Learn Chinese
in Chongqing

If you're surrounded by a completely Chinese-speaking environment every day, seeing only Chinese characters and hearing only Chinese, your Chinese will improve very quickly. Furthermore, with Sojourn Abroad's professional Chinese courses, under the guidance of expert Chinese teachers, your Chinese will improve significantly.

When you live and learn Chinese in China, you'll be able to buy fresh fruit in Chinese at the market every day, order your favorite food in Chinese at snack shops, and participate in various Chinese activities and parties. What a vibrant and fulfilling life that would be!

There is no best city. You can choose the city that best fits your preference. All Sojourn Abroad programs have the same price for Chinese language lessons. No matter which city you choose, the tuition fee stays the same. However, the living expenses vary. For example, in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, accommodation costs will be higher than in other cities.

Other factors you need to consider include the city's scale, weather, cuisine, etc. All Sojourn Abroad cities are carefully selected to help you fully understand and experience China. Delve into Chinese culture deeply by living in one place for some time, and you will fall in love with this country.

All Chinese classes at Sojourn Abroad are taught by professional teachers, so with classroom learning combined with extracurricular practice, your Chinese will improve very quickly.

If you have never studied Chinese before, it usually takes 1-3 months of study before you can use Chinese in your life.

With 3-6 months of study, you will have virtually no problem communicating in Chinese while living in China.

No matter which city you choose, the tuition fee is always 280 USD/week. That includes 15 group Chinese classes per week.

Unlike university programs that you have to start at a specific time, all Sojourn Abroad programs offer the flexibility that you can start the program on any Monday throughout the year. We will offer a placement test before you start the program and recommend the class that best matches your level.

You will take 3 small group classes every day Monday to Friday, so 15 classes per week. One class is 40 minutes.

Unlike university programs, all Sojourn Abroad Chinese language programs can be from 2 weeks to 2 years. It is suitable for short-term stays and ideal for long-term living. You can choose the program length according to your needs.

To ensure all students have the opportunity to practice speaking in class, we ensure that each class has no more than 10 students. Through the teachers' diverse and engaging teaching methods, students thoroughly enjoy interacting with their classmates, encouraging and helping each other, and becoming good friends.

We have 4 levels:

• Beginner: for students who have never studied Chinese or have studied a little.
• Elementary: for students who are around HSK 1 to 2.
• Intermediate: for students who are around HSK 3 to 4.
• Advanced: for students who are around HSK 5 to 6.

We recommend that you take a Chinese course with Sojourn Abroad for 1 to 2 years to achieve fluency in Chinese.

Because Sojourn Abroad offers Chinese courses in over 18 cities across China, you can change cities every two months to maximize your experience of different cultures and customs while improving your Chinese proficiency.

Yes, absolutely. Sojourn Abroad aims to provide you with the best Mandarin learning experience. We make sure that you are truly making progress and learning new things. Just tell your assistant at SA, and she/he will help you switch.

Sojourn Abroad offers homestay and apartment hunting services. If you need help with finding an apartment, SA charges a one-time fee of USD 600. This includes

• Property viewing (taking you to see different apartments).
• Help with signing the contract (help translate items).
• Help with calling for repair of property defects during the contract period (repair fee not included).

If the rent exceeds USD 600, the service fee will be equivalent to one month's rent.

Close to the school are many affordable hotels and hostels, which are ideal for short-term stays.

If you need help with finding an apartment, SA charges a one-time fee of USD 600. This includes

• Property viewing (taking you to see different apartments).
• Help with signing the contract (help translate items).
• Help with calling for repair of property defects during the contract period (repair fee not included).

If the rent exceeds USD 600, the service fee will be equivalent to one month's rent.

Before you arrive:

• Email us the number of bedrooms, budget, and how long for the rent
• Pay the apartment hunting service fee
• Book a hotel for 2 to 3 days, allowing us to take you to see the available apartments after you arrive

After you arrive:

• Check into your temporary hotel
• We will take you to check out the apartments and confirm the rent
• Sign the contract
• Pay the rent
• Move in

Yes! Sojourn Abroad is legally registered and licensed. We are able to provide the necessary documents for you to apply for tourist visas or student visas. Taking a Chinese language course with Sojourn Abroad is the best solution for people who want to live in China for the long term.

