Get to know life at CLI.
From your first Chinese lesson to everyday life in Guilin, find answers from the people who live and teach here. Explore admissions, daily life, travel, costs, visas, and more.
If you're thinking about studying at CLI, you probably have a few questions! We've compiled below the ones students ask most. Read on to learn more about applying to CLI, life in Guilin, Chinese immersion, planning your trip, and more.
Applying, university credit, start dates, and what a week of class looks like.
CLI welcomes students of all ages, backgrounds, and language levels to apply for admission. While CLI has no minimum GPA requirement, the GPA of students currently attending or recently graduated from college will be considered. The majority of college-level students at CLI have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Yes. University-level credit is awarded to all China Study Abroad students upon satisfactory completion of CLI coursework. At the end of each Study Abroad session/semester, Guangxi Normal University (GXNU) awards official transcripts that are transferable to most colleges and universities. More than 180 universities have accepted GXNU credit earned through CLI; see our partial list of student institutions.
Immersion Program students can also request an official GXNU transcript, and CLI can provide a certificate of completion, syllabi, course descriptions, and credit-hour information if your home university has a petition process for outside programs. To discuss credit for the Immersion Program, please contact CLI’s Admissions Manager.
No. Students of all levels are welcome to apply, including complete beginners. Because every Immersion Program class is one-on-one, your teachers begin exactly where you are.
Beginners typically start with pronunciation and tones (see CLI’s pinyin chart), survival phrases, and everyday listening. More advanced students often focus on general fluency, reading, business Chinese, HSK preparation, classical Chinese, or other personalized goals.
After receiving notification of acceptance into a CLI program, you will receive a link to CLI’s Pre-Departure To-Do List. This checklist includes comprehensive information detailing the enrollment process and important considerations about studying in China.
The first step is a 300 USD program deposit, due within three weeks of acceptance; your space is not guaranteed until the deposit is received. Your remaining tuition balance is due three weeks before your program begins. From there, the checklist walks you through your visa (if you need one), the Dietary & Medical Form, the Guilin Arrival Form, and a short questionnaire about your Chinese story that your teachers use to plan your first lessons.
Although not required, beginning your Chinese language study prior to your arrival at CLI is a great way to hit the ground running. There are many Chinese language learning resources available online, including both free and paid services.
We encourage students who would like to pursue online study to enroll in CLI’s Online one-on-one courses for a seamless transition to other CLI programs upon arrival. We also recommend learning the basics of the pinyin system.
Yes. Housing is included from 3:00 PM on the Saturday before your program starts until 11:00 AM on the Saturday after it ends, and CLI’s airport or train station pickup is provided whenever you arrive. From early September through April, if a guest room is available, you can arrive before that Saturday and stay at the CLI Center for 150 RMB per night.
During peak season (May through August) rooms fill up, so please contact us early if you would like to arrive ahead of time.
As your Chinese Immersion Program coursework is entirely one-on-one, your session can begin on any Monday of the year (with the exception of February, due to the Chinese New Year holiday) and last anywhere from one week to a full year.
Admissions are rolling, and accepted students typically receive a decision within three weekdays. Summer programs and certain housing options fill quickly, so we recommend applying early if your dates are fixed. All other programs (Study Abroad and China Seminars) have pre-specified start dates.
Every Immersion Program weekday includes four hours of one-on-one Chinese, scheduled as two of CLI’s four daily class sessions: 8:20–10:20 AM, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, 2:00–4:00 PM, and 4:10–6:10 PM. Over the week, your 20 hours are divided among three teachers, each responsible for a different part of your Chinese: reading and writing, listening and speaking, and a comprehensive review of grammar and vocabulary. Your teachers coordinate with each other, so a grammar point from your morning class may resurface in the afternoon’s conversation.
Between sessions there is time for lunch at the CLI Center, homework, errands around the city, and meeting your Chinese language partner. Every two weeks you complete a short evaluation covering vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking, which your teachers use to plan what comes next. See “A day at CLI” below for a sample schedule, or explore CLI’s curriculum.
Yes. One-on-one is the primary mode of instruction in the Immersion Program, and it is the reason students progress so quickly: every lesson is built around your questions, your pronunciation, and the areas where you need more practice.
If you would prefer to study with classmates, CLI can sometimes arrange a small group class of three to five students when enrollment, levels, and preferences align. To ask about availability, email mira@studycli.org with “Small Group Classes” as the subject line.
