For students coming to study in China, daily meals are one of the most important parts of campus life. Chinese university canteens receive government subsidies, making them much cheaper than restaurants off-campus — but prices, dishes, and specialties vary a lot between schools. Based on real experiences from current international students, here's our practical canteen guide!
1. Monthly Food Budget by University Type
Public 985/211 Comprehensive Universities
- Per meal: Rice + 2–3 home-style dishes for around 10–20 RMB; breakfast only 3–8 RMB
- Three meals a day in the canteen: roughly 800–1500 RMB per month
- Scholarship note: CSC master's scholarships provide 3000+ RMB per month, more than enough to cover food costs with plenty left over
Sino-Foreign Joint Universities (NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan, CUHK-Shenzhen, etc.)
Higher cost of living. Meals typically cost 20–40 RMB each. If you eat out frequently, monthly food expenses can reach 1500–3000 RMB.
Important note:
Prices have risen slightly in recent years. The "5 RMB per meal" you see online is basically impossible at top universities. We recommend budgeting based on current standards.
2. Canteen Reputation Rankings
The number of canteens varies widely across Chinese universities — larger schools may have 5–20+ dining halls, and food quality can differ significantly between windows.
✅ Top-Tier Canteens
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST): Over 30 canteens across campus with a huge variety of dishes and consistent quality. Widely recognized by international students as a food lover's university.
- Tsinghua University: Wide range of cuisines from all over China, north and south flavors, reasonable prices. You can try specialty dishes from almost every region.
⚖️ Mixed Reviews
Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University: Experience depends entirely on which canteen you go to. Some windows are excellent, others are just average. Explore different options once you arrive and find your go-to spots.
📌 Realistic Expectations
Canteen food is great value and quick, but it can get monotonous if you eat there every day. Most students order delivery or eat out a few times a week for variety. Don't expect restaurant-level fine dining.
3. Halal & Vegetarian Dining Guide
Halal Food
Most universities have dedicated halal windows or halal canteens. Facilities are especially well-developed at universities in northern and western China (Beijing, Xi'an, Lanzhou, etc.). Prices are the same as regular dishes — 10–20 RMB per meal. Very convenient for Muslim students.
Vegetarian Tips
Vegetable dishes are very cheap — a simple stir-fried vegetable costs only 3–8 RMB. However, many vegetable dishes in Chinese canteens are cooked with animal fat or contain small amounts of meat.
When ordering, you can say in Chinese: "Wo chi su, bu yao rou" (I'm vegetarian, no meat). You can also prepare a small card with this phrase to show the canteen staff.
Vegan options are more limited. If you're strictly vegan, consider bringing a small cooker for simple meals, or visit specialty vegetarian restaurants off-campus.
4. Canteen vs Food Delivery: Big Cost Difference
Meituan and Ele.me are the main food delivery apps in China. A single delivery order of 15–30 RMB doesn't sound expensive, but if you order three meals a day, you can easily spend 2000–3000 RMB per month on food.
Eating mainly in the canteen can save you 500–1000 RMB per month.
We recommend eating in the canteen on weekdays, then ordering delivery or exploring restaurants off-campus on weekends and holidays.
5. Payment Tips for New Students (Do This in Your First Week)
Set up WeChat Pay / Alipay in your first week! All university canteens support mobile QR code payments, which is more convenient than carrying cash or a campus card. Most schools still support campus card top-ups and swiping too — use whichever works best for you.
6. Questions?
If you'd like to know canteen details for a specific university, feel free to contact us. Based on real experiences from current international students, we can give you a detailed breakdown of dishes, prices, and the best windows to try!
