Culture Study Abroad Programs in Shanghai, China

My study abroad trip to Shanghai was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The city is full of energy, with an amazing mix of modern skyscrapers and rich cultural history. Every day felt like a new adventure, whether I was exploring local markets, trying authentic Chinese food, walking along the Bund, or visiting beautiful temples and gardens. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was experiencing a different culture firsthand and meeting people from around the world. It helped me become more independent, confident, and open-minded. I also learned so much about China’s history, traditions, and daily life in a way that you simply can’t learn from a classroom.

My semester at Fudan University was academically rigorous and incredibly effective. The teachers are top-tier, and the small class sizes ensured personalized attention. Living in Shanghai provided daily opportunities to practice what I learned in class, from markets to museums. The university's resources and reputation are outstanding. For a serious language student, this program delivers exceptional results and a deep cultural immersion.

Go Abroad China Ltd. responded to this reviewJanuary 23, 2026

Hi James, We're so glad your semester at Fudan was both rigorous and effective, with top-tier teachers and daily real-world practice. Perfect for serious learners—thanks for sharing your deep immersion experience! Warmly, The Go Abroad China Team

The program staff was incredibly responsive and supportive of students when any challenges arose. We had access to many resources. The level of Chinese language instruction contributed significantly to my learning. The class trips were well organized and enjoyable.

Truly the best experience of my life. I easily fell in love with the city and everything it has to offer. Clean, safe, incredibly easy to get around. Shanghai is very much an international city so if you’re only just beginning to study the language it’s a good place to start. Beyond Shanghai, I also had the opportunity to travel across the country, visiting Beijing, Hunan, and Guangzhou.

I would recommend a CIEE study abroad program because I appreciated the effort CIEE made to teach the students about the culture of the country. I learned a lot about the country I was studying abroad in thanks to CIEE excursions and weekly emails, as well as a great selection of local roommates, local CIEE staff, and teachers.

It was a wonderful experience!! And my Chinese teacher really helped me improve my Chinese. Other than academics, the program did a great job of including cultural experiences throughout the semester.

My experience in Shanghai was by far the best in my life, Asia Exchange made it really easy for me to enjoy this adventure without any worries in terms of my academic life. The staff helped me efficiently in every step of the process, they answered all my questions in time and guided me throughout my entire application procedure. Shanghai is an amazing city that has a lot of things to offer, this opportunity allowed me to experience a completely different culture as well as it gave me the chance to travel and connect with people I never expected to meet. This trip changed my life and gave me skills I know will be useful for my academic future.

I would be likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because it was a very organized and fun program. I really learned a lot about China and I was able to throughly experience a lot of the culture there.

I would recommend CIEE study abroad to a friend or peer because it gave me the opportunity to come to China for a very reasonable price. Additionally, CIEE helped me out a lot before actually coming to China, as they sent out loads of preparation emails.

It is not only an enriching academic program, but it is also an enriching cultural experience. Thanks to CIEE, I feel as though I am walking away from Shanghai with a completely new perspective.

The program is really well organized. There was a great balance between academics and cultural experience that the program provided. The dorms were comfortable and I always felt safe while in Shanghai.

I went abroad with a very specific set of goals in mind. First and foremost, I wanted to improve my language skills. I wanted to immerse myself in the local culture and develop close relationships with locals. Finally, I wanted to gain professional experience in a Chinese business setting. IFSA International Business in China provided me with the resources needed to achieve these goals, all I needed to do was take advantage of them. Firstly, the language instructors at IFSA were outstanding. I had taken over 10 years of Chinese before the program began; my instructor from IFSA was one of the best Chinese teachers I have ever had. IFSA also placed me with a local family to complete a homestay. They found me a caring family and a safe home for the duration of the program. Through the homestay, I was able to practice my Chinese on a daily basis and get to know locals of Shanghai. The program director at IFSA also worked very hard to find me an internship that matched my professional interests. I worked multiple days a week and grew close to my coworkers, allowing me professional skills in a Chinese business context and contacts in an industry that I may pursue later in life. It was extremely impressive for the director to place over twenty students in internships related to their own personal and professional interests. These examples demonstrate the opportunities that come with an IFSA program. The IFSA staff furnishes your abroad experience with all the opportunities needed to reach your goals, all you have to do is take advantage of them.

The quality of the staff and the program really enhanced my experience in Shanghai. I would recommend the program because it has the perfect balance of information and freedom to have a very unique experience in china. The professors were also of the highest quality and the classes really were invaluable in how much we learned about China while living there.

The quality of the staff and the program really enhanced my experience in Shanghai. I would recommend the program because it has the perfect balance of information and freedom to have a very unique experience in china. The professors were also of the highest quality and the classes really were invaluable in how much we learned about China while living there.

Throughout my IFSA experience, from being interested, applying, and studying abroad, all the way to coming back and becoming a global ambassador, I have always felt taken care of. The semester before I was in China, I was in Japan through another study abroad program from my school. IFSA was very accommodating and helped me figure out visa procedures. One thing about IFSA that stands out is that there is always someone there to make sure everything is going well and that you are getting the best experience that you can. IFSA thinks of YOU, not just of the general group of study abroad students, in everything they do.

Overall, my study abroad experience is one that I would never give away. I would honestly do anything to go back to China with the same people that I was living with. I believe that the people I met on the program along with the experiences I made living in a new country are unforgettable. I was able to really appreciate and integrate myself into the Chinese culture. I felt that the people I met on the program, made all parts of this abroad experience worth living. I have no regrets going to China through this program as I received good mentorship from my professors and program directors as well as made great friendships on the way. Furthermore, IFSA provided me with the opportunity to learn a new language while at the same time taking elective courses for my major. On top of that, IFSA provided me with an internship which ultimately gave me experience to land my first internship over the summer of 2019. This program helped me a lot in discovering my career and academic paths.

They offer a wide variety of programs, so you can find one basically wherever you want in a topic you are interested. The staff was also extremely helpful with all issues I encountered, sometimes even more so than my home university.

Students are able to see many cities in China but also had a great Chinese curriculum. With that being said, I would not recommend it for people who want to learn a lot in classes other than Chinese.

I would be likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because it was a very organized and fun program. I really learned a lot about China and I was able to throughly experience a lot of the culture there.

I would recommend CIEE study abroad to a friend or peer because it gave me the opportunity to come to China for a very reasonable price. Additionally, CIEE helped me out a lot before actually coming to China, as they sent out loads of preparation emails.