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Chinese Immersion
Daily Chinese classes, one-on-one support, local routines, and guided cultural activities keep Mandarin at the center of your experience.
Earn full university credit at Guangxi Normal University (GXNU) while improving your Chinese through CLI’s daily one-on-one instruction and immersion-first community in Guilin.
CLI students are curious, adventurous, and committed to learning Chinese. With one-on-one lessons, a welcoming environment, and support every step of the way, you’ll be amazed by how fast your Mandarin improves.
Designed for current university students, CLI’s Study Abroad in China program combines GXNU university coursework, immersive Chinese learning, meaningful travel, and the day-to-day support students need to thrive abroad.
“I appreciate CLI’s size, flexibility, and ability to accommodate students. Because it is a small community, it is easy to build relationships with the teachers and staff.”
Daniel Del Bosque · Yale University
Since 2009, CLI and Guangxi Normal University have welcomed study abroad students from more than 400 institutions worldwide, pairing official university credit with personalized, one-on-one Chinese instruction.
Study abroad should do more than place you in China. CLI combines credit-bearing coursework, one-on-one instruction, local support, and daily opportunities to use Chinese in real life.
Daily Chinese classes, one-on-one support, local routines, and guided cultural activities keep Mandarin at the center of your experience.
Earn official GXNU credit and work with CLI’s team to make the transfer process with your home university clear and smooth.
From pre-departure questions to daily life in Guilin, CLI’s bilingual team is nearby whenever students need help.
Guilin offers a high quality of life, approachable transportation, and everyday costs that help your budget stretch further.
Build friendships with teachers, classmates, roommates, and local partners through CLI’s close-knit learning environment.
Pair CLI’s personalized learning environment with the energy, coursework, and student life of a major Chinese university.
As a CLI student, you tap into two supportive academic communities: Guangxi Normal University for official university credit and CLI for personalized Chinese instruction and daily support.
Whether you join for a full semester or a shorter summer/winter term, we keep the essentials consistent: official GXNU credit, personalized Chinese instruction, relaxing housing accommodations, and active daily life in Guilin.
Best for: Students seeking a full university study abroad term
A full study abroad semester combining university coursework with personalized instruction.
Best for: Students making the most of summer or winter break
An intensive, short-term program designed for rapid progress during academic breaks.
University credit from GXNU, matched to your level, with the instruction intensity that fits your term.
Build a full university course load at GXNU, plus private one-on-one instruction at CLI. You’ll earn 15–21 GXNU credits over a Fall or Spring semester.
Shorter academic breaks become focused Chinese learning terms, with 20 hours/week of small group and one-on-one instruction.
Rotating electives in English allow students to connect Chinese language study with history, economics, literature, politics, and culture.
Compare standard and intensive course loads across semester, summer, winter, and academic-year options.
Discuss Credit Transfer“Having worked with so many other institutions in China, I can confidently say that the staff and administration here at CLI, given their own personal experience in China and their experience with Guangxi Normal University, brings a lot to the experience for universities trying to develop customized programs.”
— Kirk Martin, Drake University
Choose the housing environment that best supports your learning goals, independence, and preferred level of daily Chinese immersion.
Live steps away from classes in CLI's newly renovated 5-story learning center. A perfect mix of privacy and community.
Live with a local Guilin family and practice your Chinese in a home setting. Join family dinners and weekend outings.
Enjoy your own fully furnished apartment in Guilin with extra privacy and space. Ideal for independent learners staying longer-term.
Share an apartment with local GXNU students and keep your Chinese going after class. A strong fit for learners who want daily practice at home.
Choose the term length, housing option, and instruction intensity that fit your academic goals and calendar.
| Term | Housing | Standard | Intensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Session (9 Weeks) | |||
| Summer | Private Room at CLI | N/A | $5,930 |
| Homestay | N/A | $6,980 | |
| Winter Session (3 Weeks) | |||
| Winter | Private Room at CLI | N/A | $2,480 |
| Homestay | N/A | $2,950 | |
| Fall / Spring Semester (16 Weeks) | |||
| Semester | Private Room at CLI | $10,290 | $12,190 |
| Homestay | $10,850 | $12,750 | |
| Apt w/ Chinese Roommates | $12,290 | $14,180 | |
| Academic Year (32 Weeks) | |||
| Academic Year | Private Room at CLI | $18,620 | $22,430 |
| Homestay | $19,720 | $23,530 | |
| Apt w/ Chinese Roommates | $22,590 | $26,360 | |
*Summer/Winter sessions are Intensive only.
