This paper begins with a general description of the problems of social network construction experienced by Chinese international students in their host countries. Then, based on cultural adaptation theory, the paper summarises two main causes of social network construction problems for Chinese international students: lack of social support and ineffective social participation. The lack of social support is mainly characterised by reliance on primitive family support, resistance to seeking social support, and difficulties building friendship networks. It is then concluded that Chinese international students’ social participation is ineffective by analysing their performance in three areas: language barriers, ineffective use of social media, and lack of participation in leisure activities. In response to these problems, this paper proposes countermeasures such as establishing communities of practice and encouraging participation in leisure activities, aiming to provide an effective solution path for the social network construction of Chinese international students.