Campus Life · Living Guide
Living in Xi'an as an NPU Student
From dining and banking to shopping and daily costs — everything you need to feel at home in Xi'an.
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Dining Options for Students
NPU's campus has multiple student canteens and a thriving food street near the south gate. Xi'an is one of China's top food cities — eating well here is easy and affordable.
Student Canteen (学生食堂)
Multiple canteens across Youyi Campus serving Chinese, Western, and halal (清真) options. Meals cost ¥5–20. Open 06:30–20:30 daily. Use campus card or WeChat Pay.
South Gate Food Street
Steps from campus — dozens of affordable restaurants serving roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, hot pot, Korean BBQ, and more. Budget ¥15–40 per meal.
Delivery (外卖) — Meituan & Eleme
Food delivery directly to your dormitory. Both apps have English-language support. Delivery costs ¥3–6 extra; most orders arrive within 30 minutes. Ideal for late nights or bad weather.
Supermarkets Near Campus
Carrefour (家乐福) and RT-Mart (大润发) are within 15 minutes by metro. A Walmart and Sam's Club are accessible by Metro Line 2. Campus convenience store stocks essentials.
Money & Payments
Banking & Payments in Xi'an
Opening a Chinese bank account is one of the most important steps in your first week. It unlocks WeChat Pay, Alipay, and most online services.
Recommended banks for international students: Bank of China (中国银行) and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC/工商银行) — both have English-speaking staff and branches on or near Youyi Campus.
To open an account, bring your passport, student card, and your residence permit (or X2 visa for short-term students). The process typically takes 30–60 minutes. You will receive a UnionPay (银联) debit card.
Once you have a Chinese bank card, you can link it to WeChat Pay (微信支付) and Alipay (支付宝) — the two dominant mobile payment platforms in China. Cash is rarely needed in Xi'an; QR-code payment is accepted everywhere from street stalls to hospitals.
International cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted at major hotels and some large retail chains. ATMs on campus dispense RMB from international cards with a ¥25–50 service fee per withdrawal.
Budget Planning
Typical Monthly Living Costs
Xi'an is one of China's most affordable major cities. Here is a realistic monthly cost estimate for international students at NPU.
Student Office
Living Guide Support
For practical help settling in, contact the International Students Office.
Room 718, Yizi Building, 127 Youyi Xilu, Beilin, Xi'an 710072
Mon–Fri 08:30–17:30 (Beijing Time)