CLI observes Chinese national holidays. If a holiday falls during your program and causes you to miss class time, you can make up the missed days by adding days to the end of your program, taking make-up hours through CLI Online, or distributing the extra class hours across your remaining weekdays. We will help you choose the option that best fits your schedule.
The truth is, it depends. Many students reach advanced proficiency within a year; others progress more slowly. The road to fluency depends on the focus each individual dedicates to learning and using Chinese every day and his/her knack for languages. Every student is different.
Moreover, defining fluency is not a straightforward endeavor. One can be conversationally fluent in Chinese, but unable to read or write. And even within literacy, the ability to recognize characters is significantly simpler than recalling and writing those same 汉字 by hand. Fortunately computers and smartphones make this task much easier.
The Chinese Ministry of Education has devised and refined a Chinese proficiency testing system, called HSK (Hànyǔ Shuǐpíng Kǎoshì), that presents nine levels. HSK 1 requires knowledge of 150 characters; HSK 2 – 300; HSK 3 – 600; HSK 4 – 1200; HSK 5 – 2500; and HSK 6 – 5000 Chinese characters. While the system can be useful for goal setting and measuring progress, it primarily tests written and listening ability, and can’t fully capture the stages required to achieve the fluidity in conversation. Note that the HSK exam was revamped in March 2022.
Learning the Chinese language can be thought of as progressing up an inverted pyramid. At the first level, the range of everyday words is actually quite limited. Picking up beginner Chinese is straightforward and achievable. Learn the pronouns, numbers, question words, key nouns, verbs, and adjectives, and memorize and often practice a few key grammatical structures, and you’ll move on to the second level in no time. As you move up the inverted pyramid, the height between levels is always constant, yet the breadth of vocabulary and topics continues to expand.
Each year, CLI welcomes many students who start from 零基础 and surpass HSK 3 in 3-4 months and HSK 5 in 8-12 months. HSK 6 generally takes two or more years of focused study.
The spectrum of learning speeds and aims is broad, and each student must find and walk their own path. CLI’s mission is to provide the best guidance, resources, and environment possible for you to achieve your highest goals.
Yes. Many CLI students grew up with Mandarin or another Chinese language at home. Most can hold a conversation but never learned to read and write, or they lack the vocabulary for work, the news, or formal settings.
Because every class is one-on-one, your teachers start from what you already know and spend class time on the gaps, not on material you have already mastered. Tell us about your background when you apply, and your teachers will plan around it.
Yes. CLI students range from high school students to retirees. One-on-one classes move at your pace, and your teachers shape the plan around your goals, whether that is travel, family, work, or a long-held interest in China.
The CLI Center has no elevator. If stairs are difficult for you, let us know when you apply and we will suggest the housing that suits you best, such as a homestay in a building with an elevator.
Yes. Families often study at CLI together. The CLI Center has rooms with two beds, and our teachers work with children aged 5 and up, so parents and children can each have their own one-on-one classes.
Children under 15 must come with a parent or guardian who stays with them in Guilin for the whole program. Students aged 15 to 17 can also study on their own with our Chaperone Service for Minors (see Can students under 18 study at CLI?). Tell us who is coming and who will take classes, and we will put together a plan and a quote for your family. Contact us to get started.
Here's what a typical weekday looks like during your Immersion Program. Class times vary by student; please treat this as a sample rather than a fixed timetable.
Two one-on-one sessions with your teachers, or a slower start: homework review, errands, and everyday Mandarin practice around the city.
Family-style lunch at the CLI Center with teachers and classmates, then time to rest and review new material.
If your classes are scheduled for the afternoon (rather than the morning), it's go time. If not, this is a moment for markets, cafés, parks, meeting your pengyou, or just relaxing.
Lighter hours: dinner out, focused review, and relaxed activities at CLI such as movie nights, calligraphy, or badminton.
Li River trips, hiking in Longsheng or Yangshuo, and regional travel are usually reserved for weekends and holidays.
CLI runs four daily class sessions: 8:20–10:20 AM, 10:30 AM–12:30 PM, 2:00–4:00 PM, and 4:10–6:10 PM. Immersion Program students are scheduled for two of them, for four hours of one-on-one class each day.
Daily life at CLIWeather, housing, phones, WiFi, and settling into Guilin.
