Learn Chinese
in Xiamen

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.

Islands and Coastal Landmarks

• Gulangyu Island: A UNESCO World Heritage site and pedestrian-only island famous for its European-style colonial architecture. It is known as the “Island of Music” due to its high concentration of pianos and its world-class Piano Museum.
• Sunlight Rock: The highest point on Gulangyu Island, offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the island’s red-roofed buildings and the Xiamen city skyline across the water.
• Huandao Road (Island Ring Road): A scenic coastal promenade popular for cycling and jogging. It connects several sandy beaches and offers views of the Kinmen Islands in the distance.
• Hulishan Fortress: A late 19th-century coastal defense site that houses one of the world’s largest and best-preserved 19th-century Krupp cannons.

Cultural and Academic Sites

• Nanputuo Temple: A millennium-old Buddhist temple at the foot of Wulao Mountain. It is famous for its intricate architecture, lotus ponds, and highly regarded vegetarian cuisine.
• Xiamen University (Xiada): Frequently cited as one of the most beautiful university campuses in China, it features a unique architectural style that blends Western and Chinese elements, set alongside a scenic lake and the ocean.
• Overseas Chinese Museum: A specialized museum detailing the history, struggles, and contributions of the Fujianese diaspora around the world.

Shopping and Artistic Hubs

• Zhongshan Road: A bustling pedestrian street lined with historic “Shiliu” (arcade) buildings. It is the heart of Xiamen’s commercial life and a prime location for trying local Fujianese snacks.
• Zengcuo’an Village: Once a quiet fishing village, it has transformed into a vibrant “creative village” filled with boutique guesthouses, indie art shops, and hundreds of street food stalls.
• Shapowei Art Zone: An old fishing port that has become the city’s trendy cultural hub, featuring renovated warehouses, art galleries, craft breweries, and waterside cafes.
• The Eighth Market (Ba Shi): The city’s oldest and most authentic seafood market, providing a raw look at local life and the freshest daily catches from the Taiwan Strait.

• Oyster Omelet (O-A-Jian): The most iconic Xiamen street food snack. It consists of a savory pancake made with small local oysters, sweet potato starch (for a chewy texture), and eggs, often served with a sweet and spicy sauce.
• Shacha Noodles (Shacha Mian): A signature dish featuring rice vermicelli in a rich, complex broth made from shacha (satay) paste, which includes dried shrimp, fish, peanuts, and various spices. It is often topped with ingredients like shrimp, squid, or pork liver.
• Peanut Soup (Hu Sheng Tang): A traditional breakfast item of peanuts slow-cooked until very tender in a sweet, clear broth. It is often paired with fried dough sticks (youtiao) or other snacks.
• Tuna Spring Rolls (Juantongfan): A unique local snack where a large, thin pancake-like wrapper is filled with a variety of shredded vegetables, seafood (often tuna), and sometimes a sweet sauce, then rolled up.
• Steamed Seafood: Given its coastal location, fresh seafood is central to the cuisine. Steaming is a popular method to prepare fish, crabs, and shrimp, ensuring their natural freshness is the star.
• Fish Ball Soup: Light, clear broth with handmade fish balls that have a springy (bouncy) texture and often a pork filling.
• Glutinous Rice Dumplings (Zongzi): Xiamen-style zongzi are typically savory, filled with marinated pork, mushrooms, and chestnuts, wrapped in bamboo leaves, and steamed.
• Ginger Duck (Jiang Mu Ya): A popular dish, especially in winter, where duck is slow-cooked with a generous amount of ginger in a clay pot until the meat is tender and infused with the warmth and aroma of the ginger.

• Spring (March–May): Spring is mild to warm, though often overcast and foggy, especially in March and April. Temperatures gradually rise from around 11°C to 27°C (52°F to 81°F) and rainfall increases, making an umbrella advisable.
• Summer (June–September): Summers are hot, humid, and the wettest season. Average high temperatures range from 30°C to 34°C (86°F to 93°F). This period also sees the highest probability of typhoons, which can bring heavy rains and strong winds, mainly from July to September.
• Autumn (October–November): Widely considered the best time to visit, autumn is short and pleasant, with less rain and more sunshine than spring. Temperatures are comfortable, typically ranging from 16°C to 29°C (61°F to 84°F).
• Winter (December–February): Winters are mild, relatively dry, and windy near the coast. The coldest month is January, with average temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and highs rarely dropping below 10°C (50°F). Frost and snow are extremely rare occurrences.