International language program kicks off in Xi'an

The 2026 Mandarin Excellence Programme Intensive Study in China kicked off on July 8 at the Yanta Campus of Xi'an International Studies University (XISU), with 126 teachers and students from five secondary schools across the United Kingdom embarking on a 10-day immersive Chinese-language study tour in Xi'an.

XISU is a long-term organizer of the UK's Mandarin excellence programs. For years, it has conducted online and offline China-UK study exchange activities, focusing on immersive Chinese language instruction and cross-cultural communication between the two nations.

The participants come from renowned British secondary schools, including Queen Mary's High School and Pate's Grammar School, forming an important youth delegation for linguistic exchange and cooperation.

Peter Wilson, British Ambassador to China, delivered a video address to encourage the participants to seize the opportunity and sustain their enthusiasm for learning Chinese.

The study features Chinese language classes covering shopping and campus life, paired with one-on-one exchanges between Chinese and British students.

The students will also visit Xi'an's landmarks, including Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, the Xi'an City Wall, and the Grand Tang Mall, and experience intangible cultural heritage, such as paper-cutting and HongQuan martial arts.