Hutong School Shanghai

Wuding Road No. 881, Bldg 1, 5/F, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China 上海市静安区武定路881弄1座5层, Shanghai, China
courses

All courses

Hutong School Shanghai offers the following course types:

starting at
$208

starting at
$666

starting at
$1,925

starting at
$3,673

starting at
$3,806

starting at
$3,806

starting at
$5,879
school
photos

Photos

  • Student residence offered by Hutong School Shanghai 1/28
  • Student residence offered by Hutong School Shanghai 2/28
  • City of Shanghai 3/28
  • Students of Hutong School Shanghai 4/28
  • Alleyway where Hutong School is located 5/28
  • Classes at Hutong School Shanghai 6/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 7/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 8/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 9/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 10/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 11/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 12/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 13/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 14/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 15/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 16/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 17/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 18/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 19/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 20/28
  • Homestay housing offered by Hutong School Shanghai 21/28
  • Homestay housing offered by Hutong School Shanghai 22/28
  • Homestay housing offered by Hutong School Shanghai 23/28
  • Homestay housing offered by Hutong School Shanghai 24/28
  • Student residence offered by Hutong School Shanghai 25/28
  • Student residence offered by Hutong School Shanghai 26/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 27/28
  • Hutong School Shanghai 28/28
reviews

Reviews

100% recommend

based on 5 reviews
5 stars
4
4 stars
0
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Fantastic Summer in Shanghai with Hutong School!"

Luca Marinelli

After a month-long trip in 2011, I really wanted to visit China again, and was seeking the opportunity to learn Chinese language while doing so. I was told about Hutong School by a friend: he insisted how he had a great experience with it in Beijing. I decided to try it myself, in Shanghai, and got in touch with the school through their website. The staff immediately proved to be a great help, and in a short time I had booked an intensive study program. I arrived in Shanghai in July 2012: I was greeted at the airport and accompanied to my apartment. Its cost was included in the registration fee and it was spacious and clean. In the following days I attended to 4 hours of Mandarin a day, from Monday to Friday. In addition to the lessons, the school organized various activities, like martial arts, Chinese cuisine, group dinners, trips etc., involving staff members and students. My experience was so good, that later I decided to move to China looking for a job in Shanghai, and here I am. I would like to recommend it to anyone who wants to learn Chinese, in China, having fun while learning!

Read more...

My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
4 weeks
Date of study
1 Jul 2012 - 31 Jul 2012
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"Unique and valuable"

Marina Nikonova

I found out about Hutong School from my university mate who was attending the Chinese courses there. Before, I was looking for a long time for a language school which will be suitable for me because I was super busy with my primary studies. From first day I came to Hutong School I felt myself at home. The manager, Judy, who is responsible for assigning a teacher to a student, found for me a perfect teacher Zhou Laoshi. The time of the classes was designed specifically for me.

I was learning with the pace I need without any pressure. I enjoyed every class I had in Hutong School. After all hours of Chinese I started to communicate outside the classroom.

What was surprising for me is that after these classes I overcame my language barrier. Now, no matter what, I can explain in Chinese what I need or just have simple conversation with locals. From my experience, Hutong School prived high quality classes and have a personalized approach to every student.

Moreover, being a student in Hutong School I participated in various extracurricular activities organized by the school. It was a good opportunity for me to find new friends. I want to say thank you to all people in Hutong School who make it easier for me to learn Chinese in friendly environment.

Read more...

My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
18 weeks
Date of study
22 Oct 2018 - 1 Mar 2019
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"Hutong School Shanghai was the most authentic learning experience I have ever had."

Michael Danahy

Hutong School Shanghai offered the highest quality staff, teachers, and learning experience I have ever experienced. The initial screening helped both the school and I formulate the best plan for my Chinese (Mandarin) learning. I got along very well with my teachers who were invested in my development and progress as a student, but also were careful not to overload me with too much work. The staff was always cordial and welcoming to me from my first day until my last class. The school also provided extracurricular activities for the students, including parties and social gatherings around Shanghai, which were incredibly fun and culturally significant. In the short time I had stayed in Shanghai, I had significantly improved my Chinese language capabilities, but also my confidence to continue progressing as a student and added a lifetime of memories. There was some effort in traveling to the school, but I have learned that the school has recently moved and should provide an easier means of traveling and getting to classes on time. I highly recommend the Hutong School Shanghai to anyone interested in picking up a new language or wanting to bolster, his or her familiarity with Mandarin.

Read more...

