International Journal of Business and Management; Vol. 13, No. 2; 2018 ISSN 1833-3850 E-ISSN 1833-8119 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 231 Intercultural Adaptation Strategies to Culture Shock of International Students in China: A Case Study Md Shahidul Islam Fakir 1 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Correspondence: Md Shahidul Islam Fakir, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. E-mail: fakir.jnuacbd@yahoo.com Received: November 17, 2017 Accepted: January 10, 2018 Online Published: January 15, 2018 doi:10.5539/ijbm.v13n2p231 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v13n2p231 Abstract The purpose of this study is to explore a case on culture shock and adaptation of an international student in China during the period from September 01, 2016 to May 01, 2017. This is the self-case study research which has been analyzed from multicultural context through a 50 sample research participants. A sample questionnaire survey on 32 international students from different developing countries and two Focus Group Discussions (FGD-1 and FGD-2) with 18 Bnagladeshi PhD and Master’s students in China have been conducted through online social media such as WeChat/Skype, Facebook, e-mail and/or personal contact in order to identify the forms of intercultural shock, and also to make a list of possible intercultural adaptation strategies to evaluate the best fit intercultural adaptation strategies. This study used judgmental convenience sampling technique. As psychological and social issues affect negatively the sojourner, the culture shock and adaptation curves show ups and downs trend as our heart does all the time and this is called heartbeat and again this would be sustainable. However, this proposed heartbeat model requires approval from scholars. This study identified the best fit intercultural adaptation strategies such as harmonious relationship, integration, assimilation, and separation. This study suffers from smaller sample size and shorter time period which could be covered in the future research. The findings and recommendations have positive implications to the international students those who are normally nervous and hesitated to enter into a new foreign culture to pursue higher studies for a long period of time. Keywords: Culture shock, China, intercultural adaptation strategy, international student Article Classification – Case Study 1. Introduction 1.1 Introduction to the Research Problem Among the research on intercultural adaptation, U-curve and W-curve patterns are two popular models used to explain the developmental stages of intercultural adaptation. (Chen and Starosta, 2007). Lysgaard’s (1955) research on 200 Norwegian fullbright scholars in USA concluded that intercultural adaptation moves through different stages which described as U-curve and studies from Chang (1973), Deutsch and Won (1963), Morris (1960), Oberg (1960), and Smalley (1963) also confirmed the U-curve movement of intercultural adaptation that comprises four stages such as honeymoon, crisis, adjustment and biculturalism periods. Gullahorn and Gullahorn (1963, 1966) extended the U-curve pattern to describe the reentry or reverse culture shock in sojourners’ own cultures and also to represent readjustment to their own countries. Though Ran An (2016) pointed out in case study article about the heartbeat model and says that, “Instead of the U-curve model I think that we can use the heartbeat model to describe the Guangzhou experience and the experiences are repetitive.”, this study explores that what would be the pattern of intercultural shock and adapataion in the form of heartbeat model. Actually this study extends the Ward’s (1998) heartbeat model which explains that intercultural adaptation as a heartbeat which is always jumping up and down. This study also examines the different forms of intercultural shock, possible adaptation strategies, and the best fit intercultural adaptation strategies. 1.2 Significance of the Research A story about intercultural adaptation of the international students has become an important theme for both academicians and social and cultural people in the recent years. The educational institutions specifically