Guilin has four seasons, and aside from snow its weather covers most of the spectrum. Expect hot, humid summers and cool, damp winters (chilly, but rarely below freezing). Spring and early summer bring a good amount of rain, and fall is the most moderate season; in autumn you will notice the sweet fragrance of the osmanthus trees that give Guilin (桂林, “osmanthus forest”) its name.
The average temperature across the year is about 19 °C (66 °F). Bring an umbrella, comfortable walking shoes, and layers for the season.
Students can choose from several housing options, depending on program length and availability. All options include rent, WiFi, heating, air conditioning, and weekly cleaning.
For both apartment options, CLI signs the lease on your behalf once your tuition is paid in full. From then on, the rent is non-refundable.
Housing is available from 3:00 PM on the Saturday before your program starts until 11:00 AM on the Saturday after it ends. Browse photos and details on the Immersion Program’s housing options, or read our practical guide to living with a Chinese host family.
Most of daily life in China runs through your phone: WeChat for messaging, ride-hailing, and paying for everything from noodle shops to bus fares. Both WeChat Pay and Alipay accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, and we will help you set them up during orientation on your first Monday.
If you would like a local Chinese number, CLI can help you get a physical SIM (China Mobile, China Telecom, or China Unicom) during your first few days in Guilin; just let your Admissions Manager know in advance or mention it at orientation. If you would rather use an eSIM, make sure your phone is unlocked and eSIM-compatible, and install a plan specifically for Mainland China before departure. Travel eSIMs such as Holafly, Airalo, and Saily are reliable but data-only, so you will not have a Chinese number.
Yes. All CLI housing and the CLI Center provide high-speed wireless Internet, and many cafés and restaurants in Guilin have free WiFi. Mobile data (4G/5G) is fast and inexpensive; see the question on phones and SIM cards above.
If you would rather not bring your own computer to China, there are public computers at the CLI Center available for student use, as well as computer labs on the GXNU campus.
Yes. The Chinese government blocks access to many foreign websites and apps, including Google services (Search, Gmail, Maps, YouTube), Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X (Twitter), and a number of news and advocacy sites such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Unobstructed access to the Internet can be attained through the use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that allows users to connect to servers outside of China. These services range from free to over 50 USD per year. If you plan to use the Internet while in China, we highly recommend that you arrange a VPN prior to your arrival, since VPN websites themselves are often blocked once you are in the country. Our recommended China VPN is Astrill, which we’ve found to be reliable for many years.
Chinese alternatives to the blocked services work everywhere: WeChat for messaging and payments, and Baidu Maps or Amap for navigation.
The Chinese word for friend, péngyou (朋友), is written with two moon characters side by side. CLI’s optional Pengyou Program matches you with a student from our local partner university who offers three hours of weekly language support, shares meals with you, joins activities, and gives you a local perspective on life in Guilin.
It is one of the most popular parts of the CLI experience and is included at no additional tuition cost. Simply indicate your interest on the application form.
Yes. CLI organizes weekly activities and monthly excursions designed to immerse students in Chinese language and culture: calligraphy and tea ceremonies, dumpling making, tai chi, Chinese games, mǐfěn tastings, badminton and volleyball, and weekend trips to Yangshuo, the Li River, and the Longji rice terraces. The week’s schedule is posted at the CLI Center.
Many activities are included in tuition. When an optional outing involves a ticket, entrance fee, or venue cost, students simply pay the direct cost charged by the provider.
The optional CLI Language Pledge helps you create more Chinese-only time in your day. Wear the CLI wristband when you want to opt in, and every CLI team member will speak to you only in Chinese; take it off whenever you need a break. We encourage students at every level to try it, even for an hour a day.
Because Guilin’s temperature and weather patterns cover a wide range, it is advised that you bring clothing to fit most weather possibilities. No clothing for snow will be needed, although Guilin can get quite cold in the winter.
Many students enjoy having clothing custom made by one of the many excellent and affordable tailors in Guilin. There are fabric markets throughout the city, and a suit or dress can be custom made for around 50–100 USD.
For specific packing information, please also reference CLI’s Pre-Departure Packet.
Guilin is very laid-back and virtually nowhere in town has a dress code (including restaurants and dance clubs). Most people go to weddings in jeans and a collared shirt.
