If you’re a foreigner in Beijing, chances are you’re going to spend much of your time in the expat bubble. Any China novice looking to burst out of the bubble would do well to consider the Beijing Mandarin School. You’ll find a whole range of language services on offer here, including outcall teaching. You can learn Mandarin in individual, tailored courses in the comfort of your own home, and teachers will also travel to teach large corporate groups in their office spaces in Guomao or Liangmaqiao. Whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced student, you’ll find a course suitable to your needs.

Another tried and true option is the Bridge School. The Bridge School offers language services on a larger geographical scale, with six locations throughout Beijing, including two schools in the far-flung wilds of Shunyi.

Of equally distinguished pedigree is the Global Village Language School, which is popular with Korean students, and is known for having a flexible schedule and reasonable prices.

One of the largest providers of Mandarin education is Mandarin House, which partners up with universities, schools and agencies to provide Mandarin courses to students around the world. Mandarin House can help students find reasonably priced serviced apartments and also offers online courses for those who wish to study from home.