The thing with biking in the northeast is the cold. In winter it gets arctic, with ice everywhere. Not great biking weather especially with the ice which can be downright dangerous to ride on.

Then there's your apartment. If you live in a place with no elevators carrying a bike up and down stairs can be a pain. If you want a secure place to leave your bike at school you may need to do the stair thing again.

Bikes are cheap though, you could probably pick up a new, no frills, heavy (think of your stairs..) one for a couple of hundred but if you wanted to spend more well the sky is probably the limit.

I have a mountain bike, giant brand and it's a good bike. Cost about 1500 ( I think, didn't buy it recently) but I find it pointless to commute with. I only live about 20 mins from my school and don't find it worth it doing the stair thing, I'd rather walk. I don't like to park it anywhere public because most of my friends who are into bikes have had at least one stolen so stopping at the supermarket on the way home or going out to eat means having to worry about the bike. I only really use it to go out exploring on my days off and it's worth having it just for that.

The trick is not to get a new bike.  You want to buy a second hand bike or at least one that doesn't in any way look desirable - good ones won't last too long!  I'm sure you'll find them close to your university - there are a couple of shops close to mine.  If it's just a fifteen minute walk, I'd walk it - especially if going by bike means you have to negotiate the busy roads!

Bike in China:

  * It's a good idea, most major cities have bike lanes, it's as fast if not faster than using buses.
  * You can find good bikes for 500 to 800 RMB in supermarket (Carrefour, Auchan, Walmart, etc.). You won't need a lot of gears (Shenyang is mostly flat), but good brakes (traffic is a bit chaotic and random).

  *I f I had to buy a bike again, I would go for a fixed gear (for the ultra low maintenance), but you can find those only in specialized shops.

  * You better learn to fix a bike by yourself, because bike repair here is often a quick fix, not solving the actual problem.

  * It's going to be seriously cold in winter. Airtight gloves, tight under your pants, a hat, and some serious socks.

  * Air pollution can be a problem, especially in the North (coal fired plants + steel mills), so come with masks. Levels PM2.5  above 200 are uncomfortable, 400 is like breathing directly in a car's exhaust pipe.

I have an ebike (the bike with a battery type， not the moped type). They cost about 2300 RMB.

Ok, I live in the south, but they are great for getting around on.

But I would not get one straight away (too icy in feb up north anyway). I would advise you get used to the traffic chaos first. You need to grow eyes on the back of your head here

My mountain bike is Chinese made, but the gear assembly is foreign made.  I have had it for 5 years now, cost me 700 rmb when new.

Maybe it has not been stolen because I bought 3 heavy lengths of chain, using two shorter ones to tie each wheel to the frame, and the longer one from  the frame to a tree or fence post.

The 3 padlocks I use are mastered to one key.

Definitely get a bike, if that's your predilection.  But I'd suggest using the time before the ice melts, perhaps a month or so, to orientate yourself to your new surroundings.

And then, by Spring, you'll be ready to rock and roll.

Giant bike shops are borderline professional, in that they actually value what they're selling.  And, in my experience in two citys, only too happy to help with advice, repairs etc.  

Just not in English, so when you're ready to get started bring one of your new local friends along with you.

My Giant bike cost about Y1400 and it's a beauty.  I have an emotional attachment to it.

As for being worried about it getting stolen, well, I can only report to you that I ride by bike everyday and I park it wherever I happen to be.  Even ride it home from restaurants late at night.  Hasn't been stolen yet, touchwood.  I do have a good lock.

Speaking of locks...buy the sturdiest, longest one you can.  Don't baulk at the cost of the lock.  

Good luck to you.

Trust you've got a good coat.

you can buy it on taobao.com or JD.com . 500rmb you can buy a very good one