That being said, people in Guilin do sometimes like to dress up when out on the town, and construction workers even wear suits and wingtip shoes on the job.
Guilin has several fabric markets and local tailors. A suit or dress can be custom made for around 50–100 USD. Bring fashion magazines, pictures, or the actual item with you if you want something replicated.
Students are advised to carry a pack of tissues at all times while in China, as many public restrooms do not provide toilet paper. A wide variety of common sanitation products (e.g. toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc.) can be bought at Guilin’s supermarkets. These include a variety of Western brands.
Every CLI apartment is equipped with a washing machine, but no dryer. Throughout all of China, hanging clothes in the sun and soft breeze remains the method of drying clothes. There are four washing machines and one dryer at the CLI Center.
Yes. There are several dry cleaners throughout the city, and one of them is only a five minute walk from the CLI Center.
The voltage in China is 220, while in the US it is only 110. Most computer and smartphone chargers have built-in converters on their power adapters, but electric shavers and hair dryers often do not.
Check the voltage range on your device prior to your arrival – many electronics range from 110–240V, making them safe for use in most countries, including China. Not all plugs are compatible with Chinese outlets. If needed, a converter can be purchased in Guilin.
The majority of commonly used Western products can be found in Guilin.
Yes. Guilin’s international community includes people from the United States, England, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Holland, Poland, Switzerland, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Estonia, Nigeria, Algeria, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, and a variety of other countries.
That being said, Guilin is a great place to avoid contact with foreigners if so desired. It would be easy to spend an entire semester in Guilin without ever encountering a situation in which you need to speak English.
Yes. CLI is a close-knit international community built on respect, trust, and clear professional boundaries, and we largely rely on the good faith of our students, teachers, administration, and broader community members to be mutually supportive and to conduct themselves in a respectful and respectable manner.
CLI’s Student Community Standards explain what we expect of every student: respect and inclusion, professional boundaries with teachers and staff, privacy, class participation, housing rules, local laws, and how to raise a concern. A few practical points: smoking and drinking are not permitted on CLI property except at explicitly communicated CLI events, and pets are not allowed. You will be asked to review the standards before you arrive as part of the Pre-Departure To-Do List.
Doctors, insurance, water, and the support you can count on.
Yes. CLI students will have access to hospitals that have English speaking doctors available. In addition, if needed and/or requested, our bilingual international staff will provide students with language support during hospital visits of any kind.
You are strongly encouraged to inform CLI of any pre-existing health conditions you may have prior to your arrival in Guilin. You will have an opportunity to do so when completing CLI’s Dietary & Medical Form during your enrollment process. This will allow us to better assist should any related issues arise.
Some students choose to receive certain vaccinations before coming to China. Please consult your family doctor concerning pre-departure health checks and vaccinations.
While a minority of students choose to brush their teeth with bottled water in China, it is safe to use tap water. However, please note that while tap water in China goes through municipal purification processes, it is not potable. Brushing your teeth with tap water is safe, but drinking tap water is strongly discouraged.
Guilin is a remarkably safe city and a pleasant place to live. It is normal in Guilin for elementary school children to walk home from school in groups of two or more without parental supervision. Foreigners are treated particularly well, as they are viewed as guests in China. Guilin’s local residents are known to go out of their way to assist foreigners with any needs or concerns that may arise.
All CLI students are strongly encouraged to have international health insurance coverage during their stay in China. If you would like insurance recommendations, please contact CLI’s Admissions Manager for more information.
The majority of Western medicines, as well as many Eastern remedies, are conveniently available in many pharmacies and hospitals throughout Guilin. CLI team members are happy to help students purchase any specific medicines they may need, provided these medicines are available for purchase in China. In addition, CLI team members are available 24/7 to assist students in emergency situations.
Susan Pan in our Guilin office is your main emergency contact, and the CLI team is on hand day and night for anything big or small. You will receive emergency contact numbers and be added to a WeChat group during orientation.
Outside China, CLI’s US office can be reached at +1 888-781-8383; our Guilin office is at +86 0773-759-9367.
Yes, from age 15. Students aged 15 and 16 study with CLI’s Chaperone Service for Minors, and the service is optional at 17. Children under 15 are welcome when a parent or guardian comes to Guilin and stays with them (see Can I come with my family or children?). In every case, a parent or guardian completes a Parent/Guardian Waiver during enrollment.
