All 11,000 words on the 2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus, level by level: word lists for HSK 1 to 4, PDFs for HSK…
All 11,000 words on the 2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus, level by level: word lists for HSK 1 to 4, PDFs for HSK…
All 412 Mandarin syllables in Hanyu Pinyin, Zhuyin (bopomofo), Wade-Giles, Yale, MPS II, Tongyong Pinyin and Gwoyeu Romatzyh, with a lookup that…
新年快乐 (xīnnián kuàilè) is the most common way to say Happy New Year in Chinese. Learn 26 greetings for the Year of…
谢谢 (xièxie) is the most common way to say thank you in Chinese. Learn 23 ways to thank someone, from casual to…
On two September Saturdays our students walked the Longji rice terraces as the rice ripened, then cycled the Yangshuo countryside and drifted…
Learning Chinese in China can accelerate progress by connecting structured lessons with daily conversations, errands, travel, and real-world problem-solving. Discover how immersion…
What makes a Chinese language school the best choice for serious learners? This guide examines CLI’s one-to-one teaching, three-teacher model, Guilin immersion…
Ninchanese and Yocha offer two different but complementary ways to strengthen your Chinese. Ninchanese uses gamified lessons and review to build vocabulary…
Apps and videos only get you so far. What helps most online is hearing real audio, practicing tones, recalling characters from memory,…
Starting a Chinese immersion program soon? This 30-day plan covers what to study before you go, the documents and payments to sort…
A practical guide to living with a Chinese host family — covering daily routines, hospitality culture, common friction points, key Mandarin phrases,…
Choosing between Mainland China and Taiwan for learning Chinese comes down to practical fit. This guide compares characters, cost, visas, immersion, program…
Many Chinese programs claim "immersion," but the experience varies widely. This guide breaks down what real immersion looks like, why being in…
Most "best city to learn Chinese" guides focus on nightlife and food. This one compares six cities on the factors that actually…
China now offers several visa-free entry pathways, but they do not all allow the same activities. This beginner-friendly guide explains China’s main…
Paste Chinese text and get pinyin with tone marks above every character, including the tone changes for 不 and 一. Works with…
Looking for a realistic Chinese study plan? This beginner-friendly guide explains what to learn first, how to structure your weekly study time,…
How long does it really take to learn Chinese? This beginner-friendly guide explains realistic timelines for speaking, HSK progress, and long-term fluency,…
Should you learn Chinese through private lessons or a group class? For beginners, the answer usually comes down to speaking time, pronunciation…
Think you're too old to learn Chinese? The largest study on age and language learning — 670,000 participants — tells a very…
In 2025, CLI delivered over 36,000 hours of one-on-one Chinese lessons to students from 30+ countries: 23,000 in person in Guilin and…
CLI completed a three-month renovation of its Guilin center — new bathrooms, keycard doors, and AC units across the building. See photos…
Guan Zhong (管仲) is one of China’s most influential early statesmen, credited with helping the State of Qi become a regional powerhouse.…
The 2 Sigma Problem shows one-on-one tutoring can outperform classrooms. See how immersion plus personalized instruction speeds up Mandarin fluency.
