The Charm of Chinese —
Felt Only Through
Cultural Experience
Language is more than a tool for communication — it is the vessel of culture. The unique charm of Chinese cannot be truly learned abroad — because the most fascinating parts are not found in textbooks, but in cultural experiences.
We help children learn Chinese through play in culture — calligraphy to write characters, paper cutting to discover their shapes, lacquer fans to paint them in color; making dumplings, painting opera masks, spinning diabolos, kicking jianzi, crafting kites, making lanterns... Every activity is a playground for Chinese characters.
Explore the Program ↗Profound — yet wonderfully simple and fun.
From First Words to
Final Showcase
Every step of the journey is designed for real learning, real experience, and real growth.
Placement
On the first day, students take a placement test and are assigned to small classes of 3–5 by Chinese level and age.
Morning Classes
Lessons at The Imperial Academy or Temple of Agriculture, learning the vocabulary and sentence patterns needed for the afternoon.
Afternoon Exploration
Armed with task cards, students visit cultural sites and complete real-world challenges — entirely in Chinese.
Evening Tutoring
One-on-one tutoring to review the day's experiences and check task completion.
Final Exam
On the final day, students take a formal exam to assess their learning outcomes.
Showcase
Students present their camp highlights in Chinese — parents are invited to watch.
Certificate Ceremony
Certificates and souvenirs are awarded, bringing the journey to a close.
Every Child Starts at
the Right Place
Small classes grouped by proficiency ensure every camper learns at their pace.
Beginner
For
Children with no prior Chinese
What They Learn
Pinyin, tones, basic sentence patterns, and simple characters
What They Gain
Use fixed sentence patterns to identify things in context and make simple responses; handle basic everyday interactions in Chinese.
Elementary
For
Children who have studied Chinese for 1–2 years
What They Learn
Transition from basics to practical application, with introduction to radical-based character recognition
What They Gain
Communicate in simple situations using a wider range of everyday vocabulary and common sentence patterns; sustain 3-turn dialogues.
Intermediate
For
Children who have studied Chinese for 3–5 years
What They Learn
Communicate in everyday situations with improved character knowledge
What They Gain
Sustain 5-turn dialogues on familiar topics; express feelings and first-time experiences.
Advanced
For
Children with fairly fluent Chinese
What They Learn
Express complex ideas in structured paragraphs; improve logical flow and clarity
What They Gain
Give ~30-second introductions on familiar topics; compare and contrast, and express opinions.
See Inside Our Booklets
Custom-designed booklets that bring Chinese to life — one level at a time. Every page ties back to the afternoon sightseeing, so students use what they learn the same day.
Cover
Inside Pages
Beginner — 入门
The very first Chinese book for absolute beginners. Starting from pinyin and tones, then simple words tied to the day's destination — every page builds confidence to speak up.
Pinyin & Tones
Step-by-step introduction to all four tones and key initials — the foundation for everything that follows.
Character Writing
Stroke-by-stroke guidance with tracing boxes; each character connects to a word they'll use that day.
Fixed Patterns
1–2 simple sentence patterns per lesson — "This is ___", "I like ___" — ready to use at the sightseeing spot.
Visual & Interactive
Circle, match, and guess exercises keep young learners engaged without needing to read long text.
Beijing Campus
Two Historic Sites. One Extraordinary Camp. Fully Supervised. Fully safe.
Cathay Camps' Beijing campus is set within two rare historic landmarks — both secure with controlled access, so parents feel at ease and campers can immerse themselves completely.
The Imperial Academy (国子监) — 700 Years of China's Highest Learning
Founded in 1287, the Imperial Academy was China's most prestigious seat of learning for over 600 years — where the empire's brightest scholars studied and emperors came to teach in person. Its buildings have stood for over 700 years and remain the only fully preserved ancient imperial academy in existence. This isn't just a place to visit — it's also our classroom.
At Cathay Camps, Chinese history isn't something you read about in a textbook. It's what you walk into every morning.
More Than Learning Chinese —
A Cultural Adventure
Step out of the classroom and into China itself. Every activity is a genuine encounter with Chinese culture.
Step beyond the classroom and into China itself. From the ancient courtyards of the Imperial Academy to the living hutong households of old Beijing — every activity is a real encounter with Chinese culture.
Chinese Calligraphy: Pick up a brush, feel the beauty of Chinese characters, and master traditional writing techniques.
Dumpling Making: Roll the dough, mix the filling, fold and seal — then sit down together to enjoy what you made.
Face Painting: Paint your own Beijing Opera mask and take home a one-of-a-kind Beijing memory.
Paper Cutting: Learn the delicate folk art of Chinese paper cutting — where every snip tells a story.
Chinese Diabolo (Kōngzhú): Learn to spin and perform tricks with this century-old street art, right in a hutong courtyard.
Shuttlecock (Jiànzi): Light, lively, and beloved — a game passed down through hutong generations for centuries.
Kite Making: Build and decorate your own kite from scratch, then send it soaring.
Lantern Making: Craft a colorful lantern and feel the warmth of Chinese festival culture.
Lacquer Fan Creation: Try your hand at traditional lacquer craft and create your very own hand-painted fan.
Expert Curriculum Team
Designed and led by experienced Chinese educators with deep expertise in international youth education.
Jean Yang
Chinese Curriculum Advisor & Academic Supervisor
With a doctorate in international Chinese education and over a decade of teaching experience across international schools in the United States, Southeast Asia, and China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Xiamen, Jean brings a truly global perspective to Mandarin instruction. Her warm, student-centered approach has earned her the trust and affection of learners from every corner of the world.
Alfred Li
Chinese Education & Curriculum
10+ years in youth Chinese education with deep expertise in curriculum design. Alfred creates warm, interactive classrooms where students break through language barriers naturally and build expressive confidence.
Trained at China's Premier Institution for Chinese Language Teachers
All teaching staff are from the Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language program at Beijing Language and Culture University — China's premier institution for training Chinese language teachers.