Learn Mandarin in Beijing, China

Speak Chinese everyday in the Heart of the Capital!

Beijing, with its iconic landmarks, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant arts scene, is the perfect destination to master Mandarin. From the bustling streets of Wangfujing to the historic grandeur of the Forbidden City and the serene beauty of the Summer Palace, Beijing offers a unique backdrop for your language studies. Engaging with Beijing culture and the Mandarin language is essential for those interested in Chinese heritage, lifestyle, and the international trade relations in the vast Chinese-speaking world.
You will converse with both native speakers and international learners alike, engaging with Beijing's unique traditions and lifestyle daily. Our immersive learning method guarantees more than language acquisition; it invites you to live Beijing culture, with every interaction fostering a close familiarity with the surrounding society and intercultural exchange.
At Languages Abroad, we are dedicated to helping each student achieve their goals, whether in advancing their education or enhancing their career prospects. With our programs, we prepare you to integrate seamlessly into higher education or the professional realm.

Start your adventure in Beijing with Languages Abroad today!


The School & Facilities

We're located in the Imperial Gardens in the Wen Hua Gong, the cultural palace of Beijing, surrounded by the silence of the Forbidden City!

The school is nestled in a serene and historic location with hundred-year-old trees and landscaped gardens, providing a harmonious environment that blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern amenities. The harmonious set-up of the classrooms offers the students a comfortable learning environment in which to learn Mandarin Chinese.

The school is just a short walk from Tiananmen Square, the world's largest public plaza, and the connected metro station. Other places within walking distance include Changan Street, Beihai Park, Jingshan Park, the Museum of Chinese Art, Wang fu jing (the most famous shopping street in Beijing), countless restaurants, shops and the fascinating night market.

There is a peaceful cafe and restaurant as part of the Wen Hua Gong school building, ideal for relaxing during lunch breaks. Internet connection is available to students as well.

The school team in Beijing are fluent in several different languages; the staff is organized and experienced to provide all course participants with advice on anything they may need, which of course, includes leisure time and excursions.

  • 12 bright classrooms
  • Social room and cafeteria/restaurant
  • High speed internet/email (a small fee is charged)
  • Library, tennis court, garden surrounded by the silence of the forbidden city

Learn Mandarin Chinese

Here you can explore a range of courses designed for all language levels. Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in the language through group classes, private lessons, or the unique "Live & Learn" homestay pathway, there are options to suit every need and preference. Find out what works best for you and take the first steps on your language journey!

Beijing Mandarin Courses

All of our teachers are friendly, experienced, and qualified. Your classes will help enhance your speaking, listening, grammar, and general comprehension skills. Teachers often facilitate classroom discussions by using role-playing and games, and our teachers also incorporate current events and cultural materials into the curriculum to help make classes more interesting and relatable.

  • Open to all language levels, A0-B2
  • Placement test on the first Monday morning of class
  • Minimum age 16
  • Flexible course length (1 week minimum)
  • Classes held Monday to Friday
  • Language Certificate provided at end of course

Note: A visa is required for this program. Please enroll at least 10 weeks before your start date. Students aged 16 and 17 can join our adult courses with a Parental Consent Form signed by their parents.

You can also receive transferable credits for your course: Undergraduate Credit Through Brookhaven College

Standard Mandarin Classes:

  • 20 group lessons per week (4 lessons daily)
  • Maximum 4 students per class

Intensive Mandarin Classes:

  • 30 group lessons per week (6 lessons daily)
  • Maximum 4 students per class

Private Mandarin Classes:

  • 10, 20 or 30 lessons per week (2, 4 or 6 lessons daily)
  • 1 student per class

Add-on Cultural Classes:

  • Tai Chi - (10 lessons per week, offered April to October)
  • Chinese Painting (10 lessons per week)
  • Take tours of Beijing with a qualified guide

Youth Immersion Camp

  • Only for younger students aged 15-21, with daily activities and weekly excursions.
  • 20 group lessons per week (4 lessons daily, 45mins each)
  • max. 15 students per class

For general concerns about our youth program, consult our information for parents or contact us.

