Chinese Language Institute

29/08/2026

In Guilin, the landscape is shaped by karst (喀斯特 kā sī tè), formed over millions of years as water slowly dissolves limestone. Beyond the mountains and rivers, there is also a hidden world underground.

Recently, our students explored Yanzi Cave (燕子洞 Yàn zi dòng), stepping into this subterranean landscape with helmets and headlamps. Along the way, we learned how stalactites and stalagmites slowly form, and how Guilin's unique terrain is shaped both above and below the surface.

At Yanzi Cave (燕子洞), students entered this subterranean system equipped with helmets and headlamps. Along the way, they learned how stalactites and stalagmites form over time, drop by drop, creating the dramatic cave formations found throughout the region.

cave - 洞穴 - dòng xué
karst - 喀斯特 - kā sī tè
stalactite - 钟乳石 - zhōng rǔ shí
stalagmite - 石笋 - shí sǔn
darkness - 黑暗 - hēi àn

📍 Swallow Cave Scenic Area, County Road 103, Lingui District, Guilin 桂林市临桂区Discovery探索新境（桂林燕子洞）

👉 Want to experience it yourself? Explore our Chinese immersion programs—link in bio!

17/08/2026

Over the past several months, our team has been working on a range of new webpages that offer greater insight into the CLI experience.

We’re excited to share one of the latest: our new Curriculum page.

Learn how CLI’s three-instructor model works, how lessons are adjusted as each student’s Chinese develops, and what students work toward at the elementary, intermediate, upper-intermediate, and advanced levels. Our Curriculum page also brings together CLI's individual course syllabi, assessment process, and information about the CLI Language Pledge.

We’ll be sharing more in the weeks and months ahead. For now, we invite you to explore our CLI Curriculum page:

Explore the curriculum behind CLI's Immersion Program in Guilin, China. Private one-on-one Chinese instruction matched to your level, with flexible intensity and start dates, from beginner to advanced.

18/05/2026

Meet Imani, a CLI student who came to Guilin during her gap year to study Chinese, explore China, and do something meaningful before beginning her next chapter.

At CLI, Imani’s Chinese learning happens both inside and outside the classroom: through one-on-one lessons, supportive teachers, local conversations, cultural activities, and everyday life in Guilin.

In this video, she takes us from the classroom to quiet gardens, local markets, antique shops, and a peaceful tea tasting.

朋友 - péngyou - friend
老师 - lǎoshī - teacher
学习中文 - xuéxí Zhōngwén - study Chinese
桂林 - Guìlín - Guilin
喝茶 - hē chá - drink tea

Ready to begin your own Chinese journey in Guilin?

studycli.org/chinese-immersion

06/05/2026

Thank you, Erin, for your review of CLI today on GoOverseas.com! We hope to see you again in Guilin soon ～

Student Review: Erin from the United Kingdom
Program: CLI Chinese Immersion Program in Guilin, China
Rating: 5/5
Recommendation: Yes, I recommend this program

“4 Weeks at CLI in Guilin - an incredible experience

I'd studied Chinese online for a few years, very slowly, but the four weeks I spent at the CLI in Guilin were an amazing boost to my progress, and a wonderful experience!

Support:
The admin support was top-notch; I had some minor issues in getting my visa and when I arrived, and both the admin staff and the student intern who met me on day one (and, later, helped me navigate the many apps!) were warm, supportive, and incredibly helpful. The airport pick-up and drop-off were highly appreciated and seamless.

Classes:
My three teachers were all encouraging, enthusiastic, and dedicated to my progress. They figured out where my weak points were and worked on a plan to address them with me, while shoring up my strengths. My Chinese improved dramatically over the four weeks I studied with them. After a couple weeks, I was having slow conversations with taxi drivers, long chats with people in shops, and waking up thinking in Chinese! My reading speed also advanced a lot. I did spend a fair amount of time outside of class as well reviewing the vocab and grammar, so I'd say if you're prepared to work hard you can really accelerate your progress in a very short time.

Activities:
I did a lot of activities offered through the school, and really enjoyed the option to try them out. I think especially as someone who was only there for a couple weeks, it's hard work to find and plan your own activities, and I enjoyed the school's. I got to see some beautiful scenery (trips out to Yangshuo were great!), eat a lot of amazing meals, and learn a little bit about a variety of things: music, dance, calligraphy, and more. (Also the school lunches are delicious.) The CLI is in a non-touristy part of Guilin but near loads of shops, markets, restaurants, etc., so it's very easy to get around even while you're still figuring things out. I really liked the neighbourhood vibe.

Overall:
I'm very glad I went, and would go again in a heartbeat. Highly recommend.”