Confucius (孔子, Kǒngzǐ) is one of the most quoted — and misquoted — figures in history. Read on to discover authentic sayings…
Mandarin is a language that is growing globally. It’s already one of the world’s most spoken languages, with more than 1.14 billion…
Have you heard of Yoyo Chinese, a popular online platform for learning Mandarin? Established in 2012 by native Chinese speaker and expert…
Simplified characters are the official script of mainland China, and they're also taught in Singapore and Malaysia. We explain why China simplified…
The Li River (漓江 Líjiāng), situated in Guangxi Province, is one of the most spectacular destinations in China. Spanning roughly 80 kilometers…
Start with West Lake (西湖). Our Hangzhou guide covers the sights worth your time, from Lingyin Temple to Longjing tea, plus practical…
The Bund is Shanghai's historic riverfront promenade. Discover its 52 colonial-era buildings, top things to do, how to get there, and nearby…
Wuzhen is an ancient canal town in Zhejiang Province founded in 872 CE. Known as the "Venice of the East," it's famous…
HSK 1 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. My dad is a doctor and this year, he’s 60 years…
HSK 1 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. My family has a three-year-old dog named Rice. In the afternoon…
HSK 2 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. Every day when I take the bus to school, I always…
HSK 2 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. After a long flight, I finally arrived at the airport. As…
HSK 3 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. It was a Friday night and Wang Jia Li was feeling…
HSK 3 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. The first time I ever saw my neighbor, Little Xia, was…
HSK 3 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. “Where are you going?” These were the first words the taxi…
HSK 4 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. One day while having breakfast with my host family in China,…
HSK 4 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. There are 56 ethnic groups in China. Aside from the Han,…
HSK 4 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac are the rat, ox,…
HSK 5 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. Ever since ancient times, Chinese culture has emphasized the importance of…
HSK 5 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is a traditional…
HSK 6 graded reader with audio, grammar notes and a quiz. As society continues to evolve, China’s wedding conventions have also undergone…
Shenyang, the largest city in northeast China, served as the founding capital of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty and is home to UNESCO…
Shanghai (上海 Shànghǎi) and Beijing (北京 Běijīng) are the two biggest cities in China, and as such, they’re highly connected. Whether you’re…
From ancient capitals to karst-mountain river towns, China packs an astonishing range of destinations into one country. This guide rounds up 10…
More than 100,000 Chinese characters have existed across history, yet only a few thousand are used today. Here's how many characters there…
Given that the Chinese language (汉语, hànyǔ) contains over 3,000 Chinese characters in daily use, you might wonder how Chinese speakers are…
The impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now being felt around the world. The pandemic has taken over the news cycle,…
Guilin Opera is a beloved artform celebrated in southern China. In fact, it is one of country’s ten major opera styles. Utilizing…
Chinese lanterns are one of the most recognizable symbols of Chinese culture. Learn about their history, symbolic meanings, colors, traditional types, and…
An important aspect of Chinese culture is the Chinese zodiac, which refers to a traditional 12-year astrological calendar based on lunar phases.…
A shout-out to the photographers filling the #Guilin hashtag with beautiful images. Enjoy some of our favorites, plus a look at the…
Planning a trip to Yellow Mountain? Our Huangshan travel guide covers the peaks, seas of cloud, hikes, best seasons, and everything you…
If you are starting to learn Chinese, pinyin is one of the first tools you should understand. It shows you how Mandarin…
Nanjing blends major historical landmarks with scenic lakes, leafy hills and lively riverside districts, making it one of China’s most rewarding cities…
Considered by many to be one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization, Xi’an is a fascinating travel destination. Xi’an is the capital…
Discover Harbin, the northernmost major city in China and home to the world-famous Ice and Snow Festival. Explore its Russian-influenced architecture, top…
Discover Hainan, China's tropical "Eastern Hawaii" — from Sanya's beaches and volcanic geoparks to visa-free entry rules and the best time to…
Chinese dragons appear in festivals, art, clothing, and folklore across China. Explore their origins, colors, types, and the rich symbolism behind the…
The FSI says Chinese takes 2,200 hours — but that number describes diplomats studying full-time, not your situation. Here's what the research…
A full record of China's 2022 holiday year, from the Spring Festival Golden Week to the Winter Solstice, with official dates and…
China's seven public holidays in 2026, with the official days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2027, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2028, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2029, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2030, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2031, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2032, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2033, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2034, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2035, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
China's seven public holidays in 2036, with the expected days off, plus the traditional festivals and other observances.
