WITH tuition fees and living costs of up to £30,000 for one year’s study thousands of miles from home and faced with a language barrier, what attracts so many Chinese students to Winchester?

Sitting in a city centre cafe, seven School of Art students and graduates, explain why they chose the city, life settling in to a foreign land and making English friends.

“The people in Winchester are more British and friendly. It’s safe here,” said Panfei Li, a 23-year-old MA Fine Art graduate, originally from Foshan, southern China.

“There are too many people in China so they don’t care about each other – here people care. I like the outside.”

They say ‘the outside’, or other countries, offer safety, a good education and the chance to explore the world, which they don’t mind paying the price for.

Haowei Cheng, 26, from Shan Xi, ‘about three hours from Beijing’, found a unique way of funding himself, all from his laptop in the house he shared with Panfei.

“Most people’s parents pay for study,” he said. “But I want to be independent; I don’t want to ask my parents to get money because I’m an adult.”

The MA Luxury Brand Management graduate said he worked from 2.30am until 8am most days on the Chinese stock market, before catching two hours sleep and heading to class for 10am. His father is a doctor, and his mother a garden designer.

Despite quickly making friends with other Chinese students, he said as a group they find it difficult to bond with the locals.

“Most Chinese students want to make British friends. My first day here I was very nervous to talk. I didn’t have the courage to speak,” he said.

Panfei added: “It’s difficult to make friends with British people. I think because British people speak English and our English is not that good. If you are patient and listen to us we can talk but sometimes people think you are shy.”

It turns out that cultural differences account for shy perceptions. For example, making eye contact is seen to be flirtatious.

“In China making it means I love you – it’s like flirting,” said Jiming Tao, 25, fashion marketing and branding student, from Zhejiang.

As the interview continues it becomes apparent this is true, with giggles and blushed cheeks with every question.

Mannerisms make up just a small part of the British culture that the students say they have ‘figured out’ over time – clubbing etiquette, or lack of, humour, party games, shopping, food, and open homosexuality also seemed to surprise them.

Simple things like drawing the curtains at night don’t come naturally, nor does waiting at crossings for cars to stop.

Embedded British traditions, like a newspaper wrapped sea-side favourite, left them stumped.

“The food here is horrible!” said Panfei, “We just cook Chinese food. I don’t like fish and chips.”

Jiming said he thinks portions are huge: “In China we order many things at a meal and share. When I first came here I ordered many dishes and soup and I had enough food for four people!”

The cost of living also stirs conversation – they say at home the equivalent of £1 buys two meals and 10p a return bus ticket.

Despite the challenges of living here, they all say they want to stay, though shortly after the interview several return home. They say they will miss the people.

Yifan Li, 25, from Shanghai, studies fashion management. He said: “I think the British accent is beautiful.”

Ran Tao, 25, fashion marketing and branding student, from Wuhu, puts on his best Liverpudlian accent and laughter erupts.

“The accent is the reason I moved here and the university is the second,” he said.

With a final sip of her over-milky ‘British’ tea, fine art student, Miaomiao Hu, 25, of Shanghai, says: “British people are very friendly and kind. I have met many friends here and it makes me want to stay.”