Each chaperone is a dedicated, trained CLI team member who is available 24/7, lives in a private room on the same floor as the student, conducts three required check-ins each day (wake-up, midday, and bedtime), accompanies the student on outings into the city, and keeps parents connected through a shared WeChat group. Each chaperone supports at most one minor at a time. The service costs 320 USD per week in addition to tuition. Contact us to discuss your child’s stay.
Water, noodles, dietary needs, and the CLI lunch table.
We strongly discourage students from drinking tap water in China. Local Chinese do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled first. Bottled water is safe, inexpensive, and easily accessible, and the CLI Center has filtered water dispensers on every floor.
One of CLI’s co-founders has been a vegan in Guilin for over a decade. There are several vegetarian and vegan restaurants in the city. When at non-vegetarian/vegan restaurants and dining halls, students must sometimes insist that they do not eat meat.
All beginner students who are vegetarian/vegan will be immediately taught the basic vocabulary needed to make sure they are able to order a vegetarian/vegan meal.
For more information, read CLI’s article on the topic, How to Survive as a Vegetarian in China.
Street food is part of Guilin’s culture, and many students enjoy it. That said, many street vendors are unlicensed, and sanitary practices and food quality cannot be guaranteed, so CLI does not actively encourage it. If you do eat from a stall, use the same judgment you would anywhere: choose busy vendors with high turnover, and stick to food that is cooked fresh and served hot.
Please note that CLI must be made aware of any allergies or health conditions prior to your arrival in order to best accommodate your needs; you will do so on CLI’s Dietary & Medical Form during enrollment. CLI can accommodate many dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, halal, and other common requirements, and will help match you with suitable housing and meal options.
All beginner students with allergies will be immediately taught the basic vocabulary needed to communicate this information in Chinese. Students with food allergies can easily avoid problems by communicating well and paying careful attention to what they eat, as they would in their home country.
CLI’s optional meal plan offers a home-cooked Chinese lunch at the CLI Center Monday through Friday, served family style at the same table as your teachers and classmates. It is one of the best hours of Chinese practice in the day. Add it in advance for 20 USD per week, or pay 30 RMB per individual meal.
Homestay students typically share dinners with their host family. For other meals, Guilin has countless affordable restaurants, cafés, noodle shops, and markets within easy reach of CLI; a meal at a nice restaurant costs around 6 USD.
Guilin is a serious food city. The local staple is Guilin rice noodles (桂林米粉, guìlín mǐfěn), eaten for breakfast at neighborhood shops for a dollar or two, and the wider Guangxi cuisine leans toward fresh, sour, and lightly spicy flavors; Yangshuo’s beer fish (啤酒鱼) is a favorite on weekend trips. You will also find Cantonese, Sichuan, Hunan, and northern dishes, plus Western cafés and bakeries.
Ordering in Mandarin is one of the first skills students pick up, and CLI’s mǐfěn tastings and cooking classes make it a fun one.
Not sure how the tones sound? Start with CLI’s pinyin chart or a free online trial lesson before you arrive.
Getting to Guilin, getting around, and exploring China.
Guilin Liangjiang International Airport (KWL) has non-stop flights from Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, and nearly every major city in mainland China, but not from Europe or the Americas. Most students fly into Hong Kong (HKG), Guangzhou (CAN), Shanghai (PVG), or Beijing (PEK) and connect on a domestic flight; if you book through an international airline or booking service, you can purchase the entire journey on one ticket. High-speed trains also connect Guilin with Guangzhou (about three hours), Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and cities across China.
Whichever route you choose, a CLI representative will greet you at the airport or train station and take you directly to your accommodation, free of charge.
Yes. Airport, train station, or bus station pickup and drop-off are provided free of charge to every CLI student. As soon as you have booked your tickets, please complete CLI’s Guilin Arrival Form so that we can arrange a CLI representative to greet you (look for the welcome sign with CLI’s logo).
Plan to arrive in Guilin on the Saturday or Sunday before your first Monday of classes. The airport is about an hour from the CLI Center.
Guilin is compact and easy to navigate, and many students walk or cycle to most of what they need. The public bus system is very convenient, with stops close to the CLI Center, and taxis are inexpensive relative to the US dollar: you can travel to most places within the city for less than 5 USD, and a ride downtown costs only about 2 USD. Ride-hailing through Didi (or the ride-hailing function inside WeChat and Alipay) works well and lets you enter your destination in Chinese or English.
