Learn Chinese in Xi’an: Chinese Language & Culture
This theme is for groups whose main aim is to learn Chinese in Xi’an. The 14-Day Chinese Language & Culture Camp starts with a placement test, puts students into classes by level, and combines Chinese classes with English-language lectures, cultural classes and exchange with Chinese students, on the campus of Xi’an International University.
If you would rather have a culture-focused programme with a little language, see our Chinese Culture & Heritage theme.
What Students Learn
Chinese classes by level
The programme starts with a Chinese placement test, which places students at one of four levels: complete beginner, elementary, intermediate or advanced. Chinese classes on the itinerary include basic Chinese, listening and speaking, and reading Chinese characters.
Lectures in English
The itinerary includes lectures taught in English: one on Chinese History and Culture or on Chinese Business and Economy, and one on Education in China.
Cultural classes
Cultural classes run alongside the language work: guqin, tea art, tai chi, calligraphy and Chinese painting. Students also see a performance by a traditional Chinese drum troupe.
Meeting Chinese students
The programme includes a welcome ceremony and an exchange with Chinese students, as well as friendly matches between Chinese and international students.
Visits around Xi’an
Visits are chosen from options including the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Palace, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, the Muslim Quarter, Shuyuanmen Cultural Street, the city wall, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, the Grand Tang Mall, a Tang-themed pedestrian street, and the Shaanxi History Museum. A Hanfu (traditional Han Chinese attire) dress-up is also offered as an option; costume hire is paid by participants.
Levels, Longer Courses and Credit
According to the programme description, the language programme suits people who want to combine short-term travel and study in China. Courses cover reading and writing, listening, speaking, HSK, audio-visual Chinese and Chinese culture, at four levels from complete beginner to advanced. Intensive courses can run from 1 to 16 weeks and can be organised as a semester credit course.
The 14-day camp is the itinerary we publish for this theme. If you are looking at a longer course, or your students need academic credit, tell us when you enquire, and check with your own institution how the programme will be recognised.
Participants who complete the programme receive a certificate of completion issued by Xi’an International University.
Classes in This Theme
Chinese is the core of this theme. These are the classes named in the 14-day itinerary:
| Class | In this theme | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese Language | A placement test into one of four levels, then basic Chinese, listening and speaking, and reading Chinese characters | Day 1, Days 2–4 and Days 7–13 |
| Guqin | Cultural class | Days 2–4 |
| Chinese Tea Art | Cultural class | Days 2–4 |
| Tai Chi & Martial Arts | Tai chi, as a cultural class | Days 7–13 |
| Calligraphy | Cultural class | Days 7–13 |
| Chinese Painting | Cultural class | Days 7–13 |
The 14-Day Itinerary
14 days
14-Day Chinese Language & Culture Camp
- Day 1: arrival, check-in on campus, a campus tour and the placement test.
- Days 2–4: welcome ceremony and exchange with Chinese students; basic Chinese; a lecture on Chinese History and Culture or on Chinese Business and Economy, taught in English; a drum troupe performance; guqin and tea art; a friendly match.
- Days 5–6: visits, chosen from the options above.
- Days 7–13: listening and speaking; reading Chinese characters; a lecture on Education in China, taught in English; group presentations, assessment, certificates and the closing ceremony; tai chi, calligraphy and Chinese painting; a friendly match or a business visit; time to explore.
- Day 14: departure. Groups usually start from around 10 participants; numbers can be discussed.
Price on enquiry.
Culture camps that also include some Chinese
Every camp in our culture theme also includes some Chinese: most have one introductory lesson in simple everyday Chinese, and the longest has three Chinese lessons. They are culture-focused, with no placement test and no levels. The two longest culture camps are:
Tailored to Your Group
Theme, duration and content can be tailored in advance. Tell us your students’ level of Chinese, how long you can stay and what you want them to achieve, and we will suggest an itinerary.
Questions About This Theme
Can complete beginners join?
Yes. The placement test at the start includes a complete beginner level, alongside elementary, intermediate and advanced.
Can the programme count for academic credit?
The certificate for the 14-day camp does not carry academic credit. The programme description also says intensive courses of 1 to 16 weeks can be organised as a semester credit course; that is a separate arrangement, not the 14-day camp. If you need credit, raise it when you enquire, and check with your own institution how any course will be recognised.
Practical Details
Accommodation, safety, costs and how planning works are the same for every theme. You will find them on our School Trips to China page.
Plan a Chinese Language Programme in Xi’an
Tell us about your group, your students’ level of Chinese and the length you have in mind, and we will suggest an itinerary and send a quotation.