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LEARN CHINESE IN DALI
Your Language Journey Starts Here!

Chinese Language Courses in Dali

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes
HSK Test Preparation Course
Chinese Language Course + Tour in China
Study Tour in China (for groups)
Learn Chinese Online

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

  • Personal study plans
  • Best teachers and private lessons
  • Full immersion experience
  • Full services (study + single room accommodation)
  • Start on any Monday

HSK Test Preparation Course

  • Start anytime
  • HSK experts with years of experience
  • Get test scores improved significantly
  • Intensive one-on-one Chinese class
  • Full services (study + single room accommodation)

Chinese Language Course + Tour in China

  • Private one-on-one Chinese lessons
  • Full services (study + accommodation)
  • Excursions and tours with your teacher
  • Travel to Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-la, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, etc.

Study Tour in China (for groups)

  • Designed for high schools, universities, companies, and organizations
  • Chinese course with group activities
  • Professional Chinese teachers
  • A true Chinese immersion experience

Learn Chinese Online

  • Live 1-on-1 online Chinese lessons
  • Learn Chinese online anytime
  • Study Mandarin anywhere
  • Professional Chinese teachers
  • Personal study plans

Intensive One-on-one Chinese Lesson

You can choose to study Chinese in Dali for 4 hours per day (20 hours/week) or 6 hours per day (30 hours/week). If you want to study Mandarin in China, the intensive one-on-one Chinese course is the fastest way to improve your Chinese.

We use unique teaching methods developed by Keats. Your Chinese teacher(s) will prepare your lessons according to your level of Chinese and your learning goals to ensure that you learn the most Chinese in the shortest possible time.

Accommodation is included.

Accommodation in Dali

  • Single room accommodation with private bathroom
  • Clean, safe, and comfortable
  • Close to the Honglongjing Gate of the Dali Ancient Town
  • Study, live and eat in one school building

Keats Dali Campus

Private Room with Private Bathroom
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Why Learn Chinese in Dali?

Experience Dali, where nature’s grandeur meets ancient charm, for an unforgettable journey into the heart of beauty. By having an immersive Chinese class here, you can enjoy both studying and sightseeing simultaneously.

It is also one of the primary residences of the Bai Ethnic Group. Its history stretches back to the kingdom of Nanzhao (8th century).

The old walled city from the Ming dynasty contains traditional homes and towers from the Bai ethnic minority.

Dali is a great place to explore traditional Chinese culture and minority culture while learning Chinese in China.

Beautiful Scenery in Dali

Dali, a symphony of serene lake waters and majestic mountains, is a timeless masterpiece of nature's artistry.
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How to Get to Dali?

Different types of transportation in China can be chosen when traveling to Dali to learn Chinese.

Dali City is located in western Yunnan, approximately 160 miles northwest of the provincial capital of Kunming.

You can take a flight to arrive in Kunming first and then take the high-speed train from Kunming to Dali, which takes around 2 hours. The train ticket is around RMB 150 yuan. 

The scenery along the way is stunningly beautiful. You cannot miss it if you are a mountain lover.

We offer train station pick-up and drop-off for free.

Over 10000 Students Have Studied at Keats

Students' Testimonials

Places to Visit in Dali - Three Pagodas

Located in the Chongsheng Temple, the Three Pagodas in Dali have more than 1800 years of history. As its name implies, the Three Pagodas are three ancient independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle. It’s said that nine kings of the Dali Kingdom chose to be a Chongsheng monastery in the temple. The Three Pagodas are a symbol of the history of Dali and a record of the development of Buddhism in the area. When visiting the Three Pagodas, you can see the beauty of Erhai lake.

Places to Visit in Dali - Erhai Lake

After taking intensive one-on-one Chinese classes, you may want to put yourself into a natural environment to relax your body and mind. The Dali campus is 15 minutes’ walk to the Erhai lake.

