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The 5 Best Cities to Learn Chinese in China

When you finally make up your mind to travel to China for an intensive immersion Chinese language program, the most important question pumps up in front of you: Which city should I choose to stay in to learn the Chinese language?

China is such a wondrous vast land and has distinct regional diversity. Every part of this brilliant land would be worth exploring. Top-tier cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, have been frequently cited as a tag of China. Besides these “it” cities, there are also many other cities you can consider studying abroad. All of these cities could bring a colorful regional experience for you.

Now let’s find out the five best places to learn Chinese in China or to study abroad for Mandarin. Each city is analyzed in terms of its history, climate and environment, local cuisine, and affordability, etc.

Beijing

Place to Visit

As the capital city of China and the economic, political, and cultural center of modern China, Beijing is one of the destinations travelers must visit when traveling here. This giant metropolis is where Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Olympic Park are located. With its long-standing history, booming global influence, and the typical style and features of flatlands, Beijing presents a vast scene of magnificent and a just-right fusion of western and oriental elements.

Weather

In this northern Chinese city, you could experience a typical continental monsoon climate of the temperate zone, which makes the four seasons clearly marked here and forms a distinct seasonal view.

International City

Beijing is a metropolis that embraces both contemporary and traditional culture. You wouldn’t feel inconvenient or uncomfortable if you choose to study and live here. However, for most international Chinese learners who have been here, Beijing is not an ideal destination for a long-term stay. Considering the inferior air quality, crowded space, transportation, and the high living expense of Beijing, plenty of Chinese language learners prefer to choose other cities after a short stay in Beijing.

Cuisine

If you have a passion for food, then Beijing might disappoint your taste buds a little bit. Even if you could try various kinds of foods that originated from all over China, these foods wouldn’t taste as good as they should be due to the flavor mixture and adjusting when these dishes are introduced to Beijing.

Beijing Accent

As a Chinese language learner, you may be surprised that it is possible to get lost in Beijing dialect too, with its strong “r” accent and application of loads of local slangs that you wouldn’t find in standard Chinese Mandarin. The Beijing dialect may sound deep and resounding; however, it is not as standard as Chinese Mandarin. Also, as an international metropolis, you may find Beijing is too internationalized to practice your speaking Chinese, for lots of locals can speak English.  

Hangzhou

History

Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang province and is located near Shanghai. It is also the home of the Chinese National Silk Museum and the Chinese National Tea Museum. It’s not as crowded and noisy as Shanghai or Beijing but has a distinct tranquil beauty. Unlike Beijing’s wide-open field view and magnificent atmosphere, Hangzhou is an ancient city rich in the scenery with traditional Chinese gardens, lakes, and parks. You could have a glance at the delicate art of traditional Chinese architecture.  

Fertile Land

Located in the south area of the lower reaches of the Chang Jiang River, an area also famous as the land of fish and rice, featuring flatland embodied in a chain of undulating hills, Hangzhou is a fertile region for you to enjoy living. Just like an old Chinese saying, “Hangzhou is the heaven on earth,” especially with a scenic view of the reputable West Lake here.

Green Tea

Benefited from its landscape and subtropical climate, Zhejiang province, where Hangzhou belongs to, is the famous source of branded green tea. If you’re interested in Chinese Tea culture, then Hangzhou would be an ideal destination.

E-commerce Center

As Alibaba and Taobao represent China’s booming e-commerce companies, Hangzhou is now also a popular place among Chinese young people for start-ups.

Hangzhou Accent

The local dialect used in Hangzhou is the Wu dialect, which is pronounced differently from Mandarin Chinese and brings a distinct local characteristic to this region.

Cuisine

People love having light flavored and fresh foods here, and it’s quite friendly to most language learners who don’t like spicy food.

Affordability

However, it’s still not a very budget-friendly destination because Hangzhou is still a large city that is impacted a lot by its neighbor Shanghai, and shares its high living expense and the giant population at the same time. 

