Study Abroad Programs in Shanghai, China

I had the best time of my life staying in Chengdu. Everyone was very kind and available, they helped me to be better in Chinese and to be more participatory in activities. I had so much fun, the teachers and staff were so good to be around with.

In queste due settimane ho frequentato la scuola LTL Chengdu e mi sono trovata veramente bene. Come professoressa ho avuto Guo Xinyue ed è sempre super gentile, disponibile e sopratutto molto paziente dato che quando non capivamo qualcosa ce lo spiegava con più calma senza problemi. Questa esperienza mi ha permesso di ampliare moltissimo il mio lessico sia in cinese che in inglese. In generale so che di tutto ciò mi rimarrà un bellissimo ricordo grazie all’accoglienza e il calore che ci sono stati dati da tutti i membri di questa scuola.

Sono stata una studentessa per due settimane nella scuola LTL di Chengdu, seguendo le lezioni della Guo XinYue老师. Mi sono sentita a casa nonostante i kilimetri di distanza dall’Italia. Tra lo staff, i professori (Wu e Alex老师) e gli studenti si è creato un ambiente molto amichevole e speciale. Jeff è stato una guida grandiosa, sempre disponibile e ha fatto in tutti i modi di farci provare tutti i vari lati e gusti della Cina. Ho imparato moltissimo lessico e migliorato il mio cinese anche conversando in inglese quando sorgevano delle incomprensioni. Sceglierei di rifare questa esperienza mille volte!

Ho trascorso un periodo davvero splendido alla scuola LTL di Chengdu. È stata un’esperienza estremamente utile e formativa, che mi ha permesso di fare grandi progressi con il cinese e di imparare tantissimo in poco tempo. Un ringraziamento speciale va alla mia professoressa, Guo Xinyue:con la sua pazienza, la sua preparazione e il suo metodo di insegnamento coinvolgente ha reso ogni lezione interessante e piacevole. Consiglio assolutamente questa scuola e questa insegnante a chiunque voglia imparare il cinese vivendo un’esperienza autentica a Chengdu.

I spent 4 weeks in August 2026 at LTL Chengde, and it was the perfect deep dive for my beginner Mandarin. Full immersion means exactly that — I used Mandarin everywhere, from daily classes to meals, markets, and conversations on the street. Zhongwen, the course coordinator, was outstanding — incredibly responsive, organised everything smoothly, arranged a wonderful homestay, and planned cultural visits that made practicing feel natural, not forced. She genuinely cares about your progress and comfort. Four hours of focused 1:1 lessons each day built confidence fast — my teacher spoke only Mandarin, patient but encouraging. Homestay life let me share meals, stories, and daily moments entirely in Chinese. Chengde itself is beautiful, peaceful, friendly, and wonderfully affordable — locals love chatting with you! I came here to start using my Mandarin — and I did. From limited experience to confidently chatting with locals and my host family. Four weeks was transformative. Highly recommend LTL Chengde to anyone serious about learning. Would absolutely return.

I’ve been studying HSK 1 at Silk Mandarin and would like to give a special thank you to my teacher, Jane. She was very kind and friendly, and I’ve enjoyed learning with her. During the course, we practised everyday conversations alongside the vocabulary and grammar, from introducing ourselves to talking about food and making plans. I’ve used the homework and lesson quizzes to revise between classes, and I’ve appreciated having that structure while working through the basics. Thank you, Jane, for making learning Chinese a positive experience!

