Shanghai is probably the most evocative city for an outsider in the whole of China. Beijing may be more purely, mysteriously Chinese but only Shanghai offers such a heady brew of half-digested images and preconceptions.

For the second city of the world’s oldest surviving ancient civilization, Shanghai is surprisingly new. Literally ‘On the Sea’, Shanghai is a port city on the Huangpu River, where the Yangzi River empties into the East China Sea. The area was marshland until the Song Dynasty (AD 960-1126), when refugees from Mongol and other northern nomad invasions settled the area. By 1291, Shanghai had become a county capital.

The growing city got its wall in 1553 (prophetically, against Japanese pirates) and a customs house in 1685. Shanghai was only thrust into the spotlight in June 1842, when a British sea borne force captured it during the First Opium War. One of five cities pried open to Western colonial trade by the Treaty of Nanjing, Shanghai gained foreign districts controlled by the colonial powers - the British and American Concessions (soon combined as the International Settlement) and the French Concession. This hybrid city boomed as the focus of Chinese colonial trade and Qing Dynasty China uneasily coexisted with Western power for almost a century.

Today, the Yuyuan Gardens in Shanghai’s Old Town is all that remains of the city’s pre-colonial past. Colonial are visible in the period architecture in the French Concession, as well as the grand old buildings - the Customs House, Peace Hotel and Shanghai Club - along the grand parade of the Bund. Across the river from this picture of the past is Shanghai’s future, the Pudong New Area, with the outrageously modern Orient Pearl Tower, containing a museum that traces the city’s rise against seemingly insurmountable odds.

Shanghai has seen a lot of history and has kept many relics of it intact, with municipal conservation policies preserving large swathes of the colonial architectural inheritance. Add to this a city government that has not been too narrowly focused on commerce to neglect wider urban planning issues and the result is one of China’s most elegant cities and certainly its most sophisticated and cosmopolitan.

The Huangpu River separates the old and new Shanghai, with the historic Bund promenade on one side and the futuristic Pudong New Area on other. The Old Town contains some cultural delights, such as the Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar, while Renmin Square is the focus of the city’s Communist tradition, the site of many a protest and home to the Shanghai Government.

Shanghai experiences climatic extremes, with bitter winters and hot and humid summers. The most popular time to study is normally during the autumn, summer or spring months.

It is the participant's responsibility to have a valid passport however we will assist in the acquisition of letter of invitation and processing of Chinese visa and payment of all associated fees. Registration at Embassy and appropriate confirmation and contact information is also included. Visit G3Visas for comprehensive information on visa, passport, permit and general country entry requirements.

Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport is Shanghai’s former principal airport, now supplemented by Pudong Airport, which will be the new hub for international traffic. Traffic from Hong Kong, however - in theory a ‘domestic’ destination - still travels through Honqiao. Official plans called for all of Hongqiao’s international traffic to be transferred to Pudong by October 2002. The airport is situated 18km (11 miles) southwest of central Shanghai, approximately a half-hour taxi ride away.
[return to top]

Shanghai Museum
Yuyuan Gardens and Bazaar
Promenade des Anglais
French Concession (French colonial-era architecture)
Shanghai Municipal History Museum
Renmin Square
Hongkou Park
Longtangs (architecture of Shanghai, a melange of British-style)
Moganshan Mountains
Street life and the city’s pre-colonial past
Century Park, one of the largest urban parks in China
Optional Excursions:Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou & Huangshan
[return to top]

Our school is located in the Old French Concession District (between Huaihai Lu and the jinjiang Hotel).

This is a charming section of the city characterized by leafy tree-lined streets, beautiful, old crumbling European architecture, and crowned by the chic shopping street Huai Hai Middle Road.

The area offers many upscale boutiques, cafes, bars and shopping centers. On the budget side you will discover the Huating Market, a bustling open air market where shoppers bargain hard with the vendors.

