China is such a vast land that embraces different natural environments, climates, cultures, and customs. There are many amazing landscapes and views for you to appreciate when learning Chinese and living in China. Aside from famous major cities worthy of visiting, many small ancient towns are also good destinations for exploration. We will list out 12 amazing places to visit when you learn Chinese in China in this post. You may find the ideal place to stay and learn Chinese after reading.

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THE 5 BEST CITIES TO LEARN CHINESE IN CHINA 

Kunming

As the headquarter of the Keats School, Kunming is a lovely city for touring and the best place for learning Chinese. Reputable as the “Eternal Spring City,” Kunming owns the best climate in China. It is also a Chinese city that embraces both traditional culture and modern fashion at the same time.

During your living and learning here in Kunming, you will join various activities after the Chinese class. There are also many touring attractions surround Kunming city for your exploration.  

During summer, Green Lake Park is a lovely place to chill. There are also many fancy restaurants and bars in this area. During winter, adorable seagulls are traveling far away from Siberia. You will enjoy some pleasant and harmonious moments with these cute lives.  

Beijing

As China’s national political and economic center, Beijing is a famous Chinese city full of profound history, magnificent ancient Chinese buildings, and rich traditional culture for international people to discover. There is no doubt that Beijing city can be regarded as the symbol of the country.

By living and learning Mandarin in Beijing, you will have the chance to visit many historical sites and learn about modern Chinese history. Besides the ancient part of China, you can also experience the modern and most developed part of China here in Beijing because Beijing is also China’s cultural and artistic communication center. You can enjoy both traditional Chinese opera and western plays in the theatres. Exhibitions and performance are easy to reach to her as well.

Beijing is located in the center of the northern plain of China, which makes it the transportation hub of the North, and you can travel to many other major northern Chinese cities from Beijing.

Qingdao 

As the largest city in China’s Shandong province, Qingdao is reputable with its coastal view and importance as a northern port. In Chinese history, it used to be the German colony during WWII. Qingdao was an important military base and communication center back to the time. So you can see a lot of German-style buildings in this coastal city.

In recent years, when you talk about Qingdao, you always think about the Qingdao Beer brand, which is the most famous tag of this city.

Different cultural elements are interweaving here harmoniously. When learning Chinese in Qingdao, you can appreciate the pretty view of the Chinese coast and the classic western buildings here in Qingdao.

Many Chinese people who live in the north take Qingdao as an ideal place to get rid of the heatwave in summer. However, when you ask which Chinese city has the best climate in China, you will find a different name. That is Kunming, the provincial capital city of Yunnan.

Dalian

Like Qingdao city, Dalian is also a coastal city and an important port in China. It is located in the Liaoning province and is considered the most liveable city in north China. However, compared with Kunming, the “Eternal Spring City” Dalian is still too hot and with high humidity during summer.

One interesting thing about Dalian is that it is a hilly area with many slopes on the road. Therefore, cycling is not a very convenient option as transportations when visiting here. (Check out the 6 TYPES OF MAIN TRANSPORTATION WHEN YOU LIVE IN CHINA) The most popular public transportation here is the electric bus, which is stable and more environmentally friendly.

It would be better for you to prepare more traveling budget when visiting Dalian. Though it is not a top-tier Chinese city, the commodity price here is quite high, even as much as Beijing. But if you’re living and study Chinese in Dalian, you may find the house renting fee here is relatively cheaper compared with other major cities in the north. It would not be that economical when compared with Kunming, though.

Hangzhou

Hangzhou is the provincial capital city of Zhejiang Province, which is next to the metropolitan, Shanghai. Many international students learn Chinese in Hangzhou because they found this a poetic city with typical Chinese scenery. The West Lake, Thousand Island Lake, Lingyin Temple, West Stream National Wetland, The Grand Canal, etc. These touring attractions and parks are all full of beautiful natural views and also rich in historical background.

Aside from pretty views, Hangzhou is also an ideal place to try out authentic Chinese cuisine, especially Zhejiang cuisine, one of the Eight Major Cuisines in China. It consists of Hangzhou cuisine, Ningbo cuisine, Shaoxing cuisine, and Wenzhou cuisine. While Sichuan cuisine is considered too spicy for most international people, Zhejiang cuisine is featured with a mild and sweet fresh flavor. Zhejiang cuisine also focuses on the layout of the dish, which makes it look delicate.  

But if you have a limited budget, you may only stay here for a short period because the local commodity price in Hangzhou is almost as high as Shanghai. If you are searching for an economical destination for learning Chinese, you’d better turn to Kunming city. Learning Chinese in Kunming would be a better option in terms of both climate and budget.    

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie has the well-known Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. This is a city very suitable for sightseeing, but not necessarily suitable for study. Learning Chinese in Zhangjiajie may not be a good move, but visiting here will leave you with an unforgettable memory.

