You can choose to study Chinese in Xi’an 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.
Dorm accommodation is included.
Private Room with Private Bathroom







Choose Xi’an to learn Chinese where the language is imbued with timeless history. As the ancient capital, the city offers a profound cultural context that breathes life into your studies. Here, you don’t just learn words; you discover their soul. Practice Mandarin with the city’s welcoming locals, whose clear accent provides the perfect model. From the shadow of the City Wall to the vibrant energy of its food alleys, every interaction becomes a vivid, immersive lesson, transforming your linguistic journey into an unforgettable experience of living culture.
Immerse yourself in the language where ancient dynasties once spoke it, and every conversation echoes with the legacy of the Silk Road.























No visit to Xi’an is complete without witnessing the Terracotta Army, one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. This immense collection of life-sized, meticulously crafted soldiers, chariots, and horses was built to guard China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, in the afterlife. Each figure is unique, with distinct facial features and expressions. Standing before the vast pits, you feel the weight of ancient ambition and power. It is not just a sight to see, but a profound historical encounter that showcases the incredible artistry and organization of a civilization over 2,200 years ago.
The magnificent Xi’an City Wall is the most complete ancient fortification surviving in China. Stretching 8.5 miles around the city’s core, it offers a unique perspective of Xi’an’s blend of old and new. The best way to experience it is by renting a bicycle for a leisurely ride along the broad, cobbled top. As you cycle, you gaze down upon traditional courtyards and modern high-rises, feeling the pulse of the city from a timeless vantage point. A walk or ride on the wall at dusk, when the lanterns are lit, is an especially magical and serene experience.
Immerse yourself in a sensory feast at the bustling Muslim Quarter. This vibrant network of alleyways, centered around the historic Great Mosque, is the heart of Xi’an’s Hui community and its culinary soul. The air is thick with the aroma of sizzling spices and grilled meats. Here, you can sample iconic street foods like yangrou paomo (lamb and bread soup) and sweet persimmon cakes. It’s a place where commerce and culture have thrived for centuries, offering a lively, unforgettable glimpse into the diverse tapestry that has defined Xi’an since its days as the Silk Road’s start.
An iconic symbol of Xi’an, the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda stands as a serene testament to the city’s profound Buddhist history. Built in the Tang Dynasty, it housed the sacred scriptures and Buddhist relics brought from India by the monk Xuanzang, whose epic journey inspired Journey to the West. The elegant, squared pagoda rises majestically from a beautifully landscaped complex. Climbing its steps rewards you with a panoramic view of the modern city. The nearby North Square comes alive at night with the magnificent performance of the largest musical fountains in Asia, creating a stunning contrast of ancient and contemporary.
To fully understand the context of Xi’an’s ancient wonders, begin your journey at the Shaanxi History Museum. Often described as a “cultural pearl,” its magnificent Tang-style architecture houses a treasure trove of over 370,000 relics. The exhibits guide you chronologically through the region’s history, from primitive societies through the glorious Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties. Here, you’ll see exquisite bronze ware, majestic terracotta figures, and stunning gold and silver artifacts up close. It provides the essential narrative that connects all of Xi’an’s sites, making it an invaluable and enlightening prelude to your exploration.
This is Xi’an’s most iconic dish, a hearty and interactive culinary experience. Diners first break a hard, flatbread into tiny pieces in a bowl, a ritual that requires patience. The shredded bread is then taken back to the kitchen and steeped in a rich, aromatic broth made from lamb, simmered for hours with a blend of spices. It is returned to you as a thick, flavorful stew, topped with tender slices of lamb, vermicelli noodles, and a sprinkle of fresh herbs. Eating Yang Rou Pao Mo is not just a meal; it’s a deep dive into the soul of Xi’an’s Hui Muslim food culture, offering warmth and comfort in every spoonful.
Often called the “Chinese hamburger,” the Roujiamo is a deceptively simple masterpiece. It consists of a “mo,” a flatbread that is first baked in a clay oven until crispy on the outside and soft inside, then split open. It’s stuffed with finely chopped, stewed meat—typically pork belly, but lamb or beef are also common. The meat is seasoned with a secret blend of up to 20 spices and slow-cooked for hours until it becomes incredibly tender and juicy. The result is a perfect textural contrast and a burst of savory flavor, making it the ultimate handheld street food.