Guangzhou

Location and Weather

Guangzhou, also known as Canton for many people outside of China, is the largest and most populated coastal city in China. Guangzhou has a more spacious, relaxed feel than other top-tier cities in China despite the huge population. Like many other major Chinese cities, a river called Zhu Jiang River or Pearl River runs through it, which also contributes to creating the fertile Pearl River Delta. Walking in the typical southern scenery, in the sea breeze from the South China Sea, you would be deeply impressed with its tropical monsoon climate. Swinging in its moisture and heat air, listening to the rhythmic local dialect, you would experience a quite different atmosphere in Canton.    

Cantonese  

Speaking to dialect, the most commonly used Sinitic dialect in Canton is Cantonese. In some areas, people also speak Hakka and Min. All these three dialects are distinctively different from Mandarin Chinese; therefore the residents’ Mandarin is always accompanying with a strong southern accent. However, these dialects are pronounced magically similar to ancient Chinese speaking. If you’re interested in Cantonese and linguistic history, this is an ideal place to stay and study.

Cuisine

The most symbolic thing here is Cantonese food, especially the Dim Sum you could have at the Zao Cha, morning tea time. A typical day in Canton always starts with morning tea time. There are dozens of dishes and dim sum delicately served in a small plate or steamer basket for your choice. It is such a pleasant feast and treats to enjoy in the morning. You would glance at the Chinese wisdom and living philosophy contained in the food while enjoying gourmet here. 

Affordability

The cost of living here in Canton is relatively high, but depending on which district you live in, it’s still possibly affordable for some people.

Chengdu

Location

Chengdu is a large city known as the home of pandas and spicy flavored food. It is located in the heart of southwestern China, with an amazingly geographic structure, a basin sitting on the boundary of flatland and highland. This feature helps Chengdu achieve plenty of rainfall carried by the monsoon in summer days and preserves heat that helps plants grow. 

Chinese people often like to quote it as the “Heavenly province/the land of abundance/nature’s storehouse” for its fertile earth as well as the mild climate extremely enrich varies and quantities of the local farming product. There is an old Chinese saying that “Don’t enter into this land of abundance when you’re still young and naïve, or you wouldn’t be able to deal with all these possible suffering and difficulties that might happen in your future life.”

Panda

Chengdu is the city famous as the original base of Panda, the national treasure of China. If you’re a panda lover, you could visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to know every detail about the adorable Panda.

LifeStyle

The living pace in Chengdu is relatively slow and relaxing compared with other large cities in China. Locals love going to the park for tea time and playing Mahjong. Tea house culture in the park is an activity full of local characteristics.

Hotpot

The most famous food in Chengdu is hotpot and other flavored street snack food such as Guokui, Chaoshou, Douhua, Bingfen, Liangfen, Boboji, Surou, etc. You must find out and try all of these delicious foods when there is a chance. It is the land of abundance, not just in name only, but also in reality.

Sichuan Accent

You may find it’s easier to learn the Sichuan dialect here rather than Mandarin Chinese, though most locals prefer speaking the Sichuan dialect with a super cute and funny accent. Sichuan accent is an infectious accent that you can’t help to mimic even among Chinese people from other provinces.    

Kunming

Spring City and Top Air Quality

Among these five cities we explore together, Kunming should be the best destination for learning Chinese. Kunming is called “Eternal Spring City” because the weather feels like spring all year round. Kunming has the cleanest air and the most beautiful scenery and this is the key reason why many people choose to learn Chinese in Kunming (https://keatschinese.com/chinese-language-school/learn-chinese-in-kunming-yunnan/).

Convenient Transportation

Kunming boasts the 5th largest airport in China for easy travel anywhere in China and Southeast Asia. It is also on its construction as the future economic center, which has been taken as the most influential city that would radiate Southeast Asia in the business field most soon. Therefore, studying Chinese at Kunming could also provide the opportunity of witnessing Kunming’s development process and Chinese speed as well. You wouldn’t have the chance to experience this in Chinese big cities like Beijing or Shanghai. 