Erhai Lake is the largest highland lake next to Dianchi (Kunming) and China’s seven biggest freshwater lakes. Its name 洱海 means ‘sea shaped like an ear’ in Chinese, implying that the lake is ear-shaped and as large as a sea. There are some small islands worth exploring along Erhai Lake. Learning Chinese in Dali offers an excellent opportunity to walk or jog along the lake bank early in the morning or evening.

Places to Visit in Dali - Xizhou Village

Dali Xizhou Ancient Town is located in the northern part of Dali City, Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Hundreds of residential buildings built by the Bai minority with their architectural characteristics are standing here and waiting for you to visit. People often visit the houses of the Yan family and the Yang family. Wandering on the streets of Xizhou is like walking into a residential building museum. Along the streets, the tie-dye stands layout, the bougainvillea popping out of the wall, the fragrance of Xizhou pan-fried cake, the children chasing and playing on the street corner… all of these ordinary details integrated as a breath of history and culture rushes towards you when walking through the town.

Places to Visit in Dali - Shaxi Ancient Town

Dali Shaxi Ancient Town is located in Jianchuan County. It is the only surviving ancient bazaar on the ancient Yunnan-Tibet Ancient Tea-Horse Road, which is essential for transporting and trading medicinal tea materials, silk fabrics, and salt. In ancient times, trading by horse driving was an adventurous business. Away from the harsh snow-capped mountains, valleys, and rapids, Si Deng Street of Shaxi town was like a “paradise” to those hard-working caravans. With the improvement of the modern highway network and the development of transportation, Shaxi town gradually declined due to its distance from the main traffic lines. Although poverty and backwardness hindered the development of Shaxi, it allowed the ancient stage and shops with a history of about 600 years to be preserved and eventually became valuable cultural heritage.

Places to Visit in Dali - Dali Ancient Town

Do you like walking on the ancient town street, especially after several hours of Chinese language study at Keats School? Then you can go to visit the Dali Ancient Town.

The ancient town of Dali is located at the foot of the beautiful Cangshan Mountain. It was once the capital city of the ancient Nanzhao Kingdom and the Dali Kingdom. This is a beautiful place for people who want to enjoy a slow-paced life. With the sunshine glowing and the comfortable temperature, you can relax down here. It is enjoyable to stroll around the local shops in the ancient town and visit the ancient buildings. During the lunar month of March and April, there will be many festivals celebrated in Dali. The famous “March Street” is the most lively one among them.

Things To Do in Dali - Biking Around the Erhai Lake

Biking around Erhai Lake is the most relaxing way to appreciate its scenery. Erhai Lake is translated as 洱海 ěr hǎi in Chinese and is the seven largest freshwater lake in China, with an area of 265.5 square kilometers. Though it is a lake, local Bai group people prefer calling it the sea, for they have rare opportunities to know what a natural sea looks like, so they naturally take this giant lake as the sea. Erhai Lake is just a pool of clear blue water with tranquility and an essential part of the local ecological circle. By biking around the lake, you can experience both natural and cultural touring sites along the way.

Things To Do in Dali - Explore the Minority Bai Tie-Dyeing

You can try to make the Tie-dyeing handicraft here when learning Chinese in Dali, China.

Tie-dyeing is an ancient textile dyeing technique in China from the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture retains this traditional technique, and the tie-dyeing industry of the Zhoucheng Bai group is the most famous. Tie-dyeing generally takes white cotton cloth or cotton-linen blended cloth as raw materials, and the dye is mainly blue indigo plant. The critical technology of Bai Tie-dyeing is the twisting technique and dyeing technique. The Bai minority group has a variety of tie-dye that boasts both aesthetic value and practical functions. The Bai Tie-dyeing is featured evenly distributed patterns and an auspicious theme.

Over 10000 Students Have Studied at Keats

Students' Testimonials

Cuisine in Dali - Spicy and Sour Fish Soup 酸汤鱼

What to order in a Chinese restaurant when studying Mandarin in Dali?

