The Chinese Language Institute, based in scenic Guilin, China, delivers immersive Chinese language programs at the CLI Center, expert-led travel seminars throughout China, and print and online learning resources for students worldwide.
“I appreciate CLI’s size, flexibility, and ability to accommodate students. Because it is a small community, it is easy to build relationships with the teachers and staff. I truly felt at home in Guilin.”
A native of Nanning, Guangxi's capital city, Abby first discovered her passion for international Chinese language education in 2006 as a Hanban (汉办) teacher in Thailand. After teaching international students at Guangxi Normal University, she joined CLI in 2015 and has grown alongside the organization over the past decade. Since 2022, Abby has served as CLI School Director.
Anna grew up in the coastal city of Beihai, Guangxi, and made her way to Guilin to study at Guilin University of Electronic Technology. She joined CLI in 2016, and what began as a teaching role has since evolved into leading the organization's academic program. As Academic Director, Anna oversees scheduling, faculty meetings, and teacher development.
Mira is originally from Western Massachusetts and is a 2019 CLI alum. She graduated from Middlebury College and completed her M.A. in China Studies: Law and Society at Peking University in 2025. As Admissions Manager, she supports you through the entire experience, from your first questions and enrollment through your departure from Guilin.
Dayong joined the team in the summer of 2009 and is CLI’s longest-serving Chinese teacher. He is from Harbin (哈尔滨), capital city of China’s chilly northeastern province of Heilongjiang (黑龙江). When asked to produce a bio for the CLI homepage, Dayong said, “At CLI, I’ve learned that the world is a big place, and every single person in it can be your teacher in some way.” Now in 2026, he remains one of CLI's most active Chinese teachers.
After a summer in the coastal city of Qingdao, Anias vowed to return to the Middle Kingdom to improve her language skills and deepen her understanding of contemporary Chinese society. She moved to Guilin in 2016 and joined the team as Program Manager in 2017. As of this writing in 2026, Anias resides in Tainan, Taiwan, where she leads CLI’s Taiwan expansion. Anias is fluent in Chinese.
After earning her MA in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Summer began her career at China’s prestigious Hanban (汉办), the parent organization of the Confucius Institute, and taught Chinese at Thailand’s Ministry of Education. Fortunately for CLI, Summer’s next move was to return to her hometown of Guilin and join the CLI team as Student Activities Manager, where she organizes the out-of-class components of CLI’s language learning system.
Susan is originally from Yizhou, Guangxi, and joined the CLI team in spring 2014. She holds a BA in Business English from Guangxi Normal University, and from 2016 to 2017 she was a Visiting Language Instructor at the University of Mary Washington in the United States. Today she helps students already in Guilin with their visas, is CLI’s liaison with Guangxi Normal University, and is students’ main contact in an emergency.
Esther is from Guilin, Guangxi, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature from the Xingjian College of Science and Liberal Arts at Guangxi University. She joined the CLI team in October 2024. As Student Affairs Manager, she gets to know what each student needs and helps them make the most of their studies and daily life at CLI. She loves traveling, calligraphy, and handicrafts.
Nancy is from Yangshuo, Guangxi, and has been teaching Chinese since 2010. She holds a BA from Guangxi Normal University. Nancy also coordinates CLI’s homestays, matching students with host families in Guilin. Her advice to every student: take what you learn in the classroom and practice it with Chinese speakers outside of class.
After graduating from Guangxi Normal University with a degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, Jin spent two years teaching Chinese in Thailand through the Hanban (汉办) program. She joined CLI as a Chinese instructor in 2018. Since 2020, she has focused on online education, and as Head of Online Teaching she develops and coordinates CLI’s online Chinese programs.
Tristan is from Guilin, Guangxi, and holds a BA in English from the Guilin Institute of Tourism. After four years as a tour guide, he worked as a manager at an international hotel in Hangzhou, then came home to work as a hotel general manager. He became CLI’s Property Manager in 2012 and has been making students’ time in Guilin comfortable ever since. A true soccer fanatic, Tristan often organizes weekend pickup games with CLI students and Chinese locals.
From student life in Guilin to practical guides for learning Chinese, explore what's new at CLI.
Community
36,000 hours of one-on-one Chinese lessons. Students from 30+ countries. A look back at CLI's best year yet.
Campus Update
CLI enters 2026 with rebuilt student bathrooms, new keycard-entry doors, and upgraded air conditioning across its residence floors in Guilin.
Study Guide
What each HSK level means, what changed in 2026, and which level makes sense for your goals.
Explore more resources to prepare for your journey to China.
Nestled along the banks of the Li River, speckled with tens of thousands of karst peaks, and bustling with the arts, customs, and songs of southern China’s thriving ethnic minority groups, Guilin is a destination like no other.
The people, serene landscape, ease of transportation — the list goes on. Yet at CLI, we tend to view Guilin through the lens of language learning. This is where Guilin really shines: as a place to learn Chinese.
At CLI, Chinese does not end when class ends. Focused instruction, everyday life in Guilin, and repeated opportunities to speak help turn what you study into language you can actually use.
One month in Guilin was more productive than an entire year of coursework in a normal college class.
— Allie R., CLI Student
Immersion connects learning with real-world use.
A phrase introduced during class may come up again while ordering lunch, taking a taxi, visiting a market, or talking with someone in the neighborhood. When an interaction does not go as planned, you can bring the problem back to class, receive focused feedback, and try again.
Simply living in China does not guarantee meaningful immersion. Program structure matters. Learners make the most progress when their days include substantial speaking time, attentive listening, useful correction, and regular opportunities to apply what they have studied.
CLI was founded in Guilin to create that kind of environment. Personalized instruction provides structure and feedback, while daily life gives students practical reasons to use Mandarin beyond the classroom.
Want a closer look at how immersion affects speaking, listening, confidence, and cultural understanding? Explore the benefits of learning Chinese in China.
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