Best Chinese Classes in Shanghai (2026): Top 5 Compared

Key takeaways

• Best for improving speaking and tones with personalized one-on-one lessons and real-time feedback from native Chinese teachers: italki
• Best for part-time group classes with flexible time slots: GoEast Mandarin
• Best for group courses that follow the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) proficiency levels: That’s Mandarin
• Best for full-time small group courses and semester programs: Live The Language (LTL) Mandarin School
• Best for intensive Chinese courses that include a dedicated Reading and HSK course: Mandarin House

The best Chinese classes in Shanghai help you speak Mandarin Chinese with confidence in the city where you live, work or study. Tones, characters and a busy schedule make regular practice hard to keep up, especially when group classes run at fixed times.

italki helps you reach that goal with online one-on-one lessons, so you speak more Mandarin, get your tones corrected in real time and keep learning around your week. Backed by 15+ years of experience, 30,000+ teachers and over 10 million learners worldwide, it works for beginners and advanced learners alike.

This guide is for beginners, expats, foreigners, working professionals, students and parents in Shanghai, plus learners in other countries who want lessons online. It compares five options by format, fees, location and who each suits, so you can match a Chinese language class to your Chinese level, schedule and budget.

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How we chose the best Chinese classes in Shanghai

Each option was evaluated against five criteria, using the provider’s official information.

Evaluation criteria	What was assessed
Teacher quality	Teaching experience, qualifications and how easily you can check a teacher’s background.
Class format	One-to-one, small group or larger classes, and which suits your learning style.
Flexibility	Start dates, class times and how well lessons fit around work, study or family.
Pricing	Tuition, learning-related fees, trial lessons and overall value.
Selection tools	Profiles, reviews, consultations and trial lessons.

Each provider receives a “Best for” label based on its format and the type of learner it serves. These labels are editorial recommendations, not an overall ranking.

Best Chinese classes in Shanghai at a glance

School/Platform	Best for	Format	Typical pricing
italki	Speaking and tone practice with personalized one-on-one lessons	Online	From $4/lesson
GoEast Mandarin	Part-time group classes	In person and online	RMB 9,600 to RMB 24,480, depending on the package
That’s Mandarin	HSK-aligned group courses	In person and online	From RMB 104 per class for the intensive group course or RMB 117 per class for the part-time group course
LTL Mandarin School	Full-time small group courses and semester programs	In person and online	From $387 per week
Mandarin House	Intensive Chinese courses with a dedicated Reading and HSK course	In person	RMB 1,890 to RMB 9,690, depending on the course

Note: Prices as of October 2026, listed in Chinese yuan (RMB) or US dollars (USD). Check each provider’s website for current information.

Want to test one-on-one lessons first? Book a trial lesson with a Chinese tutor in Shanghai and see how it feels