China is both an ancient civilization and an emerging world superpower. It’s the place to develop or perfect your Mandarin, but students of Art, History, Architecture, and Business will be equally fascinated by modern China. A vast nation, China stretches from the Mongolian steppes in the north to Hong Kong in the south, and from the east-coast cities of Beijing and Shanghai to the Tibetan plateau and the foothills of the Himalayas. Man-made highlights include the terracotta army in Xian, Beijing’s Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven, and of course the Great Wall. But what’s most fascinating about China, perhaps, is its extraordinary recent growth. Barely three decades removed from the death of Chairman Mao and the end of his Cultural Revolution the country seems poised to become the world’s largest economy. How did they do it? The only answer is to come and see for yourself! A semester or a full year in China will barely give you time to appreciate the subtle diversity of China—or taste the full range of its delicious cuisine.

Situated on the northern tip of the North China Plain, Beijing is flanked by mountains to the north and west which shield the city from the encroaching desert steppes.  It is the political, educational, and cultural center of China and the nation's most populous city with over 15 million residents.  The architecture and museums found in Beijing trace the country's history from its earliest days up to the present. 

Program Description

Students on the CIEE Beijing program will study at the CIEE center located on the Peking University campus.  A key institution of higher learning in China PKU enrolls more than 30,000 students and is highly regarded for its academics and its blend of modern and traditional architectural styles.  The Intensive Chinese Language program is designed for students with 3-6 semesters of Chinese language study who want to develop advanced communicative skills in Mandarin.  The Peking University Center or Teaching Chinese offers over 8 different language levels and the largest selection of Chinese language electives in China. In addition to the in class learning opportunities students will also be assigned to one-on-one language tutorials with Peking University peer tutors.

Information at a Glance

• Academics

• Academic Calendar

• Accommodations and Meals

• Excursions

• Program Costs

• Scholarships

• Travel Brochure

For more information about this program, please visit the CIEE: Beijing Intensive Chinese Language website.