Live & Learn Chinese

  • Study and live in the home of your own personal teacher.
  • Flexible hours - 15, 20, 25 or 30 private lessons per week.
  • 1 student per class
  • To find out more about this homestay pathway, consult our Live & Learn homepage or contact us.

Accommodation in Beijing

Welcome to your home away from home in Beijing! Choose from comfortable on-campus accommodations or stay at one of our selected 2-3 star hotels in the vibrant Chaoyang area. Whether you prefer the convenience of living on campus or the lively surroundings of Chaoyang, we ensure a safe, enjoyable, and immersive stay to complement your language learning experience.

University Campus

Facilities

  • 5 mins by foot to public transport; 20 mins by public transport to Wangfujing shopping street; 20 mins by public transportation to Forbidden city
  • Free Wi-Fi.
  • Shared kitchen and laundry room.
  • Weekly cleaning service.

Room Options

  • Single Room (SR)
  • Double Room (DR) - (bookable for 2 students together)
  • Ensuite bathroom with shower and bath.
  • Air conditioning.
  • TV and telephone.
  • Bed linen provided.

Hotel

Facilities

  • 8km to Beijing train station; 10km to Wangfujing; 6km to Olympic stadium.
  • Free Wi-Fi.
  • 24 hour reception.
  • Half board option (breakfast/lunch).
  • Laundry room.
  • Daily cleaning service.

Room Options

  • Single Room (SR)
  • Double Room (DR) - (bookable for 2 students together)
  • Ensuite bathroom.
  • Bed linen and towels provided.

After Class Activities

Our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture, traditions, and everyday life after your class is over. There are many ways to explore Beijing for example by paying a visit to the Forbidden City and the Tiananmen Square.

Top Highlights: See What Beijing is Famous For

The Great Wall of China

Included in the greatest wonders of the world is the Great Wall of China. Only 75km away from Beijing, The Great Wall stretches itself about 6,700 kilometers (4,163 miles) from east to west of China through various landscapes such as mountains, grasslands, deserts and plateaus.

Its history reaches back over 2000 years, therefore some parts are in ruins or even completely disappeared. However, due to its architectural and historical significance, it's still one of the world's greatest attractions.

Tianmen Square

Located at the heart of modern Beijing, it's been the scene of many historic events. Tiananmen Square was renovated during the first half of 1999, in preparation for the celebrations of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

It now has two green areas, trees and subtle ground-level lighting. Attractions in the square include the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, where Mao Zedongs preserved body is on display, the Museum of the Revolution, and the Great Hall of the People.

Forbidden City:

The Forbidden City, or also known as Palace Museum was built in the fifteenth century and home for the 24 emperors from the Ming and Qing dynasties. With its pavilions, gardens, halls and courtyards it's a tremendous complex, which today contains a vast collection of pottery, bronzes and paintings of ancient times.

Summer Palace:

The Summer Palace is only 15km from Beijing centre and is a masterpiece of classical Chinese gardens, and was declared a World Heritage site in 1998. Throughout the Dynasties, the Summer Palace extended continuously and had become a royal garden of the Qing era for recreation as well as amusement.

Main Sights: Get to Know Beijing

Beihai Park or Jinghshan Park:

Beihai Park is located in the heart of Beijing and was established over 1,000 years ago by the emperors of China. This masterpiece of a traditional Chinese Garden has an area of 67 hectare, where more than half of Beihai Park is a lake.

In the middle of the crystal clear water is Jade Flowery Islet. By an arched marble bridge you reach the island and find the Temple of Eternal Peace as well as a Tibetan Buddhist shrine also known as the White Dagoba. Since 1925 the park is open to public and is one of the most famous parks among Beijing citizens.

The Jingshan Park you can find north of the Forbidden City. It's a hill which has been built during the era of the Ming Dynasty by only manual labour and animals. At the top of Jingshan hill you find several lookout points with artistic pavilions and one of them (the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Springs) was once the highest point of the entire city. Furthermore it is the place to be, to see Chinese people practicing their culture, by dancing or singing in the park.

Beijing Zoo:

Beijing Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals, including its famous giant pandas. The zoo offers visitors the chance to explore wildlife while enjoying beautiful traditional Chinese garden landscapes.