CLI provides free travel-planning assistance — ticket purchasing, safety tips, itineraries, and lodging recommendations — but it is up to the student to make final travel and lodging arrangements. Guilin is a great hub to access the greater region, with non-stop flights to many major cities (Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, nearly every major city in mainland China, etc.) as well as bullet train access to many cities throughout China.
In the meantime, check out our in-house travel guides: Guilin Travel Guide, Yangshuo Travel Guide, Hainan Travel Guide, Nanjing Travel Guide, Xi'an Travel Guide, and Harbin Travel Guide.
Yangshuo, the Li River, and the Longsheng Rice Terraces are all within an hour or two of class.A CLI weekend excursion near Yangshuo
Tuition, what’s included, daily budgets, and money in China.
Tuition depends on your program length and housing choice. It includes 20 weekly hours of one-on-one Chinese with three teachers, housing and utilities, airport or train station pickup and drop-off, orientation and a Guilin tour, some weekly activities, welcome and farewell dinners, visa assistance, and 24/7 support. Popular plans with a private room at CLI:
| Program length | Tuition (USD) |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $2,870 |
| 8 weeks | $5,590 |
| 12 weeks | $8,375 |
| 6 months | $16,140 |
| 1 year | $26,870 |
Homestays carry a modest premium, and apartment options are available for programs of six months or more. International airfare, visa fees, personal spending, and the optional meal plan are not included. Programs can be any length from one week to a year; see the full tuition table on the Immersion Program page. Study Abroad in China and CLI Online have their own pricing.
The cost of living in China is significantly lower than in Europe, the United States, and many other countries. And the cost of living in Guilin is generally lower than in China’s larger cities like Beijing and Shanghai.
Housing is included in tuition, so most students spend about 70–100 USD per week on meals, transport and weekend trips, depending on lifestyle.
Many services that can be quite expensive elsewhere are amazingly affordable in Guilin; for example, massages (5 USD/hour), maid service (2 USD/hour), a meal at a nice restaurant (6 USD), taxi rides (3 USD almost anywhere in town), and so on.
Individual spending habits can vary greatly, but CLI students typically spend an average of about 70–100 USD per week in Guilin. For semester students, CLI recommends having ATM access to at least 1,500 USD at any given time throughout the semester.
ATMs are conveniently placed throughout the city of Guilin and on the Guangxi Normal University campus. As in the US and Europe, many ATMs charge a fee for each transaction.
In practice, most day-to-day payments in China are made by phone rather than by card or cash. WeChat Pay and Alipay both accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, and once they are set up (we will help during orientation) you will rarely need cash at all. For long-term students, it is possible to set up an account at a Chinese bank in Guilin, although this process has become increasingly onerous in recent years.
The renminbi (RMB, also called yuan or CNY) has traded at roughly 7 RMB to 1 USD in recent years; check the current rate before you travel. The majority of Chinese banks provide currency exchange free of charge, and students must present their passport to the bank teller for this service.
Most students simply withdraw RMB from an ATM on arrival or pay by phone, so there is no need to bring large amounts of cash.
Yes. CLI offers need-based and merit-based scholarships of 10 to 20% off tuition for students attending the Immersion Program or Study Abroad in China for four weeks or more (eight weeks or more during peak season, May through August, when awards for programs under three months are capped at 10%). Recipients choose either a private room at CLI or a homestay. Apply at least two months before your desired start date with a short 300–500 word essay written in your own voice. Learn more about the CLI Scholarship.
Students may also qualify for outside funding such as the Boren Awards, the Gilman Scholarship, Rotary Foundation grants, or study abroad funding through your home university. We recommend exploring funding options early in your planning.
Which visa you need, visa-free entry, and how CLI helps.
In most cases, yes. China requires that your visa status match the purpose of your stay, and for students planning to study at CLI, that typically means holding a study visa.
There are two kinds of student visa for China. The X2 covers stays of up to 180 days, and it's the one we recommend for the Immersion Program. We prepare the documents for your X2, and if you're staying longer than six months, we'll help you apply for a second X2 about six months in. The X1 is for longer study at a Chinese university, so at CLI it's only available through our Study Abroad program with Guangxi Normal University. CLI's admissions team provides full support throughout the application process. See our X2 Visa Application Guide and X1 Visa Application Guide for details.