Shuanglang is the birthplace of the famous Dali Spicy and Sour Fish Soup. There have been human activities since ancient times. They inhabited Erhai Lake and preyed on fish in Erhai Lake. So fish meat became the primary source of their daily foods. After thousands of years of evolution and accumulation, fishermen add papaya, chili, tofu, yam, and other ingredients when cooking fresh fish, gradually forming this traditional Dali delicacy. As the name indicates, this famous Spicy and Sour Fish soup tastes both spicy and sour with a refreshing flavor.

Cuisine in Dali – Weizhou Sticky rice noodles 巍州扒肉饵丝

People in southern China like to eat rice, and Dali is not an exception. Therefore, the staple food of Dali is mainly rice or rice products, such as sticky rice noodles and sticky rice cake. One of the most famous local dishes is the Weizhou sticky rice noodles. This dish uses fresh, top-quality pork meat. The pork meat will be slow-cooked for a long time until the meat gets soft and fall apart tenderly. This dish is rich and delicious but not greasy at all.

Cuisine in Dali – Milk Cheese Fan 乳扇

The milk cheese fan is a sort of cheese food popular in the northwestern Yunnan province. As the name indicates, it is made of milk. The milk cheese fan is cream-colored and shaped like a folding fan, so the locals named it the Milk Cheese Fan. You can eat it raw or cook it by frying or roasting it. It can also be cooked with Yunnan ham as a formal dish. Milk Cheese Fan can also be chopped up and added to the boiled tea drink to serve as the sweet tea, the second course of the famous Dali Three Courses Tea.

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FAQ

How to Get to Dali?

Dali City is located in western Yunnan, approximately 160 miles northwest of the provincial capital of Kunming.

You can take a flight to arrive in Kunming first and then take the high-speed train from Kunming to Dali, which takes around 2 hours. The train ticket is around RMB 150 yuan. 

The scenery along the way is stunningly beautiful. You cannot miss it if you are a mountain lover.

We offer train station pick-up and drop-off for free.

What's the year around temperature in Dali?

Dali, located in Yunnan province, China, enjoys a mild climate with a year-round average temperature of around 15°C (59°F). It has a notable characteristic of not being too hot in summer, usually around 22°C (72°F), and not too cold in winter, typically around 8°C (46°F). However, temperatures can vary greatly between day and night. It’s always recommended to check the latest weather forecast before planning your visit.

What does the tuition fee include?

The tuition fee includes:

  • 4/6 hours of one-on-one Chinese lessons per day, Monday to Friday
  • Accommodation (A clean and safe single room with a private bathroom)
  • Program Certificate

We also offer a list of free services for studying in Dali:

  • Three meals a day, Monday to Friday
  • Airport/train station pick-up and drop-off
  • Internet access use without limit
  • Saturday excursions
  • Laundry
  • A tour of the surroundings (bank, supermarket, post office etc.)
  • Medicine for minor illnesses
  • Advisors available to offer help
  • 24/7 support
  • Access to The Chairman’s Bao online learning platform
  • Visa application assistance
  • Room cleaning every week
Where is Keats located in Dali?

Keats is located close to the Honglongjing Gate of the Dali Ancient Town. 

The Honglongjing Gate is on the western side of Dali Ancient Town, where the Honglongjing water street runs from the West City Wall down to Fuxing Road, the town’s main north-south commercial artery. This means you can enter through the gate, follow the water downhill, and exit directly onto the main street. The South Gate of the old town is roughly a 10-minute walk away.

Major sites cluster within a few hundred meters. The Dali Museum, the Stele Forest, and the Dali Catholic Church are all within 330-680 meters of the gate. The Confucian Temple and Wuhua Tower are further along Fuxing Road. You are not making a special trip to a remote corner; you are at the doorstep of the old town’s cultural core.

Living near Honglongjing Gate makes visiting March Street exceptionally convenient. From the Honglongjing area, you can take bus lines C7 or C10 directly to the March Street area, with a ride of roughly 14 minutes. You can also walk there.

