Fudan - Dorm or Apartment?

Terry asks - should he stay in the dorms or an apartment?

At the end of the day, I pulled out of the dorms because I couldn't cope with living in a room, especially when I only have 4 hours a day of classes. The rooms are new and clean, have private bathrooms and air conditioning/heating, but no room for an armchair. And I want to read books and watch chinese tv/films.

The dorms are 90rmb a day - about 2500rmb say a month. I'm paying 1800rmb for my 1 bed apartment, in the South Campus (52sqm). My bathroom isn't as nice (there's no shower or bathtub, but there is a shower hose and a drain....) But I get a sofa and my own kitchen a washing machine, an indoor clothes drying space (WOW), and a water cooling unit. And a small concrete garden to have a little barbecue... I'll be away from the hubbub of the dorms, but then that might be a good thing - I'd like to socialise but not too much. Bills and heating will probably come to 300rmb a month I think. I spent 1500rmb so far on bedding, domestics, cutlery etc. (including 600rmb on a feather quilt and 200rmb on two sets of linen).

I was lucky with the apartment in that Mr Yu's friend knew of the apartment to rent, and so I didn't need to go to estate agents. I was also lucky that my aunt is in town and she speaks and reads Mandarin, so she could translate the contract and communicate with my somewhat interesting landlady. (e.g. how to get the Internet, how to tell the caretaker what the meter readings are each month)

Tek rents an apartment of a similar size for 1400rmb, also fairly nearby, but off campus. His bathroom has a bathtub, but it's really a long way away from being white.

The landlady was keen to ensure that I kept the flat clean. The flat was apparently clean already. I said I wanted to get a cleaner - she suggested 2 hours a week. My aunt explained that cleanliness standards are different - indeed the floor of the kitchen visibly had worn in dirt. I would have thought as a minimum 3 or 4 hours just to scrub the dang place down would be necessary. But I don't think they go in for scrubbing here.

Conclusion (end of waffle)
I'd say, any option is probably the same cost wise. Hassle wise, clearly the dorm is the simplest. The question is I guess, what you expect to do with your spare time - hang out with your uni buddies, or spend time at home. Being a part time loner at this point in time, I'd really appreciate the extra space of an apartment - being able to watch (very very cheap) chinese films, read books, not get claustrophobic. What do you think Terry?