Definitely a place to be seen is The Beijing Zoo, located in the northwest of the city. As its founding goes back to the beginning of the 20 century during the Qing Empire, it is one of the oldest zoos in Asia and home to over 14,000 animals from several continents of land and sea.

Pandas, the national symbol of China, are the most popular animal for many visitors. The buildings in Beijing Zoo alone cover an area of 50,000 square meters, which allows enough space to establish the needs to all the different species. The scenery adheres to traditional Chinese landscaping with flowerbeds, lotus pools, grasslands as well as pavilions and halls.

Excursions: Explore More of the Region

Half Day Excursion: Tours of Hutongs

Hutongs are one of Beijing's most popular historical sites to visit. They are a maze of storey houses joining one another in narrow streets forming neighbourhoods.

A tour of Beijing's hutongs offers a glimpse into the city's traditional neighborhoods, with narrow alleys, courtyard homes, and rich history. It's an immersive way to experience local life, culture, and the charm of old Beijing. Best is to visit the historic Hutongs by foot or bicycle. Get a rare chance to talk to locals and experience more of China's culture!

Full day Excursion: Great Wall & Ming Tombs

To visit The Great Wall of China which stretches over thousands of kilometres through the country, Badaling is the closest region to go to from the city Beijing. Open daily (9am - 4:30pm) and with an admission fee of approx. RMB25, you can enjoy some of Chinas most historical sites and be amazed by the width of the Great wall.

Also near Beijing are The Ming Tombs which are the graves of 13 Emperors of the Chinese Ming Dynasty. So far only one of the underground burial chambers is open to public and the graves are reached by the Spirit Way which is guarded by huge status of men and animals. The Ming Tombs are open daily with an admission fee of approx. 20 RMB.

Full Day Excursion: Fragrant Hills

Located more than 20km (12 miles) to the northwest of Beijing and best reached by taxi, the Fragrant Hills are thickly wooded with pine trees and were popular with the emperors as a hunting ground. Pagodas, temples and pavilions can be found dotted around the park, which is open daily. The summit of the highest peak can be reached by a chair lift.

Architecture: Discover Unique Styles & Structures

Temple of Heaven:

Eventful is a trip to the Temple of Heaven. It was the holy place to Chinese Emperors who would go there to pray and hold yearly ceremonies for good crop. This amazing structure which was first constructed in the fifteenth century represents Heaven and Earth in a very unique way.

Lama Temple:

The Lama Temple, or also named Yonghe-Temple is in matter a palace of freedom and harmony, before the emperor Qianlong reconstructed it to a Lama Temple in 1744. Today this temple is one of the biggest outside of Tibet. Within its five halls, the hall of endless happiness with a statue that's 26 meters high and made of only one log of wood is surely the most stunning one.

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Beijing are historic landmarks that once marked time for the ancient city. Dating back to the Yuan Dynasty, these towering structures offer panoramic views of the surrounding hutongs and showcase traditional Chinese architecture. Visitors can witness drum performances and explore the history of timekeeping in imperial China.

Drum Tower and Bell Tower:

To experience great historical architecture a trip to Beijing's Drum and Bell Tower is a must. In ancient days of 1272, these towers were built to act as musical instrument, but later the government decided to use them to measure the time of day.

In the morning the bell would ring a bell would ring and in the evening the drum would play. This helped the Beijing residents to live a more regular lifestyle. Both Towers are only about 100 meters apart from each other and the highest ones of their kind in the country.


Chinese Immersion Camps in Beijing (ages 15-21)

Participate in the Teenagers Abroad Chinese Program and have an unforgettable summer taking part in leisure, sport and cultural activities in the fascinating historical city of Beijing, China!

About Beijing

The rulers of Ancient China constructed magnificent palaces, imperial residences and scores of temples as a show of power and lordship. The Forbidden City - where our school is located - in the heart of the city and served as a residence of the Ming and Qing emperors.

Nowadays, Beijing has a population of approximately 13 million inhabitants and is the nation´s political and cultural centre. The city is now a major hub for shopping, retail and trade still retains a mysterious feel of the past.

