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Learn Chinese in Guilin

There is a Chinese proverb: Guilin’s landscape is the best in the world (Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎtiānxià). Guilin, located in Guangxi Province, is surrounded by picturesque limestone mountains on the famous Li River in China. The natural landscape of Guilin is so fascinating that it is even printed on the back of China’s twenty yuan banknote. Because of this, many international students are attracted by its beautiful scenery and consider it the destination to study Mandarin in China.

But the best landscape in the world does not mean that this place is also the best place to study. In contrast, Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan Province next to Guangxi Province, is a better choice for learning the Chinese language. I’m listing out the specific reasons as follow in today’s post:

Transportation

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The transportation system in Guilin is not very convenient and efficient. The airport and the north and south railway stations can facilitate inter-city transportation. However, there are only buses and taxis in the city, as well as privately operated motorcycles. If you are going to travel long-distance within the city, it will be time-consuming.

As a transportation hub in southwest China, Kunming not only has the fifth-largest international airport in the country but also a comprehensive subway transportation system in the city. It is very convenient to fly to Kunming from major cities across the country. At the same time, Kunming can easily fly to various tourist countries in Southeast Asia by its border with many Southeast Asian countries.

To promote Yunnan’s tourism industry, the high-speed rail system in Yunnan Province has gradually improved. As the most attractive tourist province in China, Yunnan has different tourism resources. If you study in Kunming, you will be able to enjoy the convenience of travel very conveniently.

Especially when studying at Keats School, you can choose the Study + Tour program. This program will bring you the best Chinese learning experience and the hassle-free touring service in Yunnan.

Climate & Weather

Guilin City is located southwest of the Nanling Mountains, with an average elevation of 150 meters. It features a typical “karst” landform. The limestones all over the city have been eroded by hundreds of millions of years, forming a unique landscape here.

The climate of Guilin is a humid monsoon climate in the mid-subtropical zone, characterized by sultry summers, damp and cold winters. If you live here for a long time, you need to keep dehumidifying items and dryers. Otherwise, the stored clothes and food are more likely to become moldy. And the laundry is not easy to dry. The rainy season is also prone to flooding.

In contrast, Kunming’s climate is more liveable. Because of its mild climate, Kunming has won the reputation as the “eternal spring city,” but the four seasons here in Kunming are also very distinct.

Kunming is also windy in spring, but the wind in Kunming is cool and moist, and it feels as comfortable as a massage when it touches the skin. The most comfortable season of Kunming is summer. Unlike other cities in China, Kunming will not experience the sweltering heat. The climate throughout the whole year in Kunming is divided into dry and wet seasons. Although precipitation will generally increase in summer, the humidity will stay low, and you can still enjoy dry and cool summer weather here. Wintertime is the dry season, featured with reduced precipitation and large daily temperature differences. Preparing a suitable coat to keep yourself warm in the early morning and late evening, you can still enjoy lovely and comfortable wintertime here in Kunming.

Check out Climates of Different Places in Yunnan 

Local Cuisine

Kunming belongs to Yunnan Province, and Guilin belongs to Guangxi Province. The dietary preferences of both provinces tend to be similar. People from these two provinces both love a spicy and sour flavor. Besides, they both tend to use fresh local ingredients for cooking.

However, Yunnan’s food culture has integrated with more ethnic characteristics. At the same time, Yunnan also enjoys the reputation of the kingdom of animals and plants and the kingdom of wild mushrooms, so in Yunnan, you can taste more delicious wild ingredients from nature. Especially Kunming city, the capital city of the Yunnan province, has gathered the essence of the food from all parts of the province. Without long-distance traveling, you can also taste the special dishes of different ethnic groups and regions.

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The impact from the dialects

Guangxi Province, where Guilin is located, belongs to the Cantonese dialect area, while Yunnan Province, where Kunming is located, belongs to the northern dialect system. As most Chinese learners are familiar with, in China, people use different dialects in different regions in addition to the common Mandarin. However, China has a vast territory and diverse and rich cultures, so dialects are also various in different regions.

