The British Council, UCL Institute of Education and the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (CLEC) are proud to announce that more than 1,300 students and teachers, from 60 secondary schools across England will take part in the 2026 Mandarin Excellence Programme 11-day Intensive Study in China.
Participants will engage in intensive Chinese language learning and immersive cultural experiences at 18 partner universities across 11 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Dalian, Shenyang, Tianjin, Xi’an, Kunming, Hangzhou and Wuhan.
Ten years of promoting cross-cultural understanding through learning and exchange
The year 2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the Mandarin Excellence Programme. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has supported over 18,000 students across England, helping young people develop Chinese language proficiency and intercultural communication skills, broaden their international outlook, and deepen their understanding of Chinese society and culture through structured language learning and immersive experiences in China.
The Intensive Study in China is a key component of the Mandarin Excellence Programme. To date, more than 10,000 UK students and teachers have benefited from these immersive learning experiences, learning Mandarin in real-world settings and experiencing Chinese culture firsthand. For many participants, it is far more than a study trip, serving instead as a formative experience that broadens perspectives, fosters personal growth, and helps shape their future. Through meaningful people-to-people exchanges, the programme continues to promote mutual understanding, strengthen educational cooperation, and deepen ties between the two countries.
Exploring China through learning, exchange and cultural experiences across 11 cities
This year’s study trip combines classroom learning with cultural activities and field visits, offering a fully immersive experience for Chinese language learning. Supported by professional Chinese language teachers and Chinese student language partners, participants will explore topics including daily life, history, culture and contemporary society while practising their language skills in authentic settings.
Through classroom study, engagement with local communities, cultural workshops and conversations with their Chinese peers, students will develop both practical language skills and intercultural communication abilities, while also building genuine friendships with young people in China.
Beijing: Exploring heritage and modern vitality
In Beijing, activities are jointly organised by Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, and Beijing Normal University. Students will participate in a range of cultural activities, including experiencing Peking Opera, Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, Tai Chi and Baduanjin.
Visits to iconic landmarks such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, Beijing’s hutongs, as well as the National Stadium and National Aquatics Centre, will give students a deeper understanding of Beijing’s unique character, where ancient heritage, vibrant local life and modern innovation coexist.
Shanghai: Experiencing Haipai culture and the charms of a global metropolis
In Shanghai, activities are organised and hosted by Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, and East China Normal University.
Students will take part in a range of traditional Chinese cultural activities, including Chinese calligraphy, traditional Chinese painting, lacquer fan making, traditional martial arts, dragon and lion dance, and cloisonné craft making. They will also experience the city through activities such as a night cruise on the Huangpu River and shopping experiences in Shanghai’s commercial districts.
The programme also includes visits to some of Shanghai’s most iconic landmarks, including the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yuyuan Garden, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and Zhujiajiao Ancient Town. Through these experiences, students will gain an appreciation of Shanghai’s distinctive Haipai culture, where the elegance of Jiangnan’s classical heritage meets the dynamism of a modern international metropolis, and where Chinese and Western cultures have interacted and evolved over time.
Guangzhou: Experiencing Lingnan culture and the heritage of a millennia-old trading hub
The programme in Guangzhou is jointly organised and hosted by Guangdong University of Foreign Studies and Jinan University. Students will take part in immersive cultural activities such as traditional Cantonese dim sum culture, calligraphy, paper cutting, martial arts, and Cantonese cuisine preparation. They will also complete city-based experiential tasks including a night cruise on the Pearl River and a field study of commercial culture in key business districts.
In addition, students will visit major cultural landmarks including the Guangdong Museum, Yongqing Fang, the Cantonese Opera Museum, the Nanyue King Museum, Shamian Island, and Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. Through these visits, students will experience the distinctive vitality of Lingnan culture and gain an understanding of Guangzhou’s heritage as a millennia-old trading hub, where commercial traditions, refined intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship, and the vibrancy of everyday urban life are closely interwoven, reflecting a strong sense of practicality and cultural vitality.
