An Ideal Learning Environment

learn in guilin

Guilin’s balance of vibrant, modern city life and surrounding countryside creates the ideal setting to learn Chinese. It features gyms, yoga studios, modern malls, universities, countless restaurants, upbeat nightlife, great public transportation, an international airport, three bullet train stations, and much more. Perhaps most importantly, the community here is friendly and welcoming.

Guilin upholds China’s rich cultural traditions while enjoying all the comforts of modern life.

Guilin vs. China’s Largest Cities

“I like that CLI is located in Guilin rather than a larger city because it encourages you to use Chinese in daily experiences.”
– Craig W., Immersion Program student

By way of their own study abroad experiences in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei and Guilin, CLI’s founders experienced firsthand the crucial advantages a smaller city like Guilin enjoys compared to its larger alternatives. Guilin’s stunning environment and friendly population make learning Chinese a pleasure.

view of a street in Yangshuo County at sunset

Guilin is an ideal Mandarin learning environment because:

  • Relatively few expats live in Guilin, and few locals speak English, which provides students plenty of language learning opportunities.
  • Guilin locals are friendly, curious, and often seek to engage with international students.
  • In Guilin students are exposed to both China’s northern and southern Mandarin accents, which gives learners a sharper ear and more well-rounded command of the Chinese language.
  • Guilin provides an optimal balance of cost and quality of living; see the cost of living section in CLI’s FAQs for additional insight.
  • Guilin’s famous natural environment is protected by law, making the air and water cleaner than in other parts of China.

“Most Beautiful Under Heaven”

students and teachers on a mountain in guilin with karst mountains in the background

The proverb 桂林山水甲天下 (Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎtiānxià) proclaims that “Guilin’s scenery is the most beautiful under heaven,” and rightly so. Surrounded by picturesque limestone mountains, the bustling city is comfortably located along China’s famous Li River in the gorgeous province of Guangxi. Guilin’s natural landscape has proven so charming throughout history that it is even celebrated on the back of China’s twenty-yuan bill.

Guìlín 桂林 literally means “Osmanthus Forest” due its high number of osmanthus trees. Their sweet fragrance graces Guilin each autumn, adding to the city’s mystique and allure.

Your Gateway to China

“One month in Guilin was more productive than an entire year of coursework in a normal college class.”
– Allie R., Immersion Program Student

Your home at CLI presents you with countless opportunities to discover China. A breathtaking natural landscape presents a hiker’s paradise, an array of restaurants and bars provide an exciting social scene, and CLI’s language learning community delivers countless chances to practice and engage. Guilin is a wonderful place to dedicate yourself to learning Chinese.

Floating Down the Li River