Chengde is 100% China, with Chinese culture, language and history running through every vein of the city.

There are still very few cultural influences from other countries.

While this can be a challenge, it is also fascinating and with its warm and friendly people, cooler climate, mountain scenery and incredible history you will want to come back again very soon.

Life in Chengde is also very different to a big Chinese city and of course even more different to life in another country. Many foreigners and students studying abroad talk about their experiences in Beijing or Shanghai, but they actually never saw the real China.

Life in Chengde is much slower and more relaxed than in China’s big cities.

People here value their high quality of life.

A lot of sports and outdoor activities are around and there is less pressure than in other parts of China.

If you come to Chengde after learning Chinese in Beijing or Shanghai you will immediately realize the difference in pace and lifestyle.

From Monday to Friday you will be taking Chinese classes during the day, for either four or six hours depending on which immersion program option you chose.

If you booked the discover Chengde option you will also be going outside with your teacher to explore the city while studying and practicing your spoken Chinese.

Students usually eat lunch with their teachers in a restaurant close by or with their homestay family.

After class you will usually eat dinner with your homestay family or flat mates.

This might be followed by going to the park for some square dancing with your host mother and friends, getting a beer in a restaurant in the old town or meeting local friends to watch a movie or sing karaoke together.

During the weekends there are many different options available.

Chengde is smaller than Beijing or Shanghai, but as a city of half a million inhabitants – including more than ten thousand university students – there is a lot to do.

You can find people who are into pretty much any activity you can imagine from music and sports to playing chess or cooking.

Popular activities for students on weekends include hiking, horse riding, exploring the gardens of the summer palace (get a multi-entry ticket) and trips with your homestay family.

PRE-CHENGDE MEETING

Before you go, we will have a pre-Chengde chat with you.

If you are going after a Chinese course in Beijing or Shanghai this will be at our language school, but if you are going directly to Chengde – only suitable for already China experienced students – we will do it online via WhatsApp or Skype.

SURVIVAL KIT

To make your life even easier when arriving to Chengde we also provide a survival kit which includes the following:

• Transport from Beijing to Chengde and Back – We will provide you with train tickets for your journey from Beijing to Chengde and the return journey
• Train Station pick-up – You will be picked up from the train station.
• Chengde Mountain Resort Ticket – We will give you an entrance ticket.
• Chinese Culture Class – You will be able to take one Chinese cultural class such as calligraphy.

CONNECTION KIT

A common question we get asked by new students is how will I meet people in Chengde?

While people in Chengde are very friendly and welcoming towards foreigners, it is not everyone’s thing to just walk up to the people on the next table in a restaurant and start a conversation.

We will introduce you to and take you for dinner with a language exchange partner and a student ambassador who will show you around town on a weekend or evening.

This is a great way to quickly meet people in Chengde and make friends.

DISCOVER CHENGDE

Don’t spend your classes just studying inside, but go out with your teacher to use and practice your Mandarin in real life with the help of a professional Chinese tutor.

This is a great way to quickly lose your fear of speaking, explore the city and make classes a lot of fun.

This option is especially useful for people who come to Chengde for a relatively short time.

NOTE | this is an upgrade and you need to already have a Chinese course booked to be able to use it.