School

It is just impressive! Our Chinese summer camp school is centrally located within the Imperial Gardens in the Wen Hua Gong, the cultural Palace of Beijing, surrounded by the silence of the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square and Wangfujing (the famous shopping street) are just a short walk away.

Language Courses

Standard Chinese courses provide a structured approach to learning Mandarin, focusing on key language skills like speaking, listening, reading, and writing. These courses cover essential grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation to help learners communicate effectively in everyday situations.

Standard Chinese Courses:
>> 20 group lessons per week (15 hours per week)

The Teenager Abroad Chinese Camp includes:

Class size: 15 Students max.
Standard Chinese courses normally held 9:00-12:30pm, Monday - Friday. Courses available for all levels.
Teachers are qualified & Chinese native speakers

Language certificate given at the end of the program

International Student Body:
We expect that 90% of students attending our courses in Beijing will be non-native English speakers from Europe & Asia. The remaining 10% will be English native speakers from North America and/or the UK.

A typical day includes:


Breakfast: 8:00 - 9:00am
Chinese Courses: 9:00 - 12:30pm
Lunch: 12:30 - 2:30pm
Organized activities: 2:30 - 5:00pm
Free/ leisure time: 5:00 - 7:00pm
Evening meal/ evening activities: 7:00 - 11:00pm
Lights out: 11:00pm

Number of students attending the course:
Based on 2017 attendance records, we expect to have on average 15 students per week.

Accommodation & Meals

Students participating in the Chinese program will stay at the school residence, which is a downtown Youth Hostel that is located within walking distance from the language school.

Residence Accommodation:

  • Central location
  • Single, double and 4 bedded rooms with en-suite bathrooms
  • 3 meals a day, including hot lunches
  • 10-15 min. walk from school
  • On site supervision

Activities & Excursions

The supervised activity program includes:

  • Daily afternoon/evening activities
  • Weekly half day excursion
  • Weekly full day excursion
  • Other activities and excursions available at a small surcharge

Our program in Beijing provides participants with sufficient time after courses to learn more about China, its culture, traditions, customs and everyday life. Students will experience cultural and social activities with their new international classmates. This provides them with the opportunity to practice their new Chinese language skills, as well as to make new friends.

Curfew & Supervision

Level of supervision: MODERATE

Curfew is at 11:00 pm every day.
Students must return to their accommodation by or before the curfew time, unless they are participating in a tour or activity organized by the school, regardless of their age or circumstance. No exceptions will be made!

Travel & Arrival Information

Arrival airport: Beijing Capital Airport (PEK)
Transfers from the airport are included on the day of arrival (Sunday) and on the day of departure (Saturday).

Passports / Visa / Length of stay:
Students are responsible to arrange for the necessary visas, passports and permits needed to study abroad. For more information about visas, permits, passports and general country entry requirements, visit CIBT official website.

Flights:
Students are responsible for making all flight arrangements for travel to/from Beijing. Upon arrival at the Beijing airport, one of our staff members will meet the student and take them to their accommodation.

Travel Insurance:
Teenagers Abroad participants have the option to book our Travel Health Insurance.


Dates & Prices

Start your Mandarin language journey!

Beijing is one of the world's largest cities, in terms of both geography and population. With so much going on, you'll have endless opportunities to explore new things and experience Chinese culture.

Register for a course that suits your skill level and the intensity at which you'd like to study.

We have a reliable online secure payment method and we use VISA, Mastercard, Bank Transfers, Certified Cheques, and Cash as forms of payment.

» If you need help choosing your course, please get in touch with one of our on-hand experts and we will do everything we can to assist you.

Checklist

  • Registration Fee:$200
  • Accommodation Placement Fee: $200
  • Airport Transfer: $150 per way (Optional)
  • Insurance: $30/week

Notes

The school will be closed on all public holidays.

All enrollments require a non refundable $400 USD deposit to ensure space in our program.

Contact us

We're here to help you on your Mandarin language learning journey!

Questions about our courses? Need assistance with enrollment? Interested in finding out more about our programs?
Our friendly team is more than willing to assist you.

Contact us by clicking the link below and filling out our contact form.
We promise a prompt and helpful response to all your inquiries.

Let's begin your language journey!