Student visa

You better get the student visa. There will be plenty of time for you to explore the city while you are studying here.
PM if you would like to meet a local friend.

When you can arrive in China is determined by the dates on your visa. That in turn, was determined by the school when they submitted your application to the government. Once that has been finalized, there is nothing else that you can do aside from getting a new visa.

You can arrive at those dates and leave before the dates on the visa expires. In between those dates is the period of time where you will attend your education. What happens outside of those dates are up to you. Chances are that the school might be able to provide you some assistance in that are. You need to ask them.

Thank you for replies. Yep, I am aware that I need to come and leave between dates which will be on visa, I would not risk any problems with visa. I was more wondering how long before the school starts the university/school allow in general to come to the country, if it is 2 weeks, 1 week, 3 days.... It is because in my country if I quit my job I need to let them know 2 month in advance, so I need to plan a little bit in advance