Learn Chinese
in Dalian

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Modern Landmarks & Cityscape

• Xinghai Square: Known as the largest urban square in Asia, this waterfront area features a monumental centennial sculpture and is great for evening walks with views of the sea and bridge.
• Zhongshan Square: A historic, Russian-designed circular square ringed by beautiful old colonial-era bank buildings, serving as a central business hub.
• Binhai Road: A famous scenic coastal road that offers stunning drives or walks along wooden boardwalks, connecting various beaches and parks along the southern coast.
• Venice Water City (Donggang): A man-made attraction with European-style architecture, canals, and gondola rides, offering a unique photo opportunity.

Nature, Parks & Beaches

• Laohutan Scenic Park (Tiger Beach): A large marine-themed park combining natural coastal beauty with aquariums and animal shows.
• Dalian Forest Zoo: A large mountainside zoo known for its panda pavilion, an elephant show, and a cable car ride with excellent views.
• Bangchuidao Island Scenic Area: A quiet, scenic beach area with hills and cliffs, known for its clean water and pebbly shore.
• Jinshitan Scenic Area (Golden Pebble Beach): A national tourism resort featuring beaches, a geo-park with unique rock formations, and museums.

History & Culture

• Russian Style Street: A street featuring a concentration of Russian-style buildings, shops, and restaurants, showcasing the city’s colonial past.

Seafood Specialties: The city is a paradise for seafood lovers, known for its fresh catches.

• Steamed Scallops: Fresh scallops are often steamed with minimal seasonings like ginger and garlic to preserve their natural, light flavor, and sometimes served on a base of tender egg white.
• Stir-fried/Braised Prawns: Large, fresh prawns are stir-fried with ginger, spring onion, and spices, resulting in a tender dish with a bright, “red flower” appearance.
• Lantern-shaped Steamed Abalone: Abalone is delicately sliced and steamed, preserving its fresh flavor, and often served with a simmering shellfish soup.
• Grilled Sleeve-Fish: A popular street food item where whole squid (sleeve-fish) are grilled and seasoned with a mix of mashed garlic and chili sauce.

Local Snacks and Street Food:

• Men Zi: A traditional and highly popular local snack made from a protein-rich extract (similar to sweet potato starch) that is coagulated, cut into pieces, pan-fried until crispy on the outside, and served with a garlic and sesame sauce.
• Salted Fish and Corn Pancake (Xian Yu Bing’Zi): A traditional snack originating from fishermen, consisting of baked salted fish served alongside a crisp corn pancake.
• Sea Urchin Dumplings: Dumplings filled with fresh purple sea urchin are a local delicacy, known for bursting with ocean flavor.
• Northeastern (Dongbei) Cuisine: Influenced by the cold climate of Northeast China, these dishes are known for their heavy flavors and large quantities.
• Braised Dishes: Hearty stews of thick pork meat braised with potatoes, mushrooms, and vermicelli are common comfort food, especially in winter.

• Spring (March–May): Spring sees temperatures rise from near freezing to a comfortable 20°C (68°F) by May. It is a transitional period, with increasing rainfall and occasional wind, making it a good time to see the city in bloom.
• Summer (June–September): This is the warmest and wettest season. Summers are relatively comfortable compared to other Chinese cities, with average high temperatures in July and August around 27°C (81°F). Most of the year’s rain falls during this period, often at night.
• Autumn (October–November): Autumn is widely considered an excellent time to visit, characterized by cool, dry, and pleasant weather. The humidity and rainfall decrease significantly, and temperatures are mild, ranging from around 20°C in September to 6°C by November.
• Winter (December–February): Winters are cold, dry, and windy. January is the coldest month, with average low temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and highs around 0°C (32°F). Snowfall is light, but warm clothing is necessary for outdoor activities like skiing or winter swimming.