Chengdu: Exploring the ancient Shu civilization and experiencing the cultural heritage of Ba-Shu
The programme in Chengdu is organised and hosted by Sichuan Normal University and Chengdu University. Students will engage in an immersive learning experience that combines classroom study with cultural practice. Focusing on themes such as campus life, sports, local cuisine, historical and cultural heritage, and giant panda conservation, they will study Chinese in authentic contexts and enhance their practical language skills.
During the programme, students will also have the opportunity to visit major natural and cultural landmarks such as Dujiangyan and the Sanxingdui Museum, gaining a deeper understanding of the historical development of the ancient Shu civilisation and the rich connotations of Chinese culture. This experience will allow them to appreciate Chengdu’s unique urban charm, which blends historical depth, innovative vitality, and a relaxed lifestyle.
Dalian: Discover the openness and warmth of a coastal city
In Dalian, the programme is organised and hosted by Liaoning Normal University. Students will take part in a range of cultural activities, including Chinese painting inspired by the 24 solar terms, Tai Chi fan, Chinese zodiac paper cutting, calligraphy, appreciation of traditional bamboo flute music, traditional tea ceremony, dumpling making and traditional Chinese medicine experiences. They will also visit iconic landmarks such as Xinghai Square, the city’s scenic coastal boulevard and the Dongguan Street Historic and Cultural District, experiencing Dalian’s unique blend of coastal charm and the warm hospitality of northeast China, while exploring the rich interplay of seaside landscapes, modern history and northern Chinese folk culture.
Shenyang: Experience the cultural heritage and vibrancy of northern China
The programme in Shenyang is organised and hosted by Shenyang Normal University. Students will participate in a variety of traditional cultural and intangible heritage activities, including Tai Chi, Peking Opera workshops, tie dyeing, sugar painting, sugar figurine making and dumpling making. They will also experience everyday local life through evening market walks and traditional folk performances. Visits to cultural landmarks such as the Shenyang Imperial Palace, Beiling Park, Liaoning Provincial Museum, Zhongjie Pedestrian Street, Lao Beishi Historic and Cultural District and Xingshun Night Market will offer insights into the city’s rich historical heritage, vibrant urban life and the distinctive warmth and openness of northern Chinese culture.
Tianjin: Explore Tianjin’s East meets West cultural heritage
In Tianjin, the programme is organised and hosted by Tianjin Normal University. Students will enjoy immersive cultural experiences including classical Chinese dance, traditional tie dyeing, martial arts, Peking Opera and traditional Chinese cuisine making, alongside a sightseeing cruise on the Haihe River. They will also visit renowned landmarks such as Tianjin Museum, the Five Great Avenues, Italian Style Town, Ancient Culture Street and the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall, discovering Tianjin’s distinctive fusion of Chinese and Western influences while experiencing the city’s open, humorous and welcoming local character.
Xi’an: Trace the roots of Chinese civilisation
In Xi’an, the programme is organised and hosted by Xi’an International Studies University. Students will take part in a range of distinctive cultural activities from the Guanzhong region, including shadow puppetry, Qin Opera, Hanfu experiences, traditional paper cutting, calligraphy and clay sculpture. They will also join themed activities exploring the history of the Tang Dynasty and the city’s ancient walls. Visits to iconic landmarks such as the Terracotta Warriors, Xi’an City Wall, Bell and Drum Towers, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an Museum and Great Tang All Day Mall will enable students to experience the grandeur of one of China’s oldest capitals and gain a deeper appreciation of the enduring legacy of the Qin and Tang dynasties alongside the vitality of traditional intangible cultural heritage.