The March Street market itself is remarkable for several reasons:

A 1,300-year-old living tradition

March Street began in the Tang Dynasty and has continued for over 1,300 years. It was inscribed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008. The poet Xu Xiake recorded its bustle in the Ming Dynasty, writing that “goods from thirteen provinces all arrive here”.

The three enduring themes: horse racing, singing, and trading

These three activities have defined March Street for centuries. The horse racing fair features speed races, mounted archery, and other traditional equestrian events. Folk performances include Dali cave music, storytelling ballads, and antiphonal singing under the big green trees.

A massive marketplace with nine themed zones

The festival sets up over 600 booths across nine themed areas, covering Yunnan specialty products, intangible heritage foods, Chinese medicinal herbs, and local famous brands. The street is especially famous for its medicinal herb market, which dates back to the Nanzhao period and remains one of Yunnan’s largest temporary herb markets.

The signature food: Yongping braised chicken

This golden, aromatic dish is a March Street staple. Single stalls can sell hundreds of chickens in a day during the festival. Other local specialties include rushan (grilled cheese), Xizhou baba, and various wild mushroom dishes when in season.

A dual rhythm: weekly market and annual festival

Beyond the grand annual festival (usually late April to early May), March Street also holds a regular market on the 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd of each lunar month. This gives you a recurring, low-pressure opportunity to practice Mandarin with local vendors while browsing fresh produce and traditional goods.

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OVER 10000+ STUDENTS HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

Sarah testimonial for keats chinese school

Sarah | Dubai

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My teachers are all excellent. They trained the teachers so professionally. I feel like I learn very quickly with my teacher. They are very serious about their students and I know every teacher is like this. I would highly recommend that you come to Keats if you are looking for the best Chinese school in China.

Sanny | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I have to say it’s tons of fun. I have been here for 2 weeks. Not knowing what it was gonna be like, I was more than surprised at how great it is. The teachers are great, they are understanding. They do a Chinese language program that suits just you. The location is perfect for learning Chinese in China.

星河明 | Japan

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I took the one-on-one Intensive Chinese class for 6 hours a day. The classes are very interesting. The teachers are caring and the content the teacher teaches me is suitable for my level. It is an easy way to learn Mandarin. I have a lot of time practicing Chinese in class. The food is great here. I have improved my Chinese through this program at Keats.

Simon testimonial for keats chinese school

Simon | UK & France

Small Group Chinese Class

The visa application was really straightforward, because Keats School helps us a lot with that. Keats has a big emphasis on conversational practice, so we learn a lot of vocabulary and daily life plans which is very convenient for us to go around town and speak with Chinese people which is the whole point of learning Chinese in China.

Dr. Med. Beatrice | Austria

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I decided to learn Chinese in Kunming because I like smaller cities and I like the climate here. We had four hours a day study here and my dear teacher taught me very much and never lost her patience with me. It was a really wonderful experience to be here and I recommend Keats school and the teachers here to everyone who likes to learn Chinese in China.

Alibaba | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

Kunming is a fantastic city. The weather here is great. The school is excellent. The instructors are very helpful, very friendly. I strongly recommend that anybody who is looking for a Chinese language school in China come here to study. Kunming and Keats school are much better than any other place.

Mike | Australia

Small Group Chinese Class

I think Kunming is a great city, the weather is really good. I really like Keats school and found it is very organized. The teachers here are very good. They have a coffee shop and new classrooms, a new lounge area here now, so you can chill out with your friends and practice your spoken Chinese with natives. If you’re considering coming to Keats to study, I would really recommend it. It’s the best place to learn Mandarin and I think it will be a great experience for you.

 

Jope testimonial for keats chinese school

Joep | Netherlands

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I have been to Keats School to learn Chinese for 4 times now. The reason for coming back to this school is pretty much that the teachers I did work with were very good Chinese teachers. I make it a 5-year plan or even a 10-year plan to come back to this school.  All the teachers have methods of looking at what your skills are. They are aware of at what level you are. I think it is worth for everyone.

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