Lingopie builds its lessons around real Chinese TV shows and movies instead of drills, with dual subtitles, clickable translations, and playback you…
Build your Chinese listening comprehension with Melnyk's free audio lessons. Here are the ten episodes CLI students come back to most, from…
WeChat Official Accounts are worth your while. We’ve come up with a list of our favorite WeChat official accounts and provided a…
For those who are passionate about adventure, education, or traveling, teaching abroad offers the opportunity of a lifetime. Not only does it…
Most Chinese characters aren't random symbols — roughly 80% contain built-in hints about meaning and pronunciation. This guide explains how characters are…
Chinese tongue twisters (绕口令, ràokǒulìng) are one of the most fun ways to sharpen your Mandarin pronunciation. Watch CLI's Zicong 老师 challenge…
Planning a trip to China or learning Mandarin? Start with these basic Chinese words and phrases for beginners — greetings, family terms,…
Skritter is a fresh, inventive way to master Chinese characters. If you’re not a current user, take the following steps to get…
Chili peppers feel native to Chinese cooking, but they arrived from the Americas in the late 1500s. Discover their history, regional heat,…
Chinese shadow puppetry (皮影戏, pí yǐng xì) is one of China's oldest performing arts, blending storytelling, music and hand-carved leather figures behind…
Trevor James, a.k.a. The Food Ranger, is the most popular food vlogger covering Chinese cuisine. Here are 15 of his best videos,…
These 10 Crazy Fresh Chinese videos teach everyday Mandarin slang, from “You’re so dramatic!” to “Could you do me a favor?” Jessica…
Thinking about a semester in China? From the reach of Mandarin to China's affordable cost of living, here are CLI's top five…
CLI’s Study Abroad Program allows participants to learn and improve their Mandarin while living in the picturesque city of Guilin. Living and…
Studying abroad in Guilin? Here are 18 things to try while you're here, from climbing karst peaks to street barbecue and late-night…
Discover the meaning of the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac, including Rooster years, personality traits, lucky signs, elements, compatibility,…
At CLI we’ve always known that Guilin is beautiful and we’ve been on a mission to share the beauty since our founding…
In addition to winning the USA Memory Championship, CLI Online student Alex Mullen just set a new World Record in Speed Cards…
Ben Hedges (郝毅博), the British presenter behind Learn Chinese Now, sat down with CLI to talk about studying at SOAS, going viral…
Shh! Don't share your goals. Derek Sivers, former CLI student, provides a compelling argument as to why we should keep our…
Meet Huang Jian, a 13th-generation Chen-style tai chi master in Guilin. Watch the interview with full Chinese transcript, pinyin, and English translation.
A game-style app like ChineseSkill is a simple way to practice your Chinese on your own. At the Chinese Language Institute we…
Guilin is beautiful! Her rivers, lakes, and mountains are only a portion of that beauty — it's also her people and their…
What can we glean from looking through the eyes of someone else's world travel? In the case of Peter Stewart, perhaps it's…
YouTube is one of the best free resources for improving your Mandarin listening and speaking skills, offering authentic native-speaker content at every…
We watched hundreds of ChineseClass101 videos to find the 25 best for building Mandarin vocabulary — plus a free 222-word list you…
Ben Hedges has been teaching Mandarin on YouTube for more than a decade. These are our 10 favorite Learn Chinese Now videos,…
Adults can learn languages — these five TEDx speakers explain how. We've summarized the key techniques from each talk so you can…
Learn smarter, not harder. Discover three practical Chinese learning techniques from Hacking Chinese founder Olle Linge, including spaced repetition, timeboxing, and mnemonics.
