High School Experiential Learning Programs in China

Study abroad in China to discover a fascinating intersection of ancient cultures and language with ultramodern infrastructure, innovation, and opportunity. By living with a host family and studying at a local high school in China, you’ll be totally immersed in Chinese language and cultures. You’ll find China’s size and diversity make it an ideal place to explore vibrant and varied cultures, with different regions offering wide-ranging cuisines and customs. Enjoy mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorn, sip and savor Shanghainese xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), or slurp noodles of all sorts (mostly wheat in the North and rice in the South). Traditional celebrations, like the Lantern festival and Chinese New Year, happen throughout the year. Whether you go for a year or semester, you’ll experience timeless cultural events. China is an ideal place to step outside of your comfort zone in a uniquely historical and modern context.

Ready to advance your Mandarin skills? Make strides in fast-paced Shanghai! Take your Mandarin to new heights with four weeks of language immersion in China’s largest city, Shanghai. After language classes, hit the city’s trendy and ancient streets to practice your language skills with locals. Take a stroll along the Huangpu River, where you can admire the diverse architectural styles that define Shanghai's skyline. Wander among traditional Chinese temples, taste food from family-owned restaurants, and meet local teens. Enjoy traditional dance, sports, and calligraphy workshops and Chinese trivia nights. Living with a host family, you’ll grow your Mandarin language and cultural knowledge even further as you prepare and share Chinese meals. On excursions, explore the water village of Qingpu and travel to the ancient city Wuxi. Along with forging new friendships, you’ll rapidly improve your Mandarin skills in an authentic setting, full of stunning scenery, historical sites, and multicultural influences.

GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and medical initiatives. GoEco operates in over 50 countries, providing unique cultural immersive experiences that aim to make a positive impact on the environment and society. The organization also offers internships and academic programs for students. GoEco provides safe and meaningful experiences while promoting sustainable travel and reducing carbon emissions.

By hosting our summer programs on a university campus, students are provided with a safe and quiet learning environment. By studying intensive courses with 20 classes per week, staying on campus or with our carefully selected host family, and participating in various cultural activities and trips, this program is intended to provide you a great chance to experience the "real China", and improve your Chinese language skills rapidly. With programs located in several different countries, LanguBridge Education Centre is one of the leading language education providers of Asian Languages in the world. State qualified instructors conduct the Chinese language courses, and we also provide airport pickup and visa/travel information to give you peace of mind during your travels. Our programs are renowned for the quality, affordability and homestay option.

Designed specifically for ambitious high school students (ages 13-18), Go Abroad China’s Cultural Immersion Program offers a structured and safe gateway to mastering Mandarin and understanding China. Since 2003, we have crafted immersive experiences that blend intensive language instruction at leading schools with authentic cultural engagement. Our curriculum is balanced: mornings focus on classroom learning and one-on-one tutoring, while afternoons are dedicated to cultural workshops, tours, and exchanges with local Chinese high school students. Students live the language through carefully vetted homestays, shared apartments, or campus dormitories, ensuring daily practice and a deep connection to local life. With round-the-clock supervision and support from our dedicated coordinators, safety and guidance are paramount. This transformative journey builds more than language skills—it fosters global citizenship, enhances university applications, and creates lifelong international friendships. Choose from flexible short-term summer camps or semester-long programs, all tailored to fit individual academic goals.

Language in China has always been a dynamic and powerful force. For anyone interested in exploring and understanding China’s rich history and culture, it’s ever-increasing influence in the world, and what life is like for the 1.4 billion people who live here, learning Chinese is the first step. On Dragons’ Chinese Language-Intensive summer abroad program, we expertly combine in-depth and rigorous language study with out-of-the-classroom experiences including group travel, homestays, and Independent Study Projects (ISPs). Our 4 and 6-week program options divide their time between Kunming (capital city of Yunnan Province) and one of several small villages in rural Yunnan. This is a region renowned for its mountainous terrain, natural beauty and ethnic diversity—including Naxi, Tibetan, Yi, Dai, and Miao (Hmong) people. Homestay placements reinforce language acquisition, encouraging students to practice new vocabulary with their families in the evenings. While in Kunming, students engage in ISPs, learning directly from local mentors about topics ranging from Chinese cooking, calligraphy, traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, musical instruments and environmental issues.

Explore the enchanting wonders of China, where ancient meets modern. You’ll experience both by visiting historical and contemporary sites and volunteering at the Panda Conservation Center. Discover the iconic Great Wall, savor the flavors of authentic Chinese cuisine, and witness the beauty of traditional arts. Wonders of China: Join this fast-track adventure for students ages 14-18 and explore the country's best! You’ll witness rich heritage on this incredible journey from Beijing and Shanghai to the Great Wall!

Travel to China this summer for a full Mandarin immersion experience and a deeper understanding of China’s cultural and ecological diversity. Begin in Beijing, where you explore iconic sites like the Great Wall and learn Mandarin through hands-on workshops and daily interactions. Strengthen your language skills and build meaningful cross-cultural connections during a multi-day homestay with a local family. Then head west to Chengdu and the Tibetan Plateau to engage with conservation experts, park rangers, and farmers working to protect the region’s biodiversity. End your journey in Shanghai, a global hub of innovation, design, and cuisine. Return home with greater fluency, newfound confidence, and a broader perspective on China’s place in the world.

Travel through China and make a difference in the lives of those who, by no fault of their own, have been left behind. Live in Beijing, the bustling capital city, and lend a helping hand by spending time with physically disabled children in one of its many private foster homes. When you are not changing their lives, change your own through deep exposure to Chinese culture. Experience dazzling martial arts demonstrations, painting and calligraphy classes, and tea ceremonies. Enjoy and learn how the modern world interacts with the ancient history at the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and more.

Enjoy your summer Chinese language vacation in the largest city in China at the mouth of the Yangtze River. The city is a tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund and City God Temple, its modern and ever-expanding Pudong skyline including the Oriental Pearl Tower, and its new reputation as a cosmopolitan center of culture and design. Today, Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world's fastest-growing major economy. Located in the heart of the city off Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Shanghai's premier shopping street (over 3 miles long) this area attracts thousands of fashion-seeking shoppers from all over the world.