My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
13 weeks
Date of study
1 Jan 2018 - 7 Apr 2018
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
Lauren Pettit, Marketing Manager at Hutong School Shanghai responded to this review.
20 March 2019

Thank you for sharing your feedback with us, we're delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience at Hutong School Shanghai. We hope to see you over here again soon!

"I was treated like a king by the Hutong School."

Heinz Schulz

Because of a sudden medical condition during the first hour of enrollment (Evan) a representative of the school accompanied me by ambulance to the Shanghai United Family Hospital.

Evan stayed with me all day to make sure that I was comfortable.

Each day a different representative (Oliver, Amy and another kind lady whose name has slipped my memory) sat with me during the next days.

I was driven to my apartment. I was taken to the shops and to the airport. I was also taken to the hospital for follow-up appointments.

Amy even cooked two meals for me.

This royal caring treatment was carried out by the staff of the Hutong School.

On this trip I had no lessons for the reasons mentioned above.
On a previous trip to Beijing the classes were so good that I decided to return to China.

In Shanghai my apartment was in a garden setting on the ground floor.

Read more...

My ratings for this school

School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Date of study
7 Apr 2014 - 7 Apr 2014
Would you recommend this school?
Yes

"A Good Introduction"

James Clemmow

Hutong School provided an excellent introduction to Chinese Language, the teachers were amazing and very accommodating to everyone's specific strengths and weaknesses throughout the course. The facilities and learning materials provided also complemented the course very well. What I liked in particular was the teaching style where everyone was always encouraged to use the words we were learning and practice sentence structures in actual dialogue.
<br><br>
The only issue I had with the teaching was that we had 3 different teachers over a period of just 2 months, each with their own teaching style - so we lost several hours every time we got a new teacher adjusting and also reviewing what we had/hadn't covered.
<br><br>
If I was to rate Hutong alone on just the Chinese Language school it'd get a 4 or 5 for sure. What really brought the rating down was the accommodation. Situated in Lianhua a 30 min metro ride away if you're lucky it was particularly disappointing, the price was extortionate; it felt like as a student with no knowledge of China I was being slightly taken advantage of given that had I had any prior knowledge I could've easily found accommodation as close as People's Square independently for a fraction of the cost. Not only this but the quality did not quite live up to the description, there was an ongoing cockroach problem and for the last few days of my stay there was no hot water - normally I wouldn't mind or make a fuss, but at the price it just doesn't seem right. Finally despite it being advertised as a shared accommodation - and despite there being several students situated in accommodations around me, it worked out that I spent 80% of my stay in a 3 person flat alone which made meeting new people and interacting with other students much more difficult than it perhaps should've been.
<br><br>
I would 100% recommend the Hutong School Chinese Language programme to all my friends and family but I would be sure to urge them to find their own accommodation independently until the price/location is addressed.
<br><br>
All in all my trip to China was definitely a positive one, I met some amazing people and had some incredible experiences, none of which would've happened without Hutong so - Thank you!

Read more...

My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
8 weeks
Date of study
16 Jul 2013 - 16 Sep 2013
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
housing

Housing

Hutong School Shanghai offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast +2 meals per week - 1 hour distance

$415
weekly
Age range: 12 years old and older
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet and free internet
Distance to school: 60 minutes by train or subway
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
$415
What better way to fully immerse yourself in Chinese language and culture than becoming a part of it? Our homestay accommodation option offers you the chance to throw yourself into local life and explore your host city from a unique perspective whilst taking part in our Intensive Chinese or Internship Program. Whether you’re a total beginner or already have a high level of Chinese, this is the perfect opportunity for you to quickly improve your Chinese language skills and gain an authentic insight into life in your city.

Our Host Families
homestays in chinaWe work with a number of friendly host families in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chengdu who have hosted foreign students in the past. They enjoy giving foreign guests the opportunity to explore their culture from a unique perspective, enriching your experience further.

Besides showing you their culture, your host family will take care of you and provide you with as many different experiences as possible to make sure you have a comfortable and unforgettable stay in China.

Why Choose a Homestay?

- Quickly improve your Chinese: staying with a local family will give you the chance to put what you’ve learnt into practice. You’ll be surrounded by the language day in, day out, helping you to learn even when you aren’t trying! Not only this, but you’ll be exposed to real-life situations, colloquialisms and accents that you may not encounter in class, giving you a well-rounded understanding of real-life communication. If you’re looking for maximum results, this is the ideal way to achieve it.

- Experience the culture: living in a Chinese family’s home exposes you to aspects of Chinese culture that you’re unlikely to experience living with other foreigners. Your host family will be eager to welcome you into their world by showing you their way of life through food, activities and conversation, unlocking a side to China that few foreigners have the chance to explore.