Before joining Silk Mandarin, I was mostly learning Chinese by myself. I would Google new words and their pronunciation, ask Chinese friends for help, and pick up useful phrases here and there. While this worked for basic expressions, my learning lacked structure and progress was quite slow. Especially understanding the system behind Chinese pronunciation and grammar was difficult to achieve on my own while working full-time and having limited time to study. Since my stay in China was relatively short, I wanted to make faster and more consistent progress, especially so that I could use Chinese in everyday situations, make small talk, and communicate more naturally with friends and people I met. I therefore looked at several language schools in Suzhou. Their offers were quite similar, but I particularly liked the facilities and atmosphere at Silk Mandarin, as well as the people I met there, which ultimately made me choose the school. Taking lessons at Silk Mandarin with the teacher Sisi gave my learning the structure I had been missing. I quickly developed a better understanding of Chinese grammar and pronunciation while steadily expanding my vocabulary. Most importantly, I could actually see myself becoming more comfortable using Chinese in everyday life. I also really appreciated not having to organize the entire learning process myself anymore. With two lessons each week, I had regular guidance and a clear path to follow, which made it much easier to keep progressing alongside my work without constantly having to decide what to study next. Overall, Silk Mandarin made learning Chinese much more structured, efficient, and convenient for me. It helped me make considerably more progress during my limited time in China than I think I would have managed on my own, and I’m very grateful for the experience. Sisi was a great teacher and friend: Not only did she competently and patiently explain everything, but she also educated me culturally on customs and mannerisms, traditions and celebrations, everyday life and useful apps, whenever appropriate in our lessons or whenever I would have questions of my own. All of this was very useful to not only learn the language but also to understand the chinese people and to integrate into their culture. Thank you for everything and I wish you the best!

I’m so grateful to have had Pan Pan as my teacher. She is kind, patient, supportive, and always made lessons enjoyable and comfortable. She explains things clearly and was always willing to help whenever I’m struggling. Her encouragement and positive attitude helped me feel more confident in my mandarin - she really made my chengdu experience amazing 🐼🫶 I’d also like to mention Alex and Stiles, who have both been so friendly and supportive throughout. Everyone has made the experience feel really welcoming and positive!!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 15, 2026

Love to hear it, Eden :) Great pic as well! Pleasure to hear you had a great time with your teacher and learnt so much! Keep up the great work. LTL Team

The best part of my experience at LTL was the teachers. I feel incredibly lucky to have been taught by 盼盼老师, 陈鑫老师, and Joan老师 during my eight weeks in Chengdu. When I first arrived, 盼盼老师, 陈鑫老师, and Ying老师 were incredibly warm and welcoming. It was my first experience living abroad, and I was quite anxious about moving to a new country and adapting to a completely different environment. Their kindness, patience, and generosity made such a difference. They helped me feel comfortable from the very beginning and played a huge role in helping Chengdu start to feel like home. Throughout my eight weeks, I saw a significant improvement in my Chinese, and I have my teachers to thank for that. Their classes were not only effective, but also engaging and tailored to my level and interests. They created an environment where I felt comfortable making mistakes, asking questions, and pushing myself to speak more Chinese. I particularly appreciated how they went beyond simply teaching vocabulary and grammar and helped me understand how Chinese is actually used in everyday life. 盼盼老师 and 陈鑫老师 were both incredibly supportive throughout my time at LTL. Their encouragement gave me much more confidence in my Chinese, and I genuinely looked forward to our classes each day. I am especially grateful for how much care they put into helping me improve, both inside and outside the classroom. Joan老师 only taught me for a shorter period of time, but she was equally kind, generous, and encouraging. She made a wonderful impression on me in the time we had together, and I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to learn from her. I would also love to give a special shoutout to Stiles, who joined some of my Safari classes! She made a real impact on my experience in Chengdu and brought so much energy and enthusiasm to our activities. Overall, I could not have asked for a better group of teachers during my eight weeks in Chengdu. I left Chengdu with much stronger Chinese skills, much more confidence, and so many wonderful memories. I am incredibly grateful to all of them for making my time at LTL so special.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 15, 2026

So happy to hear you had a great time in Chengdu with us, Holly. Thanks for sharing the lovely photo as well :) Hope you keep studying hard and maybe we'll see you again some day?! LTL Team

