Chinese Language Study Abroad Programs in Kunming, China

In May 2026 I went to China for the first time and studied at LTL Language School for 2 weeks. The first week in Shanghai and the second week in Beijing. I joined their Master Class for people 50+ which included both lessons and sightseeing. Also included in the price was a subway card + telephone card + school material like books, pen, snacks + entrances to tourist spots. Housing I chose to stay at a hotel in Beijings most central area and that suited me well. Since I had so much activities I didn’t want to stay in a family homestay since I wouldn’t have had time to spend so much time there. Transportation The subways worked impressively well. If needed it was also possible to just swipe your credit card and pay for the trip. Teachers & the school The teachers were all really friendly and pedagogical. I met many of the teachers because they also guided me around Beijing in the afternoons. I learned so much and finally I could speak Chinese in a more relaxed way. Even if we spoke a lot of Chinese all the teachers were good at English so I could easily switch to English if I didn’t know how to say something in Chinese. The teachers were also very flexible to students different needs although I studied in a group with 1‑4 other students. The level was A2 in my classes. We had classes between 8.00‑12.00. In the breaks we talked or played Mahjong with other students over tea or coffee. Thank you teacher Alice in Beijing. Activities In the Master Class program we had activities on Monday‑Friday afternoon around 13.00‑17.00 + the whole day on Saturdays. The weeks I was there I was the only student so it felt like I was having private guided tours. It was awesome. The teachers guiding me made up plans but since I was the only one in the Master Class those weeks I could adjust them if I needed. See below what I did in Beijing. Beijing The activities the week I was there was The forbidden City, Jingshan Park, Schichahai & Nanluoguxiang, The temple of Heaven and 798 Art Zone. Unfortunately The temple of heaven was closed due to Donald Trumps visit so instead we went shopping and I made some great bargains. 798 Art Zone I didn’t go to since it was my first time in Beijing and I skipped school also that day and went to see The Great Wall by myself. The Saturday I spend the whole day in the Summer Palace with another teacher. All the activities and teachers guiding me were so nice and helpful. I had a fun time in all activities. Beijing is a city with a lot of fascinating historic sights. The weather was hot and humid already in May. Thank you so much Tara and Summer Wang. For learners like me, travelling and learning a new language can feel a little overwhelming at times. But LTL’s Master Class took away most of my worries. I never felt rushed during tours or pressured in class. Every day I got to practise newly‑learned Chinese phrases right out on the streets, in markets and parks, which helped me memorise words far better than textbook work alone. I really valued the gentle pace, thoughtful support and genuine care from every member of staff. This one‑week stay in Beijing gave me wonderful memories and greater confidence to keep learning Chinese back home in Sweden. Conclusion This was one of the best things I have ever done and I recommend others to go and study this Master Program in Beijing. Thank you all Carina Johansson

My experience at LTL over the past month has been really positive, 100% due to the friendly, competent teachers and people I’ve met. I feel my Chinese level is ever improving and I’m getting a very authentic experience. For the last five weeks I’ve been doing one-on-one classes with my Teacher Laura. Laura is an incredibly competent teacher and with her help I can fully utilise the productiveness of my 2 hour session. In classes we focus almost exclusively on listening and speaking fluency, where Laura is constantly testing my limits and pushing me to improve. We have chosen to take an off the books approach that I feel really helps suit the content I’m learning directly to my level and my improving on my weaknesses. The classes include a healthy mix of everyday Chinese conversations, which improve my confidence in interactions outside of class, as well as stretching my capability in more complex discussions (I’m currently around a HSK 4). My teacher Laura, as well as many other LTL teachers, are always happy to provide assistance outside of class. Laura helped me find and book an appointment with an acupuncture clinic, and is never shy to share good food recommendations. The school provides a useful structure for each day and has been a helpful base for adjusting to daily life in China, particularly in the first week. Despite some minor miscommunication errors before my arrival in Chengdu, I have found studying in Chengdu to be very pleasant, mostly due to the amazing people I have met, whether students, teacher or homestay hosts.

