(1)Unique Geographical Location
Yulin City, nick-named the “camel city”, is located in the north of Shaanxi Province, P. R. China, lying between the Maowusu Desert and the Loess Plateau. The Yellow River, known as the mother river of the Chinese nation, runs along the eastern border of the district for 270 kilometers, and has nurtured Yulin people throughout the area’s 5,000-year long history. A section of the Great Wall constructed during the Ming Dynasty extends for 700 kilometers across the region and has witnessed the historical blending of Loess Plateau culture with Mongolian Nomadic Culture. Yulin has been a hotly contested strategic point for centuries. Its importance as a strategic point and as a place where multiple national cultures came into contact enabled Yulin City to evolve a unique architectural style and cultural tradition. Yulin City has been included on the list of China’s Famous Historical and Cultural Cities by the country’s State Council.
(2)Rich Natural Resources
Yulin attracted the attention of the world following the discovery of unusually rich oil, coal, natural gas and rock salt in the 1980s, so now is known as “China’s Kuwait”. The Shenmu-Fugu Coalfield is one of the seven largest coalfields in the world. China’s largest onshore self-contained gas field is in Yulin. Each kilometer has an average underground coal reserve of 6.22 million tons, petroleum reserve of 14,000 tons, natural gas reserve of 100 million cubic meters, and a rock salt reserve of 140 million tons. Up to now, 48 kinds of energy and mineral resources under 8 categories have been found to exist in this region. The State Planning Commission officially listed Yulin as a national level base of energy resources and heavy chemical industry.
(3) Distinctive Local Culture
Yulin City covers an area of 43,578 square kilometers and has jurisdiction over one urban district and eleven counties. Much of Yulin’s traditional culture is distinctive, for example traditional paper-cutting, Xintianyou (Yulin folk songs), Shuoshu (telling stories by singing), Yangge (local dance) and waist-drum dancing are unique to the area. Yulin also has a unique landscape and varied topography. Many international friends who have visited Yulin took an interest in the special features of the local landscape.
(4) Places of Interest with Long Histories
Listed among the Famous Historical and Cultural Cities by China’s State Council, Yulin has many places of interest, such as ancient city walls, ancient buildings, ancient streets, ancient towers, ancient houses, ancient beacon towers, ruins of the Great Wall, the Genghis Khan Mausoleum, the Red Stone Gorge, and the largest Taoist temple group in Northwestern China.
(5) Local Historical Figures
Yulin has been home to many of the great figures of Chinese history, including Diaochan, generally regarded as one of the four most beautiful women in ancient Chinese history; Yang Jiye, a famous general in the Northern Song Dynasty; Han Shizhong, an outstanding general in the Southern Song Dynasty; Li Zicheng, the great leader of the rebellious army that overthrew the Ming Dynasty; and Lu Yao, a nationwide-famous writer.
(6) Unique Local Specialties
Yulin has a number of renowned specialties in Shaanxi, such as jujube dates, tofu, lamb, buckwheat, millet, mung beans, and numerous local snacks, such as Dahuicai (Mixed Meat and Vegetables), Yangyucaca (Potato Mince), Hongjiannao Fish, stewed chicken, fried soy milk and others. These specialties have become one of the reasons for international students not to miss Yulin.
(7) Good Public Order
Public order is good in Yulin. Both the local people and the college students are very friendly to foreigners, especially to international students. Therefore, international students will find a safe, comfortable, lively learning and living environment at Yulin University.
(8) Highly Professional Teachers and Distinctive Courses
To facilitate the Chinese language program, Yulin University has set up the Center for Teaching Chinese as A Foreign Language to International Students. The center is staffed with patient, kind, helpful and experienced Chinese teachers who teach international students in small classes and tailor their methods to each student’s individual background and needs. The Center offers not only Chinese language courses but also a range of distinctive courses in Chinese arts and culture, such as Chinese Calligraphy, Erhu (a special Chinese musical instrument), Taijiquan (a kind of traditional Chinese boxing) and HSK coaching. In addition, the center is always ready to meet the needs of international students in both their studies and extracurricular activities.
(9) Frequent Communication with Chinese Students
International students are housed in one of the Chinese students’ dormitory buildings, which makes it easy to make friends with Chinese students. This contact with Chinese students is crucial to helping international students improve their spoken Chinese. Trying to provide more opportunities for international students to get to know more Chinese friends and improve their Chinese level, YLU often organizes international students to participate in the university’s cultural and sports activities and hosts a “Chinese Corner”.
(10) Responsible Student Counselors
YLU provides responsible on-site student counselors for international students. The student counselors will try to offer special help to solve the students’ daily learning and living problems.
(11) Low Costs and Fees
Yulin is a medium-sized Chinese city, rather than a major metropolis like Beijing or Shanghai, so the costs and fees are affordable. YLU is one of the cheapest universities in China for studying the Chinese language. Every year, living costs and tuition fees are getting higher for international students who hope to study in China, due to the country’s rapid economic growth and the effects of the nation’s current exchange policy. Yulin, however, has kept living costs lower than most of the other major cities. In addition, YLU has kept the tuition fee for international students very low compared to other Chinese universities. International students are required to pay just 8,000 yuan (around 1,000 US Dollars) each year for tuition and 6,000 yuan (single room) or 3,600 yuan (double room) each year for lodging (food is not included). Such low tuition fees are impossible for international students who study at universities in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and other major cities. Therefore, if you are looking for a way to reduce the cost of studying in China, Yulin University is an outstanding choice.
(12) Flexible Study Time
YLU has relatively low entrance requirements and a flexible study time. To meet the different needs and conditions of the students wanting to come and study in China, we offer the courses for one month, one semester, one academic year or more.
