We at Silk Mandarin believe that understanding each other’s language and culture unites people. It is our mission to teach Mandarin and Chinese culture to all who have an interest in it, whatever their ambition, background or age, and wherever they are. Since we opened our doors early 2015, our ground-breaking Slow Motion Technique has proven to be the key to learn Mandarin faster and with fun. Our high quality teaching and service has helped thousands of students to reach their learning goal and turned their dreams into reality. Silk Mandarin offers flexible learning with online and offline classes, intensives and part-time courses, and Chinese camps for kids in Shanghai and Suzhou. Experience our innovative Blended Learning, the perfect combination of video classes and face-to-face sessions.
Past reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently state how friendly, exceptionally patient, and highly professional the entire teaching staff is, ensuring that every student receives personalized guidance, clear grammar explanations, and continuous encouragement throughout their studies.
People are also extremely pleased with the modern online learning platform and comprehensive study resources, which provide structured videos, helpful exercises, and great scheduling flexibility for daily practice. Reviewers consistently note that the well-organized curriculum, supportive environment, and engaging interactive classroom sessions transform the entire educational process into a remarkably smooth, rewarding, and enjoyable adventure.
I’ve been studying Chinese on a one-to-one basis with Silk Mandarin for almost a year now. It’s been a great experience and my Chinese level has hugely improved: I now have the foundation to start Classical Chinese in parallel to HSK 5. 非常感谢 Qiying 老师 and Mia！
Being based in London, I find Silk Mandarin’s learning platform especially useful. It really enables Qiying 老师 and I to have very interactive lessons. Qiying 老师 does a great job contextualising standard HSK vocabulary and grammar using Silk’s own materials. Although it can sometimes be quite challenging, it is always a lot of fun.
I highly recommend Silk Mandarin. Their seamless combination of platform, materials and teacher deliver a very comprehensive Chinese learning environment. This is quite different from the other Mandarin Schools I’ve used before.
I am extremely pleased with my Silk Mandarin course here in Shanghai. The teaching methods are excellent and the collective is wonderful. I'd like to thank the entire team. Day by day, I am learning more and improving my Chinese skills
I have studied with Silk Mandarin for 8 months for my HSK4 exam. I took their part-time class with 春艳老师.
I have been very satisfied with the class, and will be continuing my studies with this school for the HSK5.
Things that particularly impressed me are:
- Videos explaining all of the vocabulary, grammar, and 'close words' that can be studied at home, alongside real-world videos that use the language for you to study.
- The provision of 'at home tests' that your teacher can check and correct any mistakes in-class.
- The focus on speaking in class, meaning that no time is wasted on introducing new words or grammar points, and instead we can focus on speaking, error correction, and mastering the content.
I have been very satisfied with Silk Mandarin and would recommend their methods or anyone wanting to study for an HSK exam.
Before having course from Silk Mandarin, I was just visiting different YouTube videos to catch some logic to learn Chinese. Although it is great to learn lots of information, I couldn't learn and embrace to logic just memorizing for a few days. Having a fear of talking to people made me order almost everyday. After I encouraged by the knowledge which I got from courses, I started daring go out and trying to make some sentences and saying the names of vegetables, fruits all in Chinese. Therefore I started cooking at home with all those things. :) I was very lucky to find Silk Mandarin as my guide on the way of learning Chinese. They really had serious learning materials and skillful tutors to motivate you to become eager and enthusiastic to learn more. The things I learnt before courses were in mess in my mind, but Silk Mandarin helped me to put them in order and comprehend the structures, grammars and characters with tones. Especially, seeing the examples of Slow Motion Technique made everything a lot easier.
The school has admirable organization: everything is very well structured, and you can see the work of a committed team that is always willing to answer any questions with kindness and efficiency. That is something I truly appreciate.
The study materials, especially the video lessons, are of excellent quality. They are professional, clear, and very helpful for reinforcing each lesson. The program as a whole is well systematized and feels thoughtfully designed to help students progress at a good pace.
From my personal experience, I did feel that the method can be a bit intensive, as the course moves through one lesson per class and most of the reviewing depends on the student. Although there are practice activities, they often focus on completing exercises rather than revisiting explanations in depth. I believe the program could be even more enriching if each lesson included two classes: one to learn the content and another to reinforce it together with the teacher. I'm sure this would help clarify those small doubts that sometimes remain, even when studying on your own.