The northern dialect system is very similar to Mandarin. When you live in an area where the northern dialect is spoken, you can easily understand the speaker even if the local people you talk to do not speak Standard Mandarin. However, the Southern Cantonese dialect outside the northern dialect system is very different from Mandarin, and the tonal pronunciation of words is very different. The dialect accent even has a great impact on the pronunciation of Mandarin. You will find that the locals in this area have thick accents when they speak Mandarin, and this kind of accent will greatly influence your Mandarin learning and communication.

If you have studied Chinese for many years and want to learn more about Chinese dialects, Guilin is a good place. But if you intend to have an immersive learning experience and are still in the early stages of Chinese learning, it is better to choose a city with weaker dialect influence, such as Kunming.

Generally speaking, Guilin is a good place for leisure and vacation, and you can appreciate the natural scenery of southern China and the customs of Nanyue culture at the same time. Especially between July and September of each year, it is a city very suitable for sightseeing.

But if learning the Chinese language is your ultimate goal, Kunming will be a more ideal destination for you. Moreover, Keats School, the best and biggest Chinese language school in China, has also established good cooperation with China Highlights, which can provide students with advice and customized tour services in Guilin and even Guangxi province for Keats students after they complete their Mandarin learning. Therefore, studying in Kunming, especially to study Chinese at Keats School, will be a wiser choice for any Mandarin learner.

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OVER 7300+ STUDENTS HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

Claudia

Claudia | Australia

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I’ve been at Keats school and Kunming now for one month doing the one-on-one Chinese lessons with two different teachers. I really enjoy it. Both of my teachers are very friendly and patient. They really helped me to improve my Chinese, both of my reading and speaking. I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming as well. This city is really beautiful and the weather is nice, the air is clean. It’s one of the best cities in China to study Chinese.

Alibaba

Alibaba | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

Kunming is a fantastic city. The weather here is great. The school is excellent. The instructors are very helpful, very friendly. I strongly recommend that anybody who is looking for a Chinese language school in China come here to study. Kunming and Keats school are much better than any other place.

Sarah

Sarah | Dubai

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My teachers are all excellent. They trained the teachers so professionally. I feel like I learn very quickly with my teacher. They are very serious about their students and I know every teacher is like this. I would highly recommend that you come to Keats if you are looking for the best Chinese school in China.

Steve

Steve | UK

Small Group Chinese Class

I really enjoy coming here because it is like kind of a home for me. It is a great environment to learn Mandarin Chinese in China and meet great people from all over the world. Everyone here is extremely friendly. Kunming has a really nice climate. It is a very good mix of the modern city and also a lot of historic Chinese culture. Probably got the cleanest air in China and possibly the cleanest water too. I invite you to come to study Chinese in Kunming.

Filbert

Filbert | Indonesia

Small Group Chinese Class

Before I came to Keats School, I had no confidence in my Chinese proficiency. I did not have the confidence to speak Mandarin Chinese and chat with Chinese people. However, after 4 months of study at Keats, I become more and more confident in speaking Chinese now. Studying Chinese in China at Keats School has been the best decision I have ever made. There are many games in the class, and my teacher’s teaching methods are also very interesting. My experience at Keats School has changed my view of China and Chinese people.

 

Emiliano

Emiliano | Mexico

Small Group Chinese Class

I come to Kunming because I think the environment in Kunming is better and I heard that Keats School is better. I like the small group Chinese class because my classmates study hard and our teachers are very good. I like the teaching method of Keats because I like the activities at Keats. I think Yunnan is a particularly beautiful Chinese province.

 

Richard

Richard | UK

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

This is my second time coming. Last year, I also came for about 12 weeks. This time I came for 13 weeks of a summer program in China. The reason why I particularly want to come to this school was because of the one-on-one classes. I was able to increase my level and learn Chinese more quickly than in group classes. If I have a chance again to come next year, I certainly will.

Sarah

Sarah | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My name is Sarah Fish. I am 81. I knew very little Chinese when I arrived. How was I going to survive 2 weeks of intensive Chinese course? I have to laugh when I think of that now. What a positive experience this has been! I really wish we could be here a little longer. The teachers are extremely encouraging, evaluating first how much someone knows, and then starting from there.

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