I completed a four-week intensive one-to-one Chinese course at LTL Chengdu, with 100 hours of classes in total, and I am extremely happy with both the progress I made and the overall experience. I am 33 years old and started the programme with approximately an A2 level of Chinese. I would particularly like to highlight my teacher Guo Xin Yue. She was outstanding: very professional, friendly and highly adaptable to my needs and learning style. I genuinely enjoyed studying with her and was extremely satisfied with the quality of her lessons. One of my specific requests was that I did not want to focus on learning how to write Chinese characters by hand, and this was respected perfectly. The lessons were adapted accordingly, which allowed me to focus on the areas that were most useful for my goals. I also had Juan Tang for fewer hours, but I was very happy with her classes as well. Ying, the Director of Studies, was excellent throughout my stay. She was always kind, attentive and very efficient in handling my requests and the logistics of the programme. I had booked several additional options, and everything was arranged and adapted very smoothly. At one point, I felt that one of my teachers was not the right fit for me, and the change was handled quickly and without any complications. The Safari sessions are worth understanding correctly: they are not primarily designed as opportunities to practise Chinese with random locals, but rather as a way to explore Chengdu with someone from the school. I had an excellent experience with Wei, who was perfect for this format. We explored the city together and had very enjoyable and interesting conversations. The school provided three different textbooks, and the course was flexible enough to focus more deeply on the one I found most useful. This flexibility was something I particularly appreciated. There was also a good variety of social activities, very well organised by Giulia and Ilaria. They both do an excellent job of creating a welcoming atmosphere and bringing students together. The school itself is relatively small, but well organised and comfortable, and students also have access to a personal locker. One point worth mentioning is that having a good level of English is important if you want communication with the teachers to be as smooth and precise as possible, especially when discussing grammar, learning preferences or specific questions. Overall, I am very satisfied with my experience at LTL Chengdu. I made significant progress in my Chinese, felt that the programme was genuinely adapted to my needs, and had a very enjoyable four weeks both academically and personally. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an intensive and personalised Chinese-learning experience.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 10, 2026

Thanks a lot for your kind words! So pleased Chengdu proved to be a great base for you to improve your Mandarin skills 🙂 Keep it up and thanks again! LTL Team

When I found out that I would be transferred to China, I felt nervous because I couldn’t speak any Chinese at all. However, since I started attending this language school, I’ve overcome my fear of speaking Chinese and improved a lot thanks to the friendly, supportive, and fun teachers! I took group lessons, where I had the opportunity to study with people from many different countries, which was a very inspiring experience. I highly recommend this school to beginners because you can enjoy learning Chinese while building a solid foundation!

I'm doing HSK3 as a hobby in my spare time, and chose to travel with LTL to Xi'an for one month during July. LTL Xi'an is an immersion location, meaning they have no localized school – which is perfect for someone like me who prefer learning through one-on-one classes and outside of a classroom! My teacher Yan was extremely experienced with language teaching, very patient and had a great sense of humour throughout my classes. She was great at varying the method of teaching, and quickly adjusted to the level and learning needs I had. I distinctly remember one day I was super tired and told her I had to leave class early and go home, she instead suggested we leave the books for a bit and learn Chinese through watching some Chinese drama – it was the perfect solution to a low-energy day! I also lived with a homestay family, where I really got to know my hostmother. She was super kind and so incredibly helpful, no matter how busy she was she always reached out to me and was there if I needed any kind of help. We bonded over breakfast, over homecooked dinners and meals at restaurants, walking in the neighbourhood, going to the mall, or just sitting and chatting at home. I was mainly practicing speaking, and will forever be thankful for her patience when listening to my broken Chinese haha. If you have a month to spare, some cash laying around, and are keen on learning Chinese while adventuring in a new city – this is the place for you!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 07, 2026

So so glad the homestay experience delivered just as much as the classes, Elise. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

After taking demo classes at several schools, I chose the intensive Mandarin program at Silk Mandarin, and it has been a fantastic decision. Everything from the materials to the teachers is exceptionally professional. They do an excellent job helping you understand the core logic of the Chinese language. Additionally, their unique Learning Management System provides video lectures for previewing and reviewing material, making it easy to re-watch and solidify new concepts. I am delighted with my progress and look forward to continuing my Mandarin journey with them..

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

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 01, 2026

Shanghai and Beijing in two weeks, private guided tours of the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, and Mahjong in the breaks over tea, Carina. You really lived the full LTL experience! Alice, Tara and Summer Wang are going to love reading this. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese back home in Sweden! LTL Team

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.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 01, 2026

This is super sweet, Matt. Laura really does go above and beyond! We are thrilled the off-the-books approach is paying off at HSK 4 and we have noted your feedback on the pre-arrival communication. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

Learning at Silk Mandarin is a great experience! The teachers are very knowledgable, encouraging, and accomodating. The location is super convenient to get to and the building and classrooms are welcoming. Apart from the part-time lessons they also hosted a Mahjong session which was super fun. I'll definitely return for HSK-2. Highly recommend!

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