Overall, it is a very good program, with solid foundations and a team that truly cares about their students’ learning. My experience has been positive, and I am grateful for the effort and the human warmth they show in every class.
I have been taking classes at Silk Mandarin and I am extremely satisfied. My teacher is fantastic—she is not only knowledgeable but also incredibly patient and encouraging, which makes every lesson enjoyable. What truly sets Silk Mandarin apart is their well-structured platform and adult-learning-focused methodology. They understand exactly how adults learn a language effectively, breaking down complex concepts into manageable parts. The materials are practical, engaging, and tailored to real-life situations. I highly recommend Silk Mandarin to any serious learner looking for a systematic and supportive environment to master Chinese.
This camp was safe, highly educational, and entertaining. My Chinese level was very basic before the camp; not even advanced enough to pass HSK1, but after the camp I was able to pass HSK2 with flying colors. Furthermore, the facilities are clean, and the staff are very supportive to every child’s needs.
I’ve been taking beginner Mandarin lessons with Christina, and I honestly couldn’t be happier. Her classes are incredibly engaging, clear, and easy to follow — even as someone just starting out, I never feel lost or overwhelmed.
It’s rare to find a teacher who’s not only knowledgeable but also patient, organized, and genuinely passionate about helping students succeed.
I am currently doing HSK 1 private class with Nina. She is a very motivated and motivating teacher who transfers her passion for the chinese language and their hanzi-characters 😊 I love her teaching style, as its very free and flexible but on the same level super effective. Shout out also to Coco who is the consultant beforehand. She deals with all administrative aspects. Very efficient and always helpful and friendly.
My goal was to further improve my language skills to make my everyday life easier.
So I tried out various language courses, but I was only really satisfied with Silk Mandarin, which a friend had recommended to me.
The easy navigation of ClassIn, combined with the comprehensive learning materials such as videos, worksheets, etc., made learning easier for me.
My teacher was fantastic – always positive and professional, so I wasn't afraid to make mistakes.
I can recommend Silk Mandarin to anyone for learning Chinese .
My experience was absolutely positive. I started studying as soon as I arrived in Shanghai and it was an effective way to integrate myself more into the new reality. The professionals I found are absolutely kind and knowledgable. The methodology includes the use of different materials, and the teachers support the student to do their best to improve their skills. They organise external activities such as cultural visits lunches together, outdoor activities. They offer individual courses or group courses according to the needs of the students. I highly recommend this course of study.
As a Brazilian living in China, my initial goal was simple: gain independence and survive daily life. I chose Silk Mandarin after a lot of research. What really stood out to me was their "Blended Learning" course. The idea of combining self-paced online homework and videos with live, online lessons with a native teacher seemed like the perfect solution. It gave me the flexibility that I needed, plus the crucial human interaction for practice and correction.
Silk Mandarin has completely transformed my learning journey. The pre-lesson videos and homework prepare me perfectly, so when I join the live online class, I'm not lost; I'm ready to practice and engage. My teacher Sisi is fantastic—incredibly patient, professional, and skilled at creating a supportive environment where I'm not afraid to make mistakes.
I can feel my fluency improving with every lesson, both in my structured classes and in my daily interactions here in China.
The school has a number of advantages. Groups are small (mine were 3 and 2 people); there is a lot of translation and speaking in class which is really helpful; preparation materials are quite good and simple for understanding. Finally, location is central. Certainly can recommend.
I have just finished HSK1 with Yanqin Laoshi who is really great and cooperative. The way she teaches and delivers the information is absolutely amazing.
Their strategy to teach is really good. At first I started to learning chinese by my own and of course there was some issues with the grammar that for me as spanish speaker was a bit hard to understand but with Silk Mandarin, everything is clear to me.
Before joining Silk Mandarin, I had studied up to HSK3 but had stopped for quite a while, so I felt a bit lost and unsure if I was ready to continue with HSK4. Luckily, I felt truly supported and motivated by the academy and my teacher, and even though my Chinese was a bit rusty, they encouraged me to join the HSK4 class — and it turned out to be the best decision! Thanks to the online resources and my teacher’s infinite patience, I quickly caught up with my classmates and learned an incredible amount of Chinese in just a few months.
