With a campus near Shanghai Library and a campus in Yangpu, GoEast offers Mandarin courses such as HSK preparation, survival Chinese and business Chinese. Their USP is their range of learning options: group classes or 1-1 tutoring; online, off-site or at the any of the GoEast campuses. They also hold regular community events for their students, such as movie nights, mahjong lessons and Chinese ink painting sessions.

Nationwide Chinese education service offering online and offline Mandarin programmes. Their online platform, Mandarin Café, is a hub for managing class membership as well as reviewing course content. As well as part-time and intensive group/1-1 classes, That’s Mandarin also facilitate summer and winter camps for young people, and support students with visa applications. School trips for overseas schools are also a specialism here.

Nationwide Mandarin Chinese language service, offering classes from online tutoring to business Chinese. They are an official HSK online test center. As well as the usual group and 1-1 sessions, Mandarin Inn also organize summer programmes for young people. Every month or so, they also host a Chinese culture workshop: calligraphy, zongzi making or oriental flower arrangement, for example. If you can’t get enough, you can also book in-school accommodation through their website or AirBnB.

Mandarin school with offices in Jing’an and Pudong. Group classes, 1-1 sessions, corporate training and online learning options are all offered, as well as student visa services for intensive courses. Classes are levelled, and there are groups for beginners up to around HSK6. There are also occasional cultural activities and an annual summer course.

Shanghai branch of the international French language and culture school. General courses are available from 2.5 – 20hours per week, and there are also specific courses focusing on the media, French for tourists, oral French, etc. There’s even a French choir if you want to channel your inner Piaf. Details about online and children’s courses are also available on their website, which is only accessible in French or Chinese.

Mandarin school just north of People’s Square. There’s a placement exam for general group classes, after which you’re placed with students at a similar level; the classes roughly correlate to HSK levels, up to HSK6. The normal options (small groups, 1-1, business Chinese) are offered here, with intensive or part-time schedules. There are also classes for more specific needs or interests:  Shanghainese, social media literacy, literature, debate and drama sessions are all advertised.

Mandarin school near Jing’an station, established in 2003. They offer the standard range of classes (intensive, part-time, business, survival, hanzi, etc), as well a comprehensive online platform that includes an “E-Teaching Plan” to track your progress, learning apps and online lessons. Their curriculum follows the HSK course with some additions. Summer camps and cultural events are also offered to students, and the centre can arrange internships and accommodation.

The International School of Tongji University dates to the 1970s. The Mandarin Programs have three levels: fundamental, intermediate, and advanced. One needs to take a placement test to go into a suitable level. It is optional to take the program for one semester only or up to two years, doing 20 class hours per week. For advanced students, the curriculum includes a section on Chinese society. There’s also a Business Chinese program.

Shanghai-based language school which brings together language training, HSK preparation, international Chinese teaching certificate training, and examinations. It is a member of the International Society for Chinese Language Education, an HSK / BCT test center, an affiliate of the Confucius Institution, and an education practice center of Tianhua Institute of Shanghai Normal University. It’s also an official International Chinese Teachers’ Certificate exam training center, authorized by Confucius Institute Headquarters and Hanban. Mandarin Morning has an in-house system called the 1-2-3 Learning Cycle which breaks down the language, aiming to build understanding of the core elements.

International Mandarin teaching company with a Shanghai centre on West Nanjing. Usual range of teaching options (small group, 1-1, business) and time commitments (evening, part-time, intensive), with a comparatively well-developed online presence. Self-directed and teacher-led video courses can be accessed through their website. They also specialize in IB preparation for young people taking the Chinese A or B courses.

Jing’an language school in a high-rise right behind Jing’an Temple. Classrooms are basic, but there’s free tea and coffee. Established in 2006, they offer 1-1 sessions, but small group classes are the specialty here. There are options to suit most abilities and time limitations, from intensive full-time courses to evening classes. Teachers all have a BA or MA, and their WeChat account posts semi-regular articles about Chinese life and culture. Their website doesn’t work but their WeChat EasyMandarin is active.

Vast nationwide Mandarin teaching service with five locations in Shanghai: Jing’an, Xintiandi, the K11 Tower, Jinqiao and Xujiahui. Students can choose between different time commitments and learning styles; group, private and online courses are available. The school also organizes summer camps for children and specific HSK preparation courses – written and oral. Perks of student life at iMandarin include accommodation and visa support, airport shuttles and weekly day-trips.

Mandarin teaching centre established in 2004, with centres in Gubei and Xujiahui. Group classes, normally with 1-4 students, are scheduled daily – check their website or ask on their WeChat. HSK and business-focused classes are available, as well as Chinese culture classes and lessons for kids. You can get a free sample WeChat lesson through their official account. Teachers speak English, Mandarin, Korean and Japanese.

Australian-owned English language training school opened in 2012. The specialty here is 1-1 English lessons, and they promise a gym-like mentality – more like training than learning. Face-to-face and online classes are both offered; the aim is to increase confidence in speaking and writing. Like many Mandarin schools, they post regular WeChat (SmartEnglishnew) articles about life, culture and language.

Mandarin school with fifteen years of teaching experience and, apparently, a 98% HSK pass rate. There are six campuses in various locations across Shanghai: Xujiahui, Zhongshan Park, Gubei ,Hongqiao and two in Pudong. Small group classes with specific foci, from spoken Chinese to hanzi and business Chinese, start monthly, although their English language website hasn’t been updated since 2015.