In 2005, there were 141,000 foreigners studying in China, with 86,679 of them coming to China to learn Mandarin Chinese (statistics from the Ministry of Education, 5th June, 2006). There is a possibility that Mandarin will overtake English as the international language by 2020 but more likely for Mandarin to be the secondary language of business and/or, academia.

Due to China's rapid economic growth, it is attracting more people worldwide to come and learn Mandarin. Students find it much easier to get a job in a multi-national company after learning Mandarin, since China is now the fastest economy growing in the world.

To learn Mandarin, the best way is to study in its native country. Beijing being the capital will indulge you to the China's historic culture from the beginning to the present. Shanghai, being the most modern and westernised city in China, will bring you closer to the more luxurious stay there. Last but not least, there's Guangzhou, being one of the most successful industrial areas of China, where both Cantonese and Mandarin are spoken.

It is vital that a student will know where to go to learn and master Mandarin Chinese effectively. Safest and most efficient way of learning Chinese is to learn at a university and also take some extra classes at an academy. Beijing's top universities include Beijing Language and Culture University and Tsinghua University (TSU). Shanghai's top universities include Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Fudan University.

There are many universities and academies to choose to learn Mandarin in China,
but which one?