A 20-Year Bibliometric Analysis on Chinese International Students’ Intercultural Adaptation

China is the largest source of internationally mobile students. However, existing reviews of Chinese international students’ intercultural adaptation are largely narrative or thematic, offering a useful synthesis but limited evidence-based mapping of the field’s knowledge base and thematic development. With the rapid growth of research output, particularly since 2020, and the expansion of digitally mediated learning and social interaction, there is a growing need to systematically synthesize fragmented literature and provide a clearer overview of the field. This study uses bibliometric analysis to examine research on the intercultural adaptation of Chinese international students. A total of 145 English-language journal articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2005 to 2024 were analyzed. The results show sustained growth in publications over time, with research output concentrated in a limited number of countries, institutions, and journals, and a strong disciplinary orientation toward psychology and counseling. The field also shows a gradual shift from individual-level psychological adjustment toward increased attention to institutional and contextual influences on student adaptation.