Min erfarenhet av LTL i Beihai Jag har haft en väldigt bra erfarenhet av att studera mandarin hos LTL i Beihai. Jag tycker att skolan passar väldigt bra för den som vill lära sig kinesiska på ett effektivt sätt och samtidigt få en djupare förståelse för kinesisk kultur och vardagsliv. Det jag uppskattar mest med skolan är hur engagerade, tålmodiga och bra lärarna är. De anpassar undervisningen efter elevens nivå och behov. Jag har haft både privatlektioner och grupplektioner. Vilket båda har olika fördelar. Jag får mycket möjlighet att prata och öva på mandarin. Lärarna har bra koll på hur snabbt vi går framåt och kan anpassa tempot när det behövs. Det gör att undervisningen känns personlig och att jag kan fokusera på de områden jag behöver öva på mest. Jag tycker att det är till stor fördel att inte bara följa ett fast tempo och schema, utan att undervisningen faktiskt anpassas efter mig. En annan stor fördel med LTL i Beihai är att miljön är väldigt immersiv. Det finns knappt några utlänningar utanför skolan, vilket gör att jag hela tiden befinner mig i en kinesisktalande miljö. Jag behöver därför använda mandarin i vardagen. När jag handlar, beställer mat, träffar människor eller gör andra saker och aktiviteter. Jag får möjlighet att använda det jag lär mig på lektionerna. Jag tycker att det gör stor skillnad för min språkutveckling eftersom jag får mycket naturlig träning även utanför skolan. En annan sak jag tycker mycket om är möjligheten att träffa andra elever på skolan. Under rasterna kan man prata med elever från andra länder och lära känna personer med olika bakgrunder och kulturer. Det gör tiden på skolan mer social och rolig. Det är också motiverande att prata med andra elever som befinner sig i samma situation, som också försöker lära sig mandarin. LTL anordnar dessutom olika aktiviteter där man får möjlighet att lära sig mer om kinesisk kultur tillsammans med andra elever. Jag tycker att detta är ett väldigt bra komplement till språkstudierna. Att få uppleva kulturen på plats gör det lättare att förstå språket och hur det används i vardagen. Aktiviteterna ger en chans att göra saker utanför klassrummet och få en mer komplett upplevelse av livet i Kina. Jag bor dessutom hos en värdfamilj under min vistelse i Beihai. Familjen är väldigt snäll och jag känner att det hjälper mig mycket i min inlärning av mandarin. De behandlar mig som en familjemedlem vilket jag uppskattar mycket. Genom att bo med en kinesisk familj får jag möjlighet att höra och använda mandarin även utanför skolan. Det gör att jag får mer naturlig träning i vardagliga situationer och vågar använda språket mer. Jag får också en bättre förståelse för hur vardagen ser ut i en kinesisk familj, lär mig ord och uttryck som jag kanske inte skulle stöta på i läroböcker och klassrummet. Jag tycker att kombinationen av lektioner, en immersive miljö och att bo hos en värdfamilj är särskilt bra för mina språkstudier. På lektionerna får jag strukturerad undervisning och kan fokusera på de områden där jag behöver utvecklas mest. Utanför skolan får jag sedan möjlighet att använda det jag har lärt mig i verkliga situationer. Sammanfattningsvis är jag väldigt nöjd med min tid på LTL i Beihai. Lärarna är tålmodiga och flexibla, de individuellt anpassade lektionerna, den immersiva miljön, möjligheten att träffa andra elever och skolans kulturella aktiviteter gör upplevelsen både lärorik och rolig. Att dessutom bo hos en värdfamilj ger mig ännu fler möjligheter att använda mandarin i vardagliga situationer. Jag skulle absolut rekommendera LTL till andra som vill lära sig mandarin och samtidigt få uppleva kinesisk kultur och vardagsliv på nära håll.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

