Who this guide is for
Students who need to buy food, transport and dorm supplies before their payment setup is fully stable.
This is a practical student guide, not legal advice. Always confirm final requirements with your university, official documents or local authorities.
Step-by-step explanation
Keep a backup
Do not rely on a single payment method during the first days after arrival.
Stabilize your phone number
A working number makes account verification and payment recovery easier.
Understand campus payments
Some canteens, shops or campus systems may use university-specific workflows.
Test small purchases first
Confirm that payments work before relying on them for important travel or document errands.
Documents or things to prepare
Phone number
Passport
Bank card if available
Backup cash or card where accepted
University card if issued
Account recovery details
Common mistakes
What depends on your city or university
- Bank-card linking can depend on bank and document details.
- Campus canteen systems vary by university.
- Transit payments depend on city setup.
- App features can differ by account region and current policy.
Qiao tip
Qiao tip
Use the public guide to understand the task, then open Qiao to personalize it by city, university, arrival date and Chinese level.