读万卷书，行万里路
Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles
From your pre-departure to-do list through your final day of coursework, CLI provides the academic, practical, and personal support that helps make your time in Guilin smooth, focused, and effective.
GXNU coursework and CLI instruction are included according to your term pathway, with Standard and Intensive tracks available for semester and academic-year students and Intensive-only options for summer and winter. GXNU credit documentation is provided for your home university transfer process.
CLI’s orientation introduces you to your new living and learning environment, including a welcome meal, a Guilin tour, and practical guidance for making the most of your studies. Preview the CLI Orientation Deck.
Your tuition includes airport pickup and drop-off. A CLI team member will meet you upon arrival and help make your transition to Guilin as smooth as possible.
The cost of rent is fully covered by your program tuition. Choose from a private room at CLI, homestay, private apartment, or apartment with Chinese roommates, depending on program length and availability. Accommodations are available from 3:00 PM on the Saturday before your program starts until 11:00 AM on the Saturday after your program ends.
CLI organizes weekly activities designed to immerse students deeply into Chinese language and culture. Study Abroad tuition includes one excursion for Summer/Winter students and two excursions for semester students; optional add-ons or provider costs may be paid directly by students.
For students who need a Chinese student visa, CLI guides you through the process for your term length: summer/winter visa guide (X2), fall/spring visa guide (X2), or academic year visa guide (X1). Review the Pre-Departure To-Do List and start early so there is enough time to receive your official GXNU invitation letter.
The CLI team is available around the clock to help with issues big and small. While the majority of our team is based full-time in Guilin, we also have full-time team members in London, New York, Madrid, and Taipei as well, providing 24/7 coverage.
Students who opt in are matched with a student from CLI’s local partner university for regular language exchange, cultural connection, and additional Chinese practice. Your péngyou (朋友; friend) is available three hours per week to assist you with your Chinese language study, review class material, and practice spoken Chinese.
The optional CLI Language Pledge helps you create more Chinese-only time in daily life. Wear the wristband when you want to opt in, and remove it whenever you need to opt out. See the bracelet.
CLI awards scholarships for demonstrated need and motivation. Students are encouraged to apply early and include context about their academic goals.
Modern comforts, iconic scenery, and daily life where practicing Chinese happens naturally.
Sitting along the banks of the famed Li River, Guilin is warm, easy to navigate, and approachable. You’ll practice Chinese while ordering noodles, asking for directions, joining activities, and chatting with neighbors, classmates, and teachers.
Its pace makes it easier to build routines, its scenery makes each week memorable, and its local community gives students daily reasons to use Chinese outside class.
Guilin gives students daily opportunities to use Mandarin in practical, memorable ways.
A welcoming local culture makes everyday conversations more approachable.
Enjoy cafes, gyms, parks, markets, and transit without the friction of a megacity.
Travel to Yangshuo, Longsheng, and other nearby destinations during organized trips.
Join cooking lessons, hikes, calligraphy, badminton, market outings, and cultural workshops.
CLI’s local friendship network helps you practice Chinese and build community.
Answers to common questions about credit, terms, housing, and support.
CLI Study Abroad students earn university credit issued by Guangxi Normal University (GXNU). CLI can help you prepare credit transfer materials for your home university.
This program is designed for current university students who want to study Chinese in China while earning transferable university credit.
Yes. Fall and Spring semester pathways support a full university course load, while Summer and Winter sessions offer accelerated intensive study. Academic-year options are also available.
Semester students take GXNU classes plus 5–10 hours per week of CLI one-on-one lessons. Summer and Winter students study 20 hours per week through small group and one-on-one instruction.
Students can choose a private room at CLI, homestay, apartment with Chinese roommates, or private apartment depending on term availability and learning goals.
Email natalie@studycli.org with your home university, target credit total, major, and any course requirements you need to satisfy.
Immerse yourself in Chinese language and culture while earning university credit in Guilin.
Submit your application or write directly to CLI’s Study Abroad coordinator to confirm term fit, credit transfer requirements, housing preferences, and scholarship questions.
Email: natalie@studycli.org
Address: 31 Chaoyang Xilu, Guilin, Guangxi 541004
Choose Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter, or Academic Year based on your credit and calendar goals.
Share your home university requirements so CLI can help map courses and credit totals.
Choose between CLI Center, homestay, local roommate apartment, or private apartment options.
CLI supports visa steps, arrival logistics, orientation, and daily life once you arrive.