Tack så mycket för den här utförliga recensionen! Vi är glada att kombinationen av lektioner, vardagsliv pa kinesiska och en välkomnande värdfamilj i Beihai har gjort en sådan skillnad for ditt lararande. Fortsatt lycka till med mandarin och vi hoppas fa se dig hos LTL igen! LTL Team

I was a student here for four weeks, and signed up for group classes. However, they didn’t have other students at my skill level entering at the same time, so they converted my classes into two hours of private tutoring, a compromise I was more than satisfied with. I found my teacher, Juan Tang, to be knowledgeable, kind, and overachieving in teaching. She brought games, changed her curriculum to suit my needs, and answered questions outside of school hours. Besides that, she was kind, enthusiastic, and very encouraging, even going so far as to give me a gift in our final lesson! Besides the teaching, the location is excellent, the admin organized, and the community warm. The students are varied and international, with weekly, always changing activities.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

So glad you had a great four weeks with us, Christopher! It was a pleasure having you with us and we hope you continue your Mandarin journey and make further progress. LTL Team

My daughter and I had the privilege of talking an entry level Mandarin class for two weeks in July of 2026. Our teacher, Heather, was fun, patient, and had professional teaching skills! The director of the Beihai location, Savannah, was super helpful in arranging two separate wonderful accommodations for the two of us. Our respective host families were friendly, caring, and prepared delicious food for us. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and support. We are looking forward to coming back in the near future and continue our Mandarin language and culture journey! Thanks again to everyone involved who helped us have an unforgettable time in Beihai! With love❤️ Nayra and Cesar

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Thanks for the kind words, Cesar. It was a pleasure to host you and your daughter at LTL Beihai :) We hope to see you back again!! LTL Team

It’s not my first time come to China and this time I chose Beijing to attend the camp. I was astonished that there are so many students from different countries and we all try to speak Chinese while we were at class( teacher was very friendly and nice) even even though after class, there are English discussion everywhere hahaha! I like the activities every day especially the ping-pongand I also went to the Great Wall. That was fabulous!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Love to hear it Tim! We loved having you at LTL and we can only hope you come back soon :) Best wishes, LTL Team

I want to write this review because my school trip to Beijing was really, really beautiful. I am so happy and I want to share my experience. Every morning we had Chinese class. The teacher was very nice and she laughed a lot with us. Chinese language is very difficult for me, but she explained everything slowly. I learned to say "ni hao" and "xie xie" and also "wo yao" – I want! In Italy we don't learn Chinese, so this was my first time. I liked it very much. The class was not boring – we played games and repeated words like parrots. It was funny! In the afternoon we went to visit many famous places. First, we went to the Forbidden City. It is so big – really, really big! I thought it was only one building but it is many, many buildings. The red walls and golden roofs are fantastic. I took many photos with my phone. My friends and I walked for hours and we were tired but happy. Then on Saturday we went to the Great Wall. This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my whole life! The wall goes up and down the mountains – it is like a dragon. We climbed and climbed and when we arrived at the top, the view was amazing. I could see everything – the trees, the mountains, the sky. I felt like a king! I stayed there for a long time because I didn't want to go down. It was a long tired day trip though. We also visited theA lot of other famous attractions in Beijing, which we heard before we came To China, and we took a little boat with the whole group and our teacher. It was so relaxing. I also liked the markets – we went to the Market and I bought a scarf for my mother and a t-shirt for my brother. The sellers were very friendly and we laughed when I tried to speak Chinese. They said my pronunciation was not so good but they were nice about it. Well, our group tried different food every day but still just a small portion of Chinese multiple food styles. the food was very different from Italian food. But I liked it! Peking duck is really delicious – the skin is crispy and you eat it with pancakes and sauce. Also I tried dumplings and noodles. Some food was strange for me but I tried everything because when you travel, you must try new things, right? While, we were at LTLschool, there are also some other students not from our group, they are from different countries, but also luckily I use home Italian students like us. Our teachers and guides were also very good. They always controlled us and never lost anyone. They told us many stories about China and we listened with open mouths. And each of us got a present on our last day!! Now I am back in Italy and I miss Beijing a lot. My friends and I still talk about this trip every day. We look at our photos and we laugh and remember everything. I think this was the best week of my life this year. If you are a student like me and you have the chance to go to Beijing – GO! Do not think too much. Just go. It is far from home, yes. The language is difficult, yes. But it is so, so worth it. You will see amazing things, eat good food, meet nice people, and make memories that stay forever. I hope to come back to China one day. Maybe I will study Chinese more and speak better! For now, I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone in Beijing – teachers, guides, shop owners, and all the friendly people. You made my trip special. Grazie! Xie xie! Ciao! 🇮🇹❤️🇨🇳

