In Hefei there are several other universities other than USTC.

• Anhui University
• Hefei Industrial University
• Anhui Medical University
• Anhui Agricultural University

I have only been to Anhui University, Hefei Industrial University, and Anhui Medical University.

Anhui University

The main campus of Anhui University is just north across the street from USTC. But if you go there, likely the guards won't let you in. There is place where you can easily climb the walls to go in at the east side of the Anhui University. During Covid restrictions, I saw some people climb in at another spot. Anyway, this police state is really annoying.

Go there on a sunny day, and there are some activities to do in the middle of the campus. You can fold your wish in an airplane and fly it. You can draw something on a bag and take the bag away. And there are some people selling used books or something, history majors, they told me, but I don't read anymore.

Most International students are studying in this building. So unlike our university where International students mostly study STEM, as there is only STEM here anyway, they got something called "Chinese teaching major". So you come here, play for 4 years to study Chinese, and hopefully pass the HSK 4 or 5 at the end of the fourth year. Our university, however, requires a HSK 5 just for bachelors I think, though for the MS program it's mostly people from the global south who don't speak Chinese well.

There are routinely some "Chinese corners" activities for students there. However, the spots are always limited and you can't easily participate. And you can't easily throw parties yourself here. It's just a very unchill place China.

Hefei Industrial University

I asked the guard how to get in. He told me just to follow someone. It's easy to go in but it doesn't really seem interesting. There was a lake somewhere. Overall I don't see how different it is.

Anhui Medical University

I got a friend there and she was always studying. I only went there once on her invite. She couldn't register me in the system, only her "counselor" could. Unfortunately, it is an annoying police state after the Covid.

The school is located in the south side of Hefei, around 12 km south from USTC, in a quite rural area, but outside of the school there is the most beautiful flower park in Hefei and a ferris wheel. I went to the park 3 times. You hardly any people in the park though.

That day there was a sports meeting, and there is an International students crowd. I went there and I bantered well with them. Some are from Jamaica, some are from Nigeria, some are from Morocco.

Anhui Agricultural University

I have actually never been inside. However, there is a snack street called Gongting Road in front of the university filled with students, though it's quite dirty. Anhui Agricultural University students appeared to fill their subway station and they look kind of chill I think? I don't know as I haven't talked to them, I just saw some people with stylish hair and a lot of people are walking together.