Learn more about CLI’s Immersion Program in Guilin:
https://studycli.org

https://www.gooverseas.com/organization/chinese-language-institute-cli-reviews

24/04/2026

Every student who comes to Guilin has a unique story. For Katie, coming here wasn't just about exploring a new city, it was about returning to where her life began.

Born in Guilin in the summer of 1994, Katie was adopted by a loving family in New Jersey when she was two years old. Growing up, she always carried a deep curiosity about her roots, feeling that her Chinese heritage was an integral, irreplaceable part of who she is. She often wondered about the city she came from and the life she might have led had she stayed.

Now 31, Katie made the courageous decision to return to her birth city. By studying at CLI, she has been immersing herself in the language and the daily rhythm of Guilin: navigating the bustling streets, connecting with the community, and experiencing firsthand the everyday life she once wondered about.

However, her journey goes far beyond language. Katie is actively searching for her birth family. She has been putting up posters across the city and speaking with locals, hoping for a connection. She’s ready for whatever comes next. As she beautifully puts it, “My heart is open to accept whatever outcome and whatever answers I may get.”

Watch the first installment of our Guilin Story series to hear Katie share her experience.

If you or anyone you know in Guilin might have information, please feel free to share this post.

📍 Approximate Birth Date: July 1994
📍 Found Date: August 15, 1994
📍 Location Found: Outside the Guilin Social Welfare Institute
📍 Blood Type: A

We hope her search leads to the connection she is looking for. ❤️

04/04/2026

Every spring, usually around April 4th or 5th, Chinese families observe one of the most deeply personal holidays on the calendar. 清明节 (Qīngmíngjié), often translated as Tomb Sweeping Day, is a day rooted in filial piety, or the belief that honoring your parents, elders, and ancestors is not just a tradition, but a lifelong responsibility.

Families travel, sometimes great distances, to visit the graves of their loved ones. They pull weeds, sweep away dirt, burn incense, and leave offerings of food and drink. It is quiet, physical, attentive work, and this is the point. The act of tending to a grave is itself a form of love, a way of saying that the bond between generations does not end with death.

But Qingming is not only about grief. The name itself means "clear and bright," and the holiday falls at the moment when spring truly arrives. After visiting the graves, families often spend time outdoors together, walking in nature, flying kites, and sharing special foods like sweet green rice dumplings (called 青团 qīngtuán).

For over 2,500 years, this tradition has carried the same message: where we come from matters, and the people who shaped us deserve to be remembered with care.

Read more about the history and customs of Qingming Festival at

China’s Qingming Festival, or Tomb Sweeping Day, is observed in April and serves to honor the departed by visiting and cleaning their graves.

14/03/2026

One of the most meaningful ways to experience Guilin is through a homestay.

When Blake decided to learn Chinese at CLI, he had never left the United States, much less lived with a host family in China.

But soon after arriving, he understood why so many students choose this path: he felt welcomed, safe, and free to focus on his Chinese. With CLI there each step of the way, what first felt unfamiliar began to feel like home.

He has since returned for two more summers and now moves through daily life in China with confidence.

Join us for a glimpse into Blake’s experience as a homestay student at CLI in Guilin ～

03/03/2026

CLI ❤️

22/02/2026

The CLI Center just got a major upgrade.

After a three-month renovation, every student room across our three residence floors now features a completely rebuilt bathroom and a new keycard-entry door. Air conditioning across the building has also been upgraded.

马到成功 — the Year of the Horse has arrived!

CLI completed a three-month renovation of its Guilin center — new bathrooms, keycard doors, and AC units across the building. See photos of the upgraded facilities.

17/02/2026

Happy Year of the Horse! Join us as we take a look back at this past year at CLI. We hope to see you in Guilin in 2026!

https://studycli.org/2025-year-in-review/

Here are a few essential Spring Festival phrases to use with your Chinese-speaking friends, teachers, or classmates:

新年快乐 - xīn nián kuài lè - Happy New Year
马到成功 - mǎ dào chéng gōng - Wishing you swift success
龙马精神 - lóng mǎ jīng shén - Wishing you energy and vitality
恭喜发财 - gōng xǐ fā cái - Wishing you prosperity
万事如意 - wàn shì rú yì - May everything go as you wish
身体健康 - shēn tǐ jiàn kāng - Wishing you good health
马年大吉 - mǎ nián dà jí - Great luck in the Year of the Horse
春节 - chūn jié - Spring Festival
红包 - hóng bāo - red envelope (gift of money)
团圆饭 - tuán yuán fàn - reunion dinner
桂林见 - guì lín jiàn - See you in Guilin

In 2025, CLI delivered over 36,000 hours of one-on-one Chinese lessons to students from 35 countries. Explore the year's highlights — from the classroom to farewell dinners in Guilin.