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Feeling like a king at the top of the Great Wall!! We love that image! It sounds like an unforgettable first taste of China and we are so happy the classes, the food and the sights all made such an impression. Thanks so much for sharing this and keep up the great work studying Chinese. Grazie e xie xie! LTL Team

I really enjoy learning Chinese with Jaime ! She is extremely patient, encouraging, and makes complex characters and grammar easy to understand. Her classes are always well-structured and engaging. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to learn Chinese!"

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

So pleased to read this review, Ximena. Hugely appreciate the time you took to share your story and we hope you continue to make great progress back home. Best wishes from all the staff. LTL Team

I had a wonderful experience at Beijing LTL Mandarin School. The teachers are professional, supportive, and make learning Chinese enjoyable. A special thank you to Carol and Violet for their patience, kindness, and dedication. They made every lesson engaging and helped me gain confidence in speaking Mandarin. I highly recommend this school to anyone who wants to learn Chinese!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Carol and Violet are going to be so pleased to read this! We are thrilled they helped build your confidence in speaking Mandarin. Thanks so much for the recommendation and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

Jamie was an incredible Chinese teacher who made learning so much more enjoyable. I learned a lot of Chinese and about Chinese culture with her, and she became a really good friend along the way. ❤️ My host family was just as special. They welcomed me with so much love and made me feel at home from the very beginning. They truly became my family in Shanghai, and I’ll always be grateful for them. ❤️

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

A great teacher who became a friend and a host family who felt like home! That's what LTL is all about :) So happy you got the full LTL Shanghai experience! Jamie will love reading this. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

The best esperience I've ever had! Beautiful atmosphere, amusing activities and amazing people. I really want to thank our teacher Alice for her hard work and understanding, her kind teaching method helped all of us have great time together.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Amazing Angela! The best experience you ever had means the world to us :) Please come back sometime and let's do it all again! LTL Team

I really liked this experience and I think than chinese is a really different and interesting language. I really liked Alice’s lessons because she is really kind and she made the lessons interesting even thought chinese it’s really difficult to learn and to understand.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Thanks Claudia, so happy to hear you had a blast studying with us. You made great progress anmd we hope you continue to do so back home as well :) LTL Team

Beautiful class experience, loved the atmosphere and the attention and education of the teacher Alice, always helping and confronting us during class time, always keeping us stimulated during classroom

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Love to hear it Davide, we're so pleased you had a great time with us and also withj Teacher Alice :) Come back soon and keep up the great work. LTL Team

I stayed in Beijing for a month during this summer, and it was absolutely amazing. I had the chance to have Mrs Snow as a teacher, she was a true life saver and helped me and my classmates as much as she could. Thanks to her, I made amazing progress and felt listened and supported by her in my difficulties, she was absolutely amazing ! Beijing was also a great choice of city, so authentic and welcoming for foreigners ! There was so much things to visit, and to discover, it was truly the most wonderful thing experience ! I couldn’t have imagined or asked for better honestly, and if I have the occasion to re-do, I wouldn’t even question my choice !