The unique geographical environment has shaped the landscape of strange peaks and rocks here, which is amazing. It used to be one of the filming locations for the movie Avatar, so many people come here to appreciate its beauty.

Zhangjiajie is a tiny town, and the touring in the town would be finished within one day. Most people come here mainly to visit Zhangjiajie National Forest Park to appreciate the magnificent scenery here.

Guangzhou

Guangzhou is also known as Canton; it used to be the only Chinese port of practicing export&import trades and is still one of China’s most important ports. It sits on the Zhujiang River Delta. As the largest and most populated coastal city in China, Guangzhou is featured with typical southern scenery. You can enjoy the authentic dim-sum during morning tea time here and many other traditional Chinese cultures and Cantonese customs of this area.

Language and communication here could be an obstacle for some people, for the local dialect here is Cantonese, which is quite different from Chinese Mandarin. If you’re learning Chinese in Guangzhou or want to communicate by using Mandarin, it might not be as smooth as you supposed.

Canton Opera is one of the authentic cultural elements you cannot miss when visiting here.       

Chengdu

Chengdu is one of the most famous cities in southwest China. It is close to Yunnan and Guizhou, with a humid and mild climate, abundant agricultural products, and many historical touring sites. It is also the hometown of the Chinese national treasure, the panda. Many international students choose to learn Chinese in Chengdu due to its delicious foods and relaxing living environment.

When you come to Chengdu, you can taste Sichuan cuisine, one of the eight major Chinese cuisines, which is also the most famous Chinese cuisine for international people. Not only in the fancy restaurant can you taste authentic Sichuan cuisine, but also various street foods can satisfy your taste buds.

Life in Sichuan is at a slow pace and relaxing. When walking on the streets, it is rare to see locals are in a hurry. Playing Mah-jong and tea house culture is prevalent here. There are many tea houses in the People’s Park for you to experience Sichuan’s entertainment and leisure culture.

Guiyang

Located in the east of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in southwest China, Guiyang has attracted many visitors and Mandarin learners. When learning Chinese in Guiyang, you will be able to appreciate the unique view of so-called “the capital of the mountains and hills.” Guiyang’s peculiar topography and geographical environment jointly contribute to its splendid Karst landscape of interweaving rivers and mountains. Scenic spots such as Hongfeng Lake and Baihua Lake are great places to appreciate these natural landscapes.

Lijiang

Lijiang is located in the north-western part of Yunnan, with the magnificent Jade Dragon Snow-capped Mountain and the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The ancient town of Lijiang retains the characteristics and styles of Naxi dwellings, allowing international visitors to fully feel the unique charm of ethnic minority settlements.

Place yourself in the tranquillity and beauty of the ancient town. Apart from studying Chinese here in the ancient city of Lijiang, students can also go to the surrounding major scenic spots to relax and Chill. Hiking, trail running, camping, and sightseeing can make people appreciate the simplicity and elegance of Lijiang from different aspects.

Learning Chinese in Lijiang is the choice of many people. The local slow-paced lifestyle allows students to concentrate on learning and enjoy some peaceful moments after class.

Puzhehei

Puzhehei is a settlement of ethnic Yi groups. The unique karst landscape and simple folk customs have made Puzhehei a very popular sightseeing and learning spot in recent years. The scenery here is beautiful, and the population here is not too dense compared with other major cities.

In addition to the Puzhehei National Wetland Park, which allows you to relax, the villages and hills around the scenic area are ideal for chilling and enjoying tranquil moments.

When learning Chinese in Puzhehei, you cannot miss the local celebration of the Hualian Festival and the Dragon Sacrificing Festival. Puzhehei is not a huge town, and you can even be touring here by just walking. On the hot summer days, it is such a treasure to feel the cool air and breeze flowing among the mountains and rivers of Puzhehei.

Jingmai Tea Mountain

If you like Chinese tea culture, you can’t miss Jingmai Tea Mountain in Yunnan. There is a kind of tea in China called Pu’er tea, which is cultivated and planted in the unique environment of Yunnan, and it is also one of the famous Chinese teas. Jingmai Tea Mountain is the major planting area of Pu’er tea in China.

With clouds and fog, the traffic in Jingmai Tea Mountain is not as smooth as in a big city. The traditional tea-making process is still preserved here. If you want to understand the purest Chinese tea planting and production process, you must come here to take a look, pick the tea leaves by yourself, produce your own tea, and make a cup of your own Kung Fu tea.

Only then will you appreciate the essence of Chinese tea culture and better understand Zen in Chinese culture.

Learning Chinese in Jingmai Mountain is also very suitable because it has a unique environment to calm you down and focus on learning. The peaceful life here can also ease both the physical and mental tension.