Chinese universities are increasingly turning to an unusual solution for student housing shortages: buying nearby commercial apartments and converting them into dormitories. According to state broadcaster CCTV, as reported by IThome, Hubei University in Wuhan has become the first university in the country to acquire commercial housing for this purpose, purchasing units in the Wuhan Urban Construction · Waterfront development, which sits just across the road from its Yangluo campus.
The converted apartments offer amenities typical of modern residential complexes, including air conditioning, hot water, and fitness equipment in common areas. Each unit contains four independent rooms, and a dedicated dormitory management team oversees each building. Postgraduate student Xie Ziying, who lives in a double room, pays an annual fee of 1,320 yuan (about $186). She noted that she does not pay property management fees but enjoys the same treatment as regular homeowners in the community. Delivery riders can bring food directly to the dormitory door, and the teaching area is just a few minutes' walk away.
Policy push behind the trend
Hubei University is not alone. Shenzhen University, Hefei University of Technology, Central South University, and China University of Mining and Technology have also purchased existing commercial properties for student housing. The China University of Mining and Technology, for example, has begun housing its 2026 doctoral students in the Guanshanfu apartment complex, where 174 units have been equipped with furniture, air conditioning, washing machines, and water heaters for nearly 10,000 new students.
The trend is supported by a 2024 policy document from seven central government ministries, including the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Education, which encouraged universities to buy or rent social housing such as talent apartments and commercial buildings near campuses. Provincial governments are also stepping in. Jiangsu Province has introduced a subsidy plan that provides 2,000 yuan (about $282) per bed per year for rented projects and a 30% subsidy for purchases in lower-priced cities like Xuzhou, Huai'an, and Lianyungang.
The dual goals are clear: relieve pressure on university dormitories and help absorb excess commercial housing inventory, particularly in regions where property prices have softened. For students, the arrangement offers a higher standard of living than traditional dormitories, with private rooms and residential amenities. For universities, it provides a faster and often more cost-effective way to expand capacity than constructing new buildings.
However, challenges remain. The policy notes that universities must manage these properties to the same standards as on-campus dormitories, including safety and maintenance. The long-term financial implications of purchasing rather than building are still being assessed, but the early adopters suggest the model is gaining traction as a pragmatic solution to a pressing issue.
Based on reporting by IT之家. Edited and published in English by geisou.