- Overcome homesickness: with a homestay you’ll never be alone unless you want to be. Your host family will always be there, making sure you’re having a good time and feel at home. Though you’ll probably be too busy having fun to realise you’re missing home, you’ll always have a friendly face to turn to if you need! It’s like having a home away from home.

- Once in a lifetime opportunity: It’s not every day you get the chance to live with a local family. Take this unique opportunity to experience China to the full, advance your Chinese and gain new skills and experience that will stand out to future schools and employers!

Accommodation Facilities

We carefully vet our host families to ensure that we offer our students a good standard of accommodation that’s equipped with all the essentials. No matter which city you’re staying in and which family you’re living with, your accommodation is guaranteed to include the following:

Private room

Wardrobe

Air conditioning

Western style bathroom

WiFi

In some cases, some meals are also included, though this varies from family to family.

Host Family Locations

Our host families are all located in good neighborhoods in areas of the city that are easily accessible by metro and within a reasonable distance from our schools.

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast +2 meals per week - Walking distance

$518
weekly
Age range: 12 years old and older
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet and free internet
Distance to school: 60 minutes by train or subway
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
$518
What better way to fully immerse yourself in Chinese language and culture than becoming a part of it? Our homestay accommodation option offers you the chance to throw yourself into local life and explore your host city from a unique perspective whilst taking part in our Intensive Chinese or Internship Program. Whether you’re a total beginner or already have a high level of Chinese, this is the perfect opportunity for you to quickly improve your Chinese language skills and gain an authentic insight into life in your city.

Our Host Families
homestays in chinaWe work with a number of friendly host families in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chengdu who have hosted foreign students in the past. They enjoy giving foreign guests the opportunity to explore their culture from a unique perspective, enriching your experience further.

Besides showing you their culture, your host family will take care of you and provide you with as many different experiences as possible to make sure you have a comfortable and unforgettable stay in China.

Why Choose a Homestay?

- Quickly improve your Chinese: staying with a local family will give you the chance to put what you’ve learnt into practice. You’ll be surrounded by the language day in, day out, helping you to learn even when you aren’t trying! Not only this, but you’ll be exposed to real-life situations, colloquialisms and accents that you may not encounter in class, giving you a well-rounded understanding of real-life communication. If you’re looking for maximum results, this is the ideal way to achieve it.

- Experience the culture: living in a Chinese family’s home exposes you to aspects of Chinese culture that you’re unlikely to experience living with other foreigners. Your host family will be eager to welcome you into their world by showing you their way of life through food, activities and conversation, unlocking a side to China that few foreigners have the chance to explore.

- Overcome homesickness: with a homestay you’ll never be alone unless you want to be. Your host family will always be there, making sure you’re having a good time and feel at home. Though you’ll probably be too busy having fun to realise you’re missing home, you’ll always have a friendly face to turn to if you need! It’s like having a home away from home.

- Once in a lifetime opportunity: It’s not every day you get the chance to live with a local family. Take this unique opportunity to experience China to the full, advance your Chinese and gain new skills and experience that will stand out to future schools and employers!

Accommodation Facilities

We carefully vet our host families to ensure that we offer our students a good standard of accommodation that’s equipped with all the essentials. No matter which city you’re staying in and which family you’re living with, your accommodation is guaranteed to include the following:

Private room

Wardrobe

Air conditioning

Western style bathroom

WiFi

In some cases, some meals are also included, though this varies from family to family.

Host Family Locations

Our host families are all located in good neighborhoods in areas of the city that are easily accessible by metro and within a reasonable distance from our schools.
student-residence

Student residence (off-campus) - Single-person room - No meals

$444
weekly
Age range: 18 - 90 years old
Location: In the city center of Shanghai
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Kitchen, telephone, wireless internet, free internet, and 24/7 supervision
Distance to school: 20 minutes by train or subway
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
$444
Private apartment perfect for students who'd like more privacy and a separate kitchen
apartment

Shared apartment - Single-person room - No meals

$296
weekly
Age range: 18 - 90 years old
Location: In the city center of Shanghai
Housing type: Shared apartment
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Kitchen, wireless internet, free internet, and heating
Distance to school: 20 - 35 minutes by train or subway
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
$296
As a student on our Intensive Chinese, Internship, Volunteer or Gap Year program, you will have the option to live in one of our shared apartments. Located just a short subway ride from the school, our apartments offer convenience, as well as the chance to make new friends and immerse yourself in your host city.