• Hongya Cave: This stunning complex of traditional stilted buildings becomes a glowing, magical sight when illuminated at night, offering excellent views of the Jialing River.
• Yangtze River Cableway: Ride this iconic cable car across the Yangtze River for a thrilling, mid-air perspective of the city’s unique vertical landscape and bridges.
• Liziba Metro Station: A unique engineering wonder where the light rail train passes directly through a residential building’s sixth and seventh floors.
• Jiefangbei Pedestrian Street: Located in the central business district, this bustling area is a hub for shopping, dining, and experiencing Chongqing’s vibrant urban life.
• Raffles City Chongqing: Marvel at this architectural landmark known for its “Crystal” sky bridge that spans across multiple high-rise buildings, offering impressive panoramic city and river views.
• Ciqikou Ancient Town: Wander through the narrow, stone-paved streets of this thousand-year-old ancient town to experience a glimpse of traditional Chongqing life.
• Three Gorges Museum: This comprehensive museum showcases the history of the Ba-Yu culture, relics from the Three Gorges area, and the city’s history during the Anti-Japanese War.
• Dazu Rock Carvings: A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring an impressive collection of intricate Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian stone carvings dating back to the 7th century.
• Wulong Karst National Geology Park: A UNESCO World Natural Heritage site known for its stunning natural landscapes, including the magnificent Three Natural Bridges.
• Yangtze River Cruise: A classic way to experience the breathtaking scenery of the famed Three Gorges from Chongqing.
• Chongqing Zoo: A great family destination to see the iconic giant pandas and other rare species in their enclosures.

• Chongqing Hot Pot: The emblem of Chongqing’s diet culture, this communal dish features a rich, fiery red broth (often made with beef tallow) kept simmering at the table, into which diners cook various meats, offal, vegetables, and tofu.
• Chongqing Noodles (Xiao Mian): A beloved street food staple, these thin, chewy alkaline noodles are typically served in a bowl with a complex, spicy, and numbing sauce, often topped with minced meat, peanuts, and pickled vegetables.
• Hot and Sour Rice Noodles (Suan La Fen): A popular snack consisting of thick sweet potato vermicelli in a spicy and tangy broth, garnished with cilantro, crushed peanuts, and pickled vegetables.
• Chongqing Spicy Chicken (La Zi Ji): Free-range chicken pieces are deep-fried until crisp and then stir-fried with an intense amount of dried chilies, garlic, and Sichuan peppercorns.
• Boiled Fish (Shui Zhu Yu): Tender fish slices are briefly simmered in a spicy, douban-based broth and finished with a final pour of smoking-hot oil to release the aroma of chilies and Sichuan pepper.
• Maoxuewang (Spicy Offal Stew): This bold dish is a hearty stew made with a variety of ingredients like duck blood curd, tripe, and bean sprouts in a rich, numbing, and spicy broth.
• Grilled Fish (Kao Yu): Fresh fish (carp or catfish) is first grilled over charcoal and then stewed in a bubbling sauce filled with spices, garlic, and chilies.
• Chongqing Wontons (Chao Shou): Delicate pork wontons served in a spicy red chili oil sauce or a clear, rich chicken-pork broth.
• Glutinous Rice Balls (Tang Yuan): A popular dessert of small, soft rice balls with sweet fillings like black sesame or peanut paste, often served in a sweet brown sugar soup

• Spring (March to May): Spring is a transition period with gradually rising temperatures and frequent, sharp temperature changes. The weather is generally mild and pleasant, but also often foggy, with increasing rainfall as the season progresses.

Average Temperatures: 15°C to 26°C (59°F to 79°F).

• Summer (June to August/September): Summers are long, hot, and extremely humid. The surrounding mountains of the Sichuan Basin trap the heat, making the perceived temperature feel even higher, often exceeding 35°C (95°F). This is also the rainy season, with the most precipitation occurring in June and July.

Average Temperatures: 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F), with extreme highs sometimes reaching 44°C (111°F).

• Autumn (September to November): Autumn is widely considered one of the best times to visit. The oppressive heat of summer fades, leaving cool, comfortable weather and clear skies. Humidity is still relatively high, and fog can be frequent.

Average Temperatures: 16°C to 29°C (61°F to 84°F).

• Winter (December to February): Winters are relatively short and milder compared to northern China, but they are damp, cold, and often overcast. The high humidity makes the chill feel more severe, though snowfall is rare in the urban area. Foggy mornings are very common during this period.

Average Temperatures: 6°C to 10°C (43°F to 50°F).