Anki uses spaced repetition to help you retain Chinese vocabulary more efficiently. Learn how to install the app, create flashcards, and find…
You come home from a semester abroad with photos and souvenirs — but research suggests you also come home thinking differently. Annie…
Happy Halloween from CLI! 万圣节快乐！ The CLI TeamThe Chinese Language Institute (CLI) is a center for Chinese language and cultural studies based…
猜码 (cāimǎ) is a finger-throwing drinking game from Guangxi. Learn the rules, the four-beat rhythm, and the Mandarin and Cantonese calls for…
If you're looking to improve your Mandarin skills while increasing your knowledge of U.S.-China relations, we highly recommend exploring the resources offered…
Two players, four hand positions, five possible numbers. Our guide to 0-5-10-15-20 (十五十五二十) covers the rules, the legal calls, the variations, and…
Soccer's oldest documented ancestor is Chinese — a Han Dynasty kicking game called cuju. Two millennia later, China has reached the World…
Who built the Great Wall of China, and are the famous stories about it true? A guide to twenty centuries of construction,…
Chinese characters (汉字, Hànzì) are one of the world's oldest continuously used writing systems, built from recurring components that hint at meaning…
Video game fans across the world are anxiously anticipating the release of Shenmue 3 (release date TBA), an open-world RPG that will…
A photo essay of Guilin locals: nine portraits of downtown streets, the Li River at dusk, and early morning in the city,…
Guilin means 'forest of sweet osmanthus.' Discover the story behind the name, the fragrant tree it comes from, and the tea locals…
Travel writer Pico Iyer says being surrounded by the foreign "slaps you awake." Watch his TED talk and see why that alertness…
Simply put, Peter Stewart's photography is astonishing. His images, taken throughout China's Guangxi Province, are vivid yet surreal. As a fine art…
Learning a language comes down to four drivers: find your classroom, study on your own every day, interact daily, and think in…
Guilin's Princes' City is a walled Ming palace begun in 1372 – decades before the Forbidden City. Inside: a Qing examination hall…
Name: Summer 刘春平 Hometown: Guilin, Guangxi, China 广西桂林 Job title: Student Activities Manager 学生活动主管 We are happy to introduce Summer, CLI's Student Activities…
Michael Steverson is an American documentary and travel photographer living in Liuzhou, China. His work portrays the people and cultures of the…
Most visitors to Guilin never learn that American fighter pilots once flew out of the fields on the city's western edge. This…
Chinese chess has been played in China for at least two thousands years. It can quickly be picked up by anyone who…
There are lots of good places to eat in Guilin, but the place I have been to the most is the Lanzhou…
We're already halfway through our first month of 2015, and Chinese New Year is just around the corner in February. Above is…
Last week, CLI said goodbye to a very special group: our fall semester Study Abroad students from SUNY New Paltz. CLI hosted…
On Friday, CLI hosted its annual Homestay Potluck Dinner to celebrate our homestay families. Each person brought one dish, and with 50…
I have studied Mandarin every summer for 4 weeks for the last 7 years. As a high school student I had a…
包饺子！ CLI recently hosted a dumpling making party in the CLI kitchen! Dumpling making is often a social activity in China, with…
Name: Susan 潘姿 Hometown: Yizhou, Guangxi, China 广西宜州 Job title: Administrative Coordinator We are happy to introduce Susan Pan, CLI's Administrative Coordinator! Q:…
Why grammar drills leave you mute — and what works instead. Six ways not to learn a foreign language, plus what it…
Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia recently made a weeklong trip to China, spending time in Beijing, Xi'an, and Chengdu.…
Students, teachers, and other festive members of the CLI community celebrated the holiday season this week with a hotpot feast fit for…
After being adopted from China at the age of eight and moving to America with my new family, I forgot all of…
There was no turkey. There was a long table at a Guilin Buddhist restaurant, a room split between Chinese and international students,…
This week’s CLI Perspectives is brought to you by Avi Patchava, one of CLI’s summer Immersion Program students. Avi completed six weeks…
Have you ever wondered where your clothes were made? You've probably noticed the tags on your clothing often say "Made in China".…
When I was in high school, I studied more than enough years of Spanish to be at a level of slight fluency.…
This week, CLI Perspectives brings you a post by Abby Hays. Abby is a recent graduate from Virginia Tech and is now…
This week, CLI Perspectives brings you a post from Benjamin Horn. Ben, a student from the University of Pennsylvania, tells an epic…
This week we wrap up The University of North Florida's contributions to CLI Perspectives. Alex Wright, Morgan Irvin & Ryan Leirvik share…
This week the University of North Florida's contributions to CLI Perspectives continues again. Michele Pierson, Trey Brooks and Patricia Willis share their…