There are some exceptions. Travelers from visa-free eligible countries planning a short stay may not need a visa at all (see Question 2 below). And in limited cases, CLI can accommodate students on other visa types for brief programs.
If other language schools in China are telling you that a study visa isn't necessary for longer-term programs, that guidance is inconsistent with Article 37 of China's Exit-Entry Administration Law (出境入境管理法), which requires that a foreigner's activities in China correspond to the purpose of their visa.
If you're not sure which route applies to you, reach out to us at info@studycli.org and we'll help you figure out the best path.
For many eligible travelers, yes. Visa-free entry can be a practical way to come to Guilin and study at CLI.
China currently offers visa-free entry for up to 30 days to ordinary passport holders from around 50 countries. Many of CLI's most common student nationalities qualify, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, South Korea, and several other European and Latin American nations.
A few additional countries common among CLI students, such as Thailand and Kazakhstan, have direct visa-free access under separate bilateral agreements with their own stay limits.
Notable exception: the United States. American passport holders are not currently eligible for China's 30-day visa-free entry. U.S. travelers may qualify for 240-hour visa-free transit if continuing to a third country or region, but this is a transit policy and is not the usual pathway for a dedicated study stay in Guilin. Most American students will need to apply for a visa. The same applies to travelers from Indonesia and Mexico.
Travelers from a few other countries represented among CLI students, including Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, India, the Philippines, and South Africa, should check the latest official guidance, as visa-free eligibility can vary by passport type and agreement status.
There is one important caveat that applies to all visa-free pathways: study is not one of the officially listed purposes for visa-free entry. The permitted categories are business, tourism, visiting relatives or friends, exchange visits, and transit. Short-term private language study at a school like CLI falls into a grey area between "exchange visits" and "study" in the official framework. In practice, many short-term learners enter China visa-free and study without issue, but it's worth understanding this distinction so you can plan with your eyes open.
For a detailed country-by-country breakdown, see our guide to China's visa-free options.
If your country isn't covered by China's visa-free policies, you'll need a visa. For study at CLI, that typically means an X2 (short-term study) visa. If you stay longer than six months on the Immersion Program, you apply for a second X2 about six months in; the X1 (long-term study) visa is only for our Study Abroad program with Guangxi Normal University.
Some travelers from countries not on the visa-free list may already hold a valid tourist (L) visa. If you're enrolled in a brief program (generally 8 weeks or less), CLI can accommodate L-visa students on a case-by-case basis. However, please be aware that studying on a tourist visa sits in a legal grey area — Chinese law requires that your activities in China correspond to the purpose of your visa, and formal study may not fully align with the stated purpose of a tourist visa. Students who choose this route do so at their own discretion.
For any program longer than eight weeks, we recommend applying for an X2 study visa. It's the visa designed for study in China, and it keeps your visa status clearly aligned with your activities.
China issues two types of study visas:
If you're not sure which applies to you, our admissions team will advise you during the enrollment process.
Yes. Once you're accepted, CLI's Admissions Manager will guide you through the visa process step by step. Complete CLI’s Invitation Letter Form as soon as you can, and we will prepare the admission documents you'll need to apply for your X2 or X1 visa at your local Chinese consulate or embassy. Per the Chinese consulate's guidance, apply within 45–90 days of your departure to China: not more than 90 days before, and not within 45 days of, your flight.
The process is straightforward, but it does involve some paperwork, so we recommend getting started early. CLI covers visa assistance as part of the admissions process. Visa application fees and shipping expenses (typically 45 USD via DHL) to receive your admissions letter from Guilin are the responsibility of the student.
For detailed walkthroughs, see:
Yes. If you're earning university credit through CLI's partnership with Guangxi Normal University (GXNU), you must hold an X2 or X1 study visa before beginning coursework. This is a firm requirement — visa-free entry or a tourist visa is not sufficient for credit-bearing programs.
CLI's Study Abroad students receive full visa support, and the GXNU partnership provides a well-established pathway for obtaining an X1 visa if you choose a program greater than 180 days. See the Study Abroad Pre-Departure To-Do List and X1 Visa Application Guide for details.
Here are the resources we recommend:
Have questions about your specific situation? Reach out to us anytime at info@studycli.org.
Send it to the CLI team. We answer every message ourselves, direct from Guilin, within two weekdays and often much sooner.
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