The atmosphere at the academy is super friendly, my classmates are lovely, and the group dynamic really helps everyone stay motivated. I also love the hybrid format — when I couldn’t attend in person, I could join online and follow the class in real time, seeing my teacher, the classroom, and the whiteboard through the computer as if I were there. I also took some individual, tailor-made lessons that helped me strengthen my level even more.
I’ve improved more than ever and, most importantly, I’ve regained my motivation and confidence to keep learning Chinese :)
I study at Silkmandarin for 1 year now. The teachers and the staff are very friendly and open. They try to help in any way to create the best learning experience. I especially liked the Crack Hanzi Course, which helped to review all the characters before starting HSK3.
Being able to choose, if you take the lesson in the classroom or online is also very convienient.
I wanted to re-learn Chinese after studying a bit years ago in high-school. Before Silk Mandarin I did self study with apps and text books. After 2 years, I had made good progress but felt like I needed more instruction as I entered the intermediate level. I'd been a fan of Silk Mandarin's social media for a while and decided to attend their adult summer camp program in Shanghai.
While I was there I reviewed my past studies to sort out any errors I had picked up during self study. This is a common problem with self study because you might not even realize that you misunderstand a concept. I also got to know Silk Mandarin's amazing staff and had so many memorable experiences. The challenge of navigating daily life in China also encouraged me to keep learning and improve faster.
After an amazing on campus experience I knew continuing with Silk Mandarin's Blended Learning Course was the right choice. It offered videos and digital content to further explain the textbook content, and time with a teacher. All of these features are important because they make learning Mandarin easier and more engaging.
The Blended Learning Course leverages Silk Mandarin's Slow Motion Technique, a technique that is simple but makes all grammar easier to learn. When paired with teachers who are knowledgeable and highly engaged with students, you feel like you are set up for success.
In just 30 hours my teacher guided me through HSK 3 with individualized lessons. Not only did we cover an entire level in what would have taken me 6 months alone. Since I don't get the opportunity to speak Mandarin in daily life, class time and teacher feedback is essential. My teacher also ensures that I get extra practice where I need it the most and relates the lessons to real life usage of the language points. I could spend years with apps or text books and still not grasp the nuances and real conversational uses of Mandarin.
After trying a wide variety of Mandarin language learning approaches, I can confidently say that Silk Mandarin's blended learning curriculum uniquely supports language learners of all ages and backgrounds. I always thought it would be nice to be able to speak a second language, but with the blended learning course my aspiration can be a reality.
I have tried different Mandarin schools in Shanghai, and Silk Mandarin is by far the best one. Alina first helped me find the plan that best suited my needs and paired me up with an amazing teacher named Jane (Jane laoshi)! Laoshi Jane helped by going over some difficult concepts and didn’t try to rush me through the chapters, like some of the other schools do. Silk’s on-line platform, ClassIn, is easy to navigate and has several learning tools such as worksheets, videos, flash cards and quizzes. I highly recommend Silk to anyone, whether they like in China or are just here for a short time.
Family Camping Experience
We just returned from an incredible two-week family camping trip in Shanghai with Silk Mandarin, and it exceeded all our expectations! From the moment we began planning our trip, the school was highly responsive and attentive to our requests, making the entire process seamless.
We had the luxury of not worrying about a thing, as Silk Mandarin expertly organized our daily itinerary. Our mornings were spent at the school, where we focused on learning grammar and expanding our vocabulary. After a delightful lunch featuring a variety of authentic Chinese dishes, we would embark on excursions to places like a chocolate factory or popular tourist attractions. These outings provided us with the perfect opportunity to practice our Chinese and immerse ourselves in the language and culture.
The experience was so enjoyable that our kids are already asking to return to China next year!
Additionally, we encountered an unexpected challenge during our trip when we were involved in a car accident. The school was incredibly proactive in supporting us during this stressful time. A teacher even came to the hospital late at night to assist us, which we truly appreciated.
We highly recommend Silk Mandarin and can’t wait for our next adventure in China!
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