Our Apartments

Our apartments are situated within typical Chinese communities, just a short distance from many shops and local restaurants. This offers the perfect opportunity to experience life as a local and practice the Chinese you've learnt at the school whilst meeting others in the same boat as you.

Chinese kitchen

All students who opt to stay in our apartments will live in a private room within a shared flat alongside around 4 other Hutong School students. Besides the bedroom, all other areas of the apartment are communal, including the bathroom. This offers you the perfect chance to make friends from the moment you arrive and to ensure you have as vibrant a social life here as you do at home.

Our apartments are equipped with all the essentials, including air conditioning units, bedding, a washing machine, WiFi, a kitchen and bathroom. The kitchen contains the basics needed to cook at home (frying pan, utensils, dishes) and utility, internet and cleaning bills are included.

Location

Our apartments are located around 25-30 minutes away from our schools and are easily accessible by metro. In Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, you can expect to live around the following areas:

- Beijing: Chaoyang district (Shilipu), Donghzimen, Tuanjiehu

- Shanghai: Zhenping Lu and Changshou Lu area, a few minutes from Jing'An temple by metro

Expectations

We do all we can to ensure that you have a comfortable stay in our accommodation. While apartments are clean, well-equipped and comfortable, it’s important to remember that living standards are likely to differ somewhat from what you are used to at home. To help you better understand what to expect, please take note of the following:

Chinese mattresses are firmer than western ones, so it may take some getting used to – though according to the Chinese, your back will thank you later!

All apartments are equipped with the essentials only (which we’re sorry to say doesn’t include coffee machines, mattress toppers and dishwashers).

Buildings in some Chinese cities (such as Shanghai) do not typically have central heating and instead use an AC unit to heat apartments during winter, so make sure to pack your long johns if you're travelling to Shanghai during the winter months.

We aim to help you mix with as many people as possible, so we do not separate students based on gender*, nationality or age.

Our cleaning service applies only to the communal areas in your apartment. You will be responsible for cleaning your bedroom, doing your laundry and changing your bedsheets.

The images on this page should be used as a guide only. We cannot guarantee you will stay in one of the pictured apartments.

*If you have a special requirement and wish to be in a same-sex apartment, please let us know as soon as possible during the application process.

If you would like to live in a shared apartment during your internship or Chinese language program, simply let us know in the comment field of your application form. Alternatively, explore our homestay accommodation.
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Shanghai based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

Read more...
map

Map

Wuding Road No. 881, Bldg 1, 5/F, Jing’an District, Shanghai, China 上海市静安区武定路881弄1座5层
Shanghai

China

School location

Hutong School was founded in 2005 and offers a wide range of Chinese training services in Beijing and in Shanghai.

Hutong School's unique Chinese teaching method which separates spoken Chinese and character recognition, has been proven to expedite Chinese language learning. While progressing quicker in spoken Chinese, students also lay better foundations for character memorizing by understanding the logic of Chinese characters' construction.

Hutong School in Shanghai offers a wide range of Chinese language classes catered to your needs.
Whether you are a total beginner and looking to achieve a level that allows you to easily get by in Shanghai (such as ordering food, taking a taxi, talking to your neighbours, etc) or you want to perfect your Chinese language skills and even aim to pass the HSK 6 test, we've got you covered!

Take classes:
- Whenever you want: during the week, weekends, evenings and at lunchtime
- Wherever you want: at our school in Beijing or at your home/office
- To prepare for the HSK
- No matter what your level is
- As a group or individually
- And take part in many of our free cultural activities!

We accept year-round applications for our programs, which start at the beginning of each month.

Our Teachers
We employ a dedicated team of highly qualified teachers who have received intensive training and undergo regular evaluation. Each member of our teaching team has:

- A passion for sharing knowledge about the Chinese language & culture
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- TCSL-degree (Teaching Chinese as a Second Language)
- At least 2 years teaching experience

Now the Hutong School is part of That's Mandarin, a top Chinese language school based in China. You will be taking classes in That's Mandarin Shanghai campus.

Our Shanghai campus is conveniently located downtown, within a 5-min walk from Changping Road Station (Line 7) or 15-minute walk from Jing’an Temple Station (Line 2). Take a look at the map.

Located in the heart of city, you can get a panoramic view of the area through the terrace of our school.

For the Taxi
静安区武定路881号(近常德路)
Jìng’ān qū Wǔdìng lù 881 hào (jìn Chángdé lù)

lit. “Jing’an district, Wuding road, number 881 (near Changde road)”

Popular Places Nearby
Jing’an Temple (10 mins); expat area full of restaurants and bars.

questions

Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Hutong School Shanghai staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

Ask a question
Show prices