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The ARAQ Network includes one university in the City of Jiamusi
- Jiamusi University
You will not find an entry for Jiamusi in the Lonely Planet,
and you cannot buy a Big Mac here. In many ways Jiamusi is
a typical Chinese city, and this is a main attraction for
students wishing to learn about China. We like to think of
Jiamusi as the deep end of the "Study in China swimming
pool". If you are looking for an immersion programme,
Jiamusi is the place for you.
Jiamusi is located in the extreme northeast of China, just
four hours by bus from the Russian border. Due to it's location,
it is known by Chinese as the "First Castle of the East".
The population of the Jiamusi region is about 2.5 million,
although the urban population is considerably lower. It is
the centre of government administration for northeastern Heilongjiang
Province.
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Unlike the other four cities in the ARAQ Network, Jiamusi is
neither a provincial capital nor an international seaport.
This can be seen in the pace of life and the attitude
of the people here. While the town teems with people,
there is none of the hustle and bustle associated with
larger metropolises. Harbin, the provincial capital
of Heilongjiang, is four hours away by bus, and the
contrast is very clear. |
While Jiamusi is developing quickly (the university in particular
is very modern), it is not comparable with the breakneck speed
of development in Harbin.As a result, there is less money
in circulation. In Harbin or Shenyang you may see a stretched
limousine (currently the ultimate symbol of wealth in China)
almost everyday, but in Jiamusi you may only see them on wedding
days. This can be both a benefit and a drawback for students.
On the plus side, living expenses are considerably cheaper.
For instance a large, hotel-standard single room with a private
bathroom in the International Centre at Jiamusi University
(to use the word dormitory would be an insult) costs only
$5 per day. On the minus side, do not expect the kind of nightlife
that a city like Dalian could offer.
As you can imagine, Jiamusi is cold in the winter! February
is the coldest month and daytime temperatures sometimes fall
to minus 20 degrees. Strangely enough, this does not seem
to bother the 100-strong Indian and Pakistani student population
in Jiamusi. They have come all the way to Jiamusi to study
Western Medicine, a testament to the reputation of the town
as a centre of medical excellence.
Have a specific question about a city or university?
E-mail us at enquiries@hyccchina.com.
We will reply within two working days.
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