The nostalgia of old Shanghai can be felt even more strongly by visiting the residence of Sun Yat-sen and his wife, Soong Qing Ling. Their home has been beautifully preserved and visitors can walk the grounds.

Our new school in Shanghai is centrally located and offers modern facilities with nice classrooms, computer lab with internet access for students and a warm friendly atmosphere.

Our teachers are all university educated and we offer a cultural activity program each week but remains optional.
[return to top]

Standard Program: 4 group lessons daily (20 lessons per week) min. 2 week course.
This is a general Chinese group course designed for all levels. You can start any Monday (except for beginners).

Combined Program: 4 group lessons daily (20 lessons per week) min. 2 week course.
This offers the standard program PLUS 4 private lessons per week in the afternoon (24 lessons per week). The private lessons allow you to go thoroughly into grammar or any of your weak points. You can also choose to study different topics according to your level and in agreement with your teacher.

Standard + Work Experience Program: 4 group lessons daily (20 lessons per week) min. 4 week course, PLUS unpaid work experience in a local Chinese company.
This is a general Chinese group course designed for all levels. You can start any Monday (except for beginners). After you have completed the course, our program allows you to spend 4 to 8 weeks as a trainee in a Chinese company.

The placement fees include the research of the partner company corresponding as much as possible to your selection (it is not always possible to find a placement that matches exactly your choice), the follow-up and a certificate of completion of your experience in a Chinese company. As a trainee you will not be entitled to receive any salary or compensation.

Business Program: 4 group lessons daily PLUS 10 private business lessons per week (30 lessons per week) min. 2 week course.
As you know, one doesn't negotiate in English with Chinese partners. This course is ideally designed for you if your company is doing business with China or if you need to live or travel in China for your job.

In addition to the 20 weekly morning standard lessons, you will attend 10 additional afternoon lessons that will meet your specific business language needs.

These lessons are very practical, realistic and flexible to adjust to your line of business. Your teacher, very experienced, will use case studies, role-plays, formal presentations and simulations to help you acquire the vocabulary and the ease to negotiate in Chinese in your specific field.

Each student will be expected to take a short placement test upon arrival to determine the appropriate class level for the student. The Standard language course is general taught in the mornings Monday through Friday.

Teachers are native speakers and hold University degree's and are trained in teaching Chinese to foreign students. They will help enhance your speaking, listening, grammar and general comprehension skills. They will also use interactive techniques such as role-play, games and perhaps videos to support lesson content. Current political, social and cultural materials are integrated to add interest and increase knowledge of the host country and culture.

After classes are over for the day, our program allows you plenty of time to discover your new country, culture and customs. Our optional cultural and social activities allow you to make new friends among your new classmates, experience cultural activities together and practice your new language skills in real life situations.

The school also offers a Cultural Package for an additional charge (Approx. $12.00) which includes many interesting social and cultural activities.

At the weekend many students arrange to take our optional excursions to local cities or local places of interest. These excursions are slightly more expensive ($10-$30) as they are normally full day or weekend excursions with transport, sometimes meals and entrance fees included. Any excursions are optional and students can use public transport if they wish our school staff are more than willing to assist you in travel or excursion options.
[return to top]

School self catering apartments (private rooms): No meals included.
Our school apartments offer clean and comfortable rooms and facilities normally shared with another student (usually two single rooms per apartment).

The apartments are newly renovated and students will be expected to share the bathroom, kitchen, washing machine, fridge and watercolor. The apartments offer air-conditioning and are located within a 10 minute walk to the school.

Meals are not included in the apartment option, however meals and snacks can be purchased locally in many different facilities or various restaurants.

You have a wide selection of the types of food, which include western style, Chinese and local flavor or fast food. Plan to budget between $8 - $12.00 USD for 3 meals per day. We can organize twin rooms if students are traveling together upon request.

Hotel (3 or 5 star) (private rooms): No meals included.
We can organize hotel accommodation in local hotels but meals are not included.
[return to top]