Hiking and Cycling

Besides the bright sides of Kunming’s development, it is also a lovely place to live in. In this famous “Eternal Spring City,” you could embrace a vibrant foreign and local community simultaneously. You can also find many good places for hiking and cycling, such as Motian Hills, Snake Mountain, Golden Temple, and the Western Hills, or choose to cycle around Dianchi Lake and appreciate the breathtaking view along the way.

Cuisine

In Yunnan, people like the spicy taste and sour flavor. Yunnan food, also known as Dian cuisine, is a mixed culture of 25 minority groups that inhabit Yunnan. You would have a chance to try all of them out during your study here. Famous local foods include spicy fried potatoes, roasted/fried stinky tofu served with spicy sauce, rice noodles with gravy and jelly tofu, cross-bridge rice noodles, and sticky rice dumplings covered by syrup and grounded pea powder, roasted cheese.

Affordability

One of the reasons Kunming is so welcomed and popular among Mandarin learners is that Kunming is a budget-friendly city. You don’t have to pinch pennies all the time, while the cost is much more expensive in Chengdu. With a lower living cost, you could save a large quantity of money for expenses in other fields. 

Excellent Language Environment

The most prominent reason why you decided to travel to China for language study and get immerse in its culture is that you can practice your oral Chinese at utmost in an environment that full of native Chinese speakers. Again, you wouldn’t have the proper chance to do that in the metropolis. Kunming is a place with fewer foreigners and locals cannot speak English. Less affected by dialect accent, Kunming dialect is quite close to standard Mandarin. Therefore, you can practice your Mandarin Chinese with anyone you meet on the street.

Check out the Chinese language courses you can take in Kunming at Keats School.

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Kristen

Kristen | Canada

Small Group Chinese Class

I have really enjoyed the Chinese course in China at Keats and meeting the teachers here and the students. We have a lot of fun in class. It is a really great school to learn with good teaching methods and a really good textbook, examples and games, and everything.

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.

David

David | Australia

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

It has been notable because I have met a lot of people who I met first time last year like me to come back to Keats this year. The teaching has been fantastic. The teachers carefully prepare each lesson. I think this one-on-one approach is really a great way to rapidly increase your level of Chinese and increase your confidence and fluency with the language.

Shihori

Shihori | Japan

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

In the one-to-one intensive Chinese course, you can choose the learning method you like. The small group Chinese class in China at Keats follows the HSK textbook. Teachers often collect feedback from the students, teachers listen to our requirements and opinions. I felt that my oral level is better than before .

星河明

星河明 | Japan

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I took the one-on-one Intensive Chinese class for 6 hours a day. The classes are very interesting. The teachers are caring and the content the teacher teaches me is suitable for my level. It is an easy way to learn Mandarin. I have a lot of time practicing Chinese in class. The food is great here. I have improved my Chinese through this program at Keats.

Pakorn

Pakorn | Thailand

Small Group Chinese Class

It is very convenient to come to Kunming from Thailand. I really like my Chinese class and my Chinese improved a lot in a few months. There are many benefits of learning Chinese. The best thing I like about Keats is that it is in Kunming, a city with eternal spring. There is so much to see in Kunming and you will love this city after you come.

Andrew

Andrew | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I am a graduate student working on my doctorate degree at Columbia University. We were able to really focus on speaking especially interview-style speaking and we are able to really up my Chinese reading and writing skills, so when I go back to Columbia, I can take formal Chinese classes. It has been a really good experience and I really love my teacher.

Sylvia

Sylvia | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

One thing I really liked was that I was able to work with my teacher to make an individual plan of study. Another really nice thing is that you live at the school, you feel completely safe.  You always have a group of people who are willing to do things with you on the weekends or in the evenings. They are serving you all the 3 meals a day, the food was excellent.

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