday life. Later, we travelled extensively together and shared many memorable experiences. In my view, the Russian student community abroad is one of the most close-knit and supportive—that is incredibly valuable.

Over the period, I formed excellent relationships with students from all backgrounds. Within our courses, we formed a strong international group, helping one another with assignments, working on projects together, and celebrating birthdays. We became particularly close to our Chinese classmates. For the first time in my life, I celebrated a birthday in a Russian-Chinese group of friends. It was a fascinating experience to build friendships across cultures.

Places We Managed to Visit

During my semester in China, we visited around fifteen cities. We travelled exclusively during weekends, public holidays, and other periods free from academic commitments. Naturally, we visited Beijing and Shanghai, as well as both Shanghai Disneyland and Universal Beijing Resort. However, I would like to highlight some less obvious destinations that left a particularly strong impression on me.

 Chongqing is a vast megacity with a distinctly cyberpunk atmosphere. Buildings seem to be stacked on top of one another, metro lines run directly through residential blocks, and at times it feels as though you are walking through a computer game.

 Chengdu is the city of giant pandas. They are unbelievably charming. The city is also famous for its remarkable Sichuan Opera.

 Xi’an is home to the Terracotta Army, one of the world’s greatest archaeological treasures and a true wonder of human history.

 Shenzhen is a young city of skyscrapers, forests, and coastline. It feels as though someone combined a futuristic non-fiction book with a dinosaur encyclopaedia and brought it to life.

 Suzhou is often referred to as the Venice of the East and renowned for its canals, classical gardens, and unique atmosphere.

 Changzhou is home to an extraordinary dinosaur-themed park that is well worth a visit.

 Dalian struck me as a city dedicated to leisure, entertainment, and relaxation.

And, of course, Qingdao deserves special mention. It is a beautiful coastal city and the birthplace of China’s famous beer culture. What makes it particularly distinctive is the harmonious blend of European and Chinese architectural styles.

China is a remarkable country with a unique culture, fascinating traditions, and a distinctive outlook on life. It is well worth visiting for both study and tourism. The architecture, natural landscapes, and cuisine are all extraordinary.