Kunming: Discover the diverse cultures of Yunnan
In Kunming, the programme is organised and hosted by Kunming University of Science and Technology and Yunnan Normal University. Students will enjoy immersive cultural experiences including traditional tie dyeing, lacquer fan making, dragon and lion dance, paper cutting, traditional archery, floral arrangement and dumpling making. They will also learn Chinese songs and interact with performances showcasing the traditions of Yunnan’s ethnic minority communities. Visits to the Yunnan Nationalities Museum, Yunnan Ethnic Village, Dounan Flower Market and Kunming Old Street will introduce students to the unique character of the Spring City and the rich cultural diversity that defines Yunnan.
Hangzhou: Experience the elegance of Jiangnan and the spirit of craftsmanship
In Hangzhou, the programme is organised and hosted by Zhejiang Normal University. Students will take part in immersive cultural experiences including botanical fabric dyeing, lacquer fan making, Jingshan tea whisking, Tai Chi and traditional Chinese cuisine making. They will visit cultural landmarks such as West Lake, Southern Song Imperial Street, Jingshan Tea Plantation and the Southern Song Dynasty Guan Kiln Museum, as well as local secondary schools for exchange activities with Chinese students. The programme offers an opportunity to experience the refined elegance of the Jiangnan water towns while appreciating the poetic beauty of West Lake, the sophisticated culture of the Southern Song Dynasty and the enduring craftsmanship embodied in China’s traditional intangible cultural heritage.
Wuhan: Experience the spirit of Jingchu culture and the energy of the river city
In Wuhan, the programme is organised and hosted by Central China Normal University. Students will enjoy immersive cultural experiences including traditional martial arts, Song Dynasty style tea whisking, dumpling making, Peking Opera mask painting, traditional Chinese painting on silk fans and the making of traditional Chinese medicine scented sachets. They will also take part in city experiences such as a night cruise on the Yangtze River and visits exploring traditional Chinese medicine culture. Visits to the Hubei Provincial Museum, Yellow Crane Tower and Ye Kaitai Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum will introduce students to Wuhan’s distinctive blend of the grandeur of a great river city and the cultural heritage of Jingchu, while showcasing the romance of Chu culture, the vitality of a modern commercial city and the warmth and openness of its people.
A new chapter for UK-China youth exchange
Professor Zhu Hua, Director of the Centre for Chinese Language Education at UCL Institute of Education, said:
“In 2026 we are delighted to be celebrating 10 years of delivering The Mandarin Excellence Programme. The MEP is a transformative programme that has contributed towards the diversity of languages that are offered by schools in England. The intensive study in China is a key component of the programme providing a unique and unforgettable experience, ensuring that students who participate in the MEP are on track to fluency and achieving excellent exam results as well as better intercultural understanding”.
Nick Thomas, Director China at the British Council and Culture and Education Minister at the British Embassy, said:
“Over the past ten years, the Mandarin Excellence Programme has given young people in England the chance to learn Chinese and engage directly with Chinese culture. The British Council has been closely involved throughout, working with partners in both the UK and China to establish the study trip as a key highlight of the programme.
We are delighted that more than 1,300 UK students and teachers are taking part in the Intensive Study in China this year, learning the language in real-life contexts and building friendships that often last well beyond the trip. As the programme enters its second decade, the British Council remains committed to expanding these opportunities, helping young people in the UK and China grow into confident, globally minded talent for the future.”
Yu Yunfeng, Director-General of the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation, Ministry of Education of China, said:
“Language is a means of communication, a carrier of civilisation, and a bridge that promotes mutual understanding. Over the past ten years, through the joint efforts of all parties in China and the UK, the Mandarin Excellence Programme has delivered strong results, providing a solid platform for young people in the UK to learn Chinese and gain a deeper understanding of China. It has become an important bridge for mutual understanding between young students in both countries and a distinctive feature of people-to-people exchanges. It is hoped that the young participants visiting China will deeply appreciate the rich heritage of Chinese language and culture, experience the dynamism of contemporary China, and make new friends and connections. The Centre for Language Education and Cooperation is willing to continue working with all partners to ensure that this bridge of language and culture helps more young people achieve their aspirations.”