University of North Florida's contribution to CLI Perspectives continues. This week Allison Gordon and Katherine DeJong share some of their favorite moments…
The second installment in this month’s, University of North Florida themed, CLI Perspectives is courtesy of Maria Khalaf and Robyn Haywood. Aside from…
One of CLI’s many joys is welcoming groups of university and high school students to China. This summer, students and faculty from…
CLI continues to strive to be a beacon, or in our case a glowing Chinese lantern, for Chinese language and culture. This…
Stuart Ratcliff is no stranger to Asia. After traveling in Laos, Vietnam, Thailand and Nepal, Stuart decided teaching English in Beijing would…
Bryan Herbert, CLI Immersion student, first came to China through James Madison University on a three month study tour. However, after the…
This week’s CLI Perspectives is brought to us by Chris Nguyen. Chris has always loved traveling, but doesn’t like the feeling of…
Mark Robinson, founder and president of HandicappedPets.com and the inventor of the Walkin' Wheels adjustable dog wheelchair, was initially motivated to learn Chinese…
There may not be snow in Guilin, but winter is still winter and with the changing seasons come new opportunities to experience…
Trees inside living rooms, lights draped on houses, jolly old men in red suits ringing bells outside department stores, and cars pouring…
In December 2012, the China Daily published a story on how Robert and Bradford Fried founded the Chinese Language Institute (CLI). We've…
Nati Tamir, former Ambassador of Israel to Australia, New Zealand, and Finland, has been to many places around the world, but not…
CLI students spent this past Sunday on a cultural tour of the Guilin countryside. We may have started a little early for…
As the saying goes, "it's the little things in life" that are the most important, and CLI Study Abroad student Kelsey Cute…
Alex Gavis had never planned on learning Mandarin. In fact, she started heading down the French language road. But after taking a…
This week CLI is bustling with the start of a new school year. Everywhere one looks there are new faces, new smiles, and a…
Mikko Helimo shares his language journey in CLI Perspectives number nine. Mikko was first bitten by the Chinese language bug while studying…
In its 2012 China travel guide, Frommer's made the following endorsement of CLI: "If you would like to extend your time in…
The eighth installment of CLI Perspectives is written by Immersion Program student Jason Rogers. Jason shares his story of trekking the Guilin countryside on bicycle.…
CLI’s most recent contributor to the CLI Perspectives series is Jason Campbell. Jason Campbell, CLI Immersion Program student, came to China in…
The physical space where we live, work and study has a profound impact on our progress as individuals and as a greater…
Matt Kao, CLI Immersion Program student, wrote this week’s CLI Perspective. Before coming to CLI, Matt had previously been introduced to the…
Last week, CLI adventured into Guilin’s countryside for an evening of swimming and dining. The beauty of studying Chinese in China is…
CLI celebrated the red, white, and blue with its second full house of the summer season, welcoming students from a variety of…
This weeks’s CLI Perspectives story is brought to you by Elia Sommerlad, a true citizen of the world, having lived in Africa,…
Last week, CLI was delighted to roll out the red carpet for two college-level study tour groups hailing from four different universities.…
This week's CLI Perspectives blog entry is written by CLI Immersion Program student Cory Donovan. Cory moved to China in January 2012…
An adventurous group of CLI students and teachers found themselves in paradise this weekend – a fool’s paradise. 愚自乐园, or Yuzi Paradise,…
With Chinese Immersion Program student Mikko having just shared the beauty of Guilin with his visiting parents, CLI was delighted to welcome…
Is learning Chinese difficult? What kind of experience will I have in China if I can’t speak Chinese yet? What does authentic…
Is learning Chinese difficult? What kind of experience will I have in China if I can't speak Chinese yet? What does authentic…
The five-story CLI Center is home to 18 private classrooms, shared study space, a kitchen and dining area, a recreation room, and…
In February 2011, The Washington Post ran a story on how two brothers from Vienna, Virginia, founded the Chinese Language Institute (CLI)…
Guilin is a mid-sized city of roughly 700,000 residents whose UNESCO-recognized karst landscape, clean air, welcoming locals, and rich ethnic diversity make…
In fall 2010, CLI took students on a two-day trip to Yangshuo (阳朔), a countryside town known for its otherworldly mountain landscape…
On one fall weekend, CLI took students to Guangxi's famous Longsheng rice terraces (龙脊梯田) for two days of exploring Yao and Zhuang…
During the annual Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, friends and family gather to celebrate the fall harvest and anticipate the arrival of the autumn…
This past month CLI guided its fall semester and short-term students to a nearby Guilin plastics factory. There, we surveyed the day-to-day…
This past weekend CLI led our summer session students to Yangshuo (阳朔) for two days of bike riding through Guangxi's karst landscape,…