I don't have much to really illuminate here. The best parts of studying or travelling in China is the food (frequently the best food in the world, sometimes the worst), the relative low cost of living if you're on a budget, and the genuine hospitality and sincerity of Chinese people.
Do travel as much as you can. Unlike Thailand or other SE Asian countries Chinese tourism is designed primarily for Chinese people in mind. If you are a white male enjoy being in a culture which isn't designed to cater to you. That said, white and western privilege is real, so Chinese society will actually cater to you quite often anyways. Try not to be gross and take advantage of it unless you're in a pinch. But also never go on a tour made for Chinese people. Do go on tours organized by hostels, they're usually insiders that know the great spots and skip the bullshit. Do not ever go on a tour organized by an international hotel.
Speaking of, don't be too suspicious, but don't be gullible either. If a random stranger wants to talk to you they're probably just really outgoing and want to practice their English with you and will tell you that -- Chinese people as a rule don't really practice false modesty or most other false social conventions, or at least not in the way that people do in western countries. If someone is outgoing they're going to try to approach you, if they're friendly they'll be friendly to you, if they're an asshole they may be an asshole to you because that's who they are probably to everyone.
Just remember that if a stranger wants to do something with you where any kind of money is involved on your part it's probably a scam. If it's an overly eager girl it's 100% a scam. Then again, there's a sort of pleasure in knowing someone is trying to scam you and going along with it for a little while before getting in too deep. And also a lot of times Chinese people really want to treat you nice as a guest in their country and will go really out of their way to help you and refuse to let you pay for anything! So be open and don't be suspicious, but don't be gullible.
Do try to learn the local prices for things and do your best to pay them. Don't worry if you are still paying an extra wu jiao or kuai more than the locals. Don't be afraid of being mugged (will never happen, if you're from the US you've never experienced a society as safe as daily life in China), but don't let things out of your sight in public. Don't be afraid to eat anything you come across that looks good. Do pass on anything that doesn't look good and you don't know what it is-- you're probably not missing out. Don't drink the tap water, Chinese people don't either without boiling it first, but do drink as much tea and (good) Chinese beer as you want. And if you do end up brushing your teeth or something with it anyways it's probably fine. Do bring stomach medicine. Do travel by train. Do travel by hard sleeper bed, it's a fun party most of the time. Don't travel by hard seat if you can help it at all. It is not a party.
Sorry comrade, I got busy these past weeks.
I don't have much to really illuminate here. The best parts of studying or travelling in China is the food (frequently the best food in the world, sometimes the worst), the relative low cost of living if you're on a budget, and the genuine hospitality and sincerity of Chinese people.
Do travel as much as you can. Unlike Thailand or other SE Asian countries Chinese tourism is designed primarily for Chinese people in mind. If you are a white male enjoy being in a culture which isn't designed to cater to you. That said, white and western privilege is real, so Chinese society will actually cater to you quite often anyways. Try not to be gross and take advantage of it unless you're in a pinch. But also never go on a tour made for Chinese people. Do go on tours organized by hostels, they're usually insiders that know the great spots and skip the bullshit. Do not ever go on a tour organized by an international hotel.
Speaking of, don't be too suspicious, but don't be gullible either. If a random stranger wants to talk to you they're probably just really outgoing and want to practice their English with you and will tell you that -- Chinese people as a rule don't really practice false modesty or most other false social conventions, or at least not in the way that people do in western countries. If someone is outgoing they're going to try to approach you, if they're friendly they'll be friendly to you, if they're an asshole they may be an asshole to you because that's who they are probably to everyone.
Just remember that if a stranger wants to do something with you where any kind of money is involved on your part it's probably a scam. If it's an overly eager girl it's 100% a scam. Then again, there's a sort of pleasure in knowing someone is trying to scam you and going along with it for a little while before getting in too deep. And also a lot of times Chinese people really want to treat you nice as a guest in their country and will go really out of their way to help you and refuse to let you pay for anything! So be open and don't be suspicious, but don't be gullible.
Do try to learn the local prices for things and do your best to pay them. Don't worry if you are still paying an extra wu jiao or kuai more than the locals. Don't be afraid of being mugged (will never happen, if you're from the US you've never experienced a society as safe as daily life in China), but don't let things out of your sight in public. Don't be afraid to eat anything you come across that looks good. Do pass on anything that doesn't look good and you don't know what it is-- you're probably not missing out. Don't drink the tap water, Chinese people don't either without boiling it first, but do drink as much tea and (good) Chinese beer as you want. And if you do end up brushing your teeth or something with it anyways it's probably fine. Do bring stomach medicine. Do travel by train. Do travel by hard sleeper bed, it's a fun party most of the time. Don't travel by hard seat if you can help it at all. It is not a party.
I think that's a good start.