Famous for its complex, uncomputerizable Chinese character, BiangBiang Mian is a noodle dish that is as dramatic as its name. These are “belt” noodles, hand-pulled to an impressive width and length. Their thickness gives them a wonderfully chewy and satisfying texture. They are served tossed in a vibrant, scorching-hot chili oil that sizzles upon contact, along with garlic, vinegar, and soy sauce. Topped with spices and meat, each wide, slippery noodle delivers a powerful punch of flavor. It is a robust, peasant-style dish that embodies the bold and unpretentious spirit of Shaanxi cuisine.
A quintessential cold dish, Liangpi is the perfect refreshment, especially during hot summers. It is made from wheat or rice flour, which is washed to create a starch that is then steamed into soft, chewy sheets or noodles. These cold skin noodles are served tossed in a bright, tangy sauce based on vinegar and mustard, with a kick of chili oil that can be adjusted to taste. Mixed with gluten pieces and fresh bean sprouts or cucumber shreds, it offers a delightful mix of textures. Its refreshing, spicy, and sour profile makes it an irresistibly light and addictive meal.
The tuition fee includes:
We also offer a list of free services for studying in Xi’an:
Keats offers free lunch Monday to Friday at the school Monday to Friday.
Xi’an is a food lover’s paradise, renowned for its bold flavors and unique snacks. Your first stop must be the Muslim Quarter, the vibrant heart of the city’s street food scene. Here, you can feast on iconic dishes like Yang Rou Pao Mo (a hearty, interactive lamb and bread soup) and the famous Roujiamo (a crispy flatbread stuffed with savory meat, often called a Chinese hamburger).
For a more local, less touristy experience, head to Sajinqiao, a nearby network of alleys favored by residents. It offers a similar array of delicious food in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Don’t miss the chance to try Xi’an’s incredible noodle dishes. Slurp on a bowl of Biángbiáng Miàn—thick, belt-like noodles topped with chili oil and spices—or sample the sour and spicy Liangpi (cold skin noodles).
It is also no problem to only take the one-on-one lessons in Xi’an. The tuition fee without accommodation is USD 700/week for 20 hours of one-on-one lessons, and USD 1050/week for 30 hours of one-on-one lessons.
This is my second time coming. Last year, I also came for about 12 weeks. This time I came for 13 weeks of a summer program in China. The reason why I particularly want to come to this school was because of the one-on-one classes. I was able to increase my level and learn Chinese more quickly than in group classes. If I have a chance again to come next year, I certainly will.
Listening and speaking in the classroom every day has improved my communication skills. After three weeks, my new words and sentences became more and more natural and fluent. Now I am used to thinking in Chinese, and I understand better what other people say, to be able to have real conversations with other people.
I can’t tell you how much I liked it. The thing I liked about the teachers and the teaching method is that there is so much flexibility. The other thing I liked about the teaching is the combination of classic textbook learning and going outside. I loved it! I like getting to know other students. Everybody shared the same goal and that’s making their Chinese better. Kunming is a big city, but it is very safe to live here. Another thing I liked about Keats is the idea that people here help you. I can’t recommend it enough. I think it was a valuable experience. Looking forward to coming back!
I found Keats to be very good, teachers are excellent and really take the students seriously. Kunming is the best place to learn Mandarin in China. The environment is awesome, no pollution. The air quality is great, good weather. The people here are very friendly. I come to take classes every day. I feel comfortable studying Chinese at Keats. I learned so many things, although I only studied at Keats for 2 months. I am really satisfied with my teacher. For us foreigners, Keats is the best Chinese school in China. Therefore, I would highly recommend Keats to all of you.
It has been notable because I have met a lot of people who I met first time last year like me to come back to Keats this year. The teaching has been fantastic. The teachers carefully prepare each lesson. I think this one-on-one approach is really a great way to rapidly increase your level of Chinese and increase your confidence and fluency with the language.
It doesn’t matter what level of Chinese you have, or even you can start from the zero level. Your teacher will prepare the lessons according to your requirements. The advantage of living in the school is that you will have your tutoring, you will have your private accommodation with your own bathroom and all the meals provided. I highly recommend everybody to actually take the whole package because you get to meet other students.
I have really enjoyed the Chinese course in China at Keats and meeting the teachers here and the students. We have a lot of fun in class. It is a really great school to learn with good teaching methods and a really good textbook, examples and games, and everything.
My name is Sarah Fish. I am 81. I knew very little Chinese when I arrived. How was I going to survive 2 weeks of intensive Chinese course? I have to laugh when I think of that now. What a positive experience this has been! I really wish we could be here a little longer. The teachers are extremely encouraging, evaluating first how much someone knows, and then starting from there.