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 14, 2026

Snow Laoshi will be so happy to read this! Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese. We hope to see you back at LTL soon! LTL Team

I just wrapped up a 2-week Chinese program at LTL Language School in Kunming, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Having studied with several language teachers over the years, I can confidently say that my teacher, Helene, is one of the absolute best. She is remarkably experienced, exceptionally patient, always positive, and came to every single lesson thoroughly well-prepared. She knew exactly how to tailor the material to my pace while pushing me to expand my speaking confidence and vocabulary. Studying in Kunming provided a relaxed, authentic backdrop for immersion, and LTL created a very supportive learning environment. If you are considering studying Mandarin in China, I highly recommend LTL Kunming—and if you get the chance to study with Helene, you are in excellent hands!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 10, 2026

So pleased you had a great time in Kunming with Teacher Helene, Lawrence :) It was great to see your progress in such a short amount of time and we hope you continue to study hard back home! LTL Team

I went to Shanghai, Chengdu and Kunming LTL and really had a great experience in travel and language learning. All the teachers brought a vast level of experience and technique to assist in contrasting learning techniques. All were professional and really helpful. I really enjoyed my experience with every single one. Thank you to Alessandra who assisted with the technical glitches for orientation and prep-meeting scheduling. She was able to assist in getting me into contact with all the staff I needed to speak with. In Shanghai, I had Kristin J and Kaka. Chengdu; Ziyin and Kunming; Teacher Helene. The opportunity to travel while learning was an experience that I would love to repeat. Especially Kunming, where the weather is lovely and the scenery peaceful. I highly recommend the programme there, Director Savannah is very professional and values communication. The organised school gatherings are well thought out, interesting and different to usual experiences. Teacher Helene is especially helpful, she identifies any areas you need assistance and works on those areas. She really wants you to succeed in learning Chinese by understanding the culture, text and translating those into real life experiences and you can feel she is highly experienced. Note: The cafe culture across China is different to western cultures, you can study there most of the day. This is extremely helpful to understand prior to coming to China for planned study.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 05, 2026

Wow, Shanghai, Chengdu and Kunming!! So happy you've enjoyed all 3 experiences with us, Gem :) We're so happy to read your review and appreciate your kind words dearly! Keep up the great work with your Mandarin and hope to see you sometime soon. LTL Team

Summer, my teacher, taught me a lot about chinese language and Chinese culture, she was always ready to help, even with things unrelated to school. I was just a beginner, but i feel I've improved a lot in just 2 weeks.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 05, 2026

Love to hear it, Claudia :) Happy to hear you had a pleasant time in Beijing and with Summer 老师. Come back soon and let's do it all again. LTL Team

I’m very glad I chose to attend the trip with my classmates coming into Beijing from Italy.these two weeks. The capital is very beautiful convenient and we had every morning Mandarin classes, and afternoon we explore all the famous places in Beijing. After that past 13 days, I would say I have more interest in Chinese language and will try to communicate with other Chinese people.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 02, 2026

Siamo così felici! Thanks so much, Aurora :) It was a pleasure to invite Giocamondo to Beijing once again! Keep up your Mandarin back in Italy! LTL Team

One of the best study experiences I had ever I could meet people from all over the world while learning Mandarin one of the most interesting languages for all the differences with Latin languages and of course to grant me this month of opportunity we have to sex the work of our teacher and overall welcoming we received!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 02, 2026

We're so happy you had the time of your life with us, Salvatore! It was a pleasure to invite Giocamondo to Beijing once again! Keep up your Mandarin back in Italy! LTL Team

My experience was extraordinary teacher Ann was fantastic and in just two weeks I have learned a lot of new things! we came as a big group of 25 students and our classes is so fun!!!!!!!!!really enjoy the weeks in Beijing!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 02, 2026

Thanks for the lovely words, Benedetta :) We are so pleased you've had a great time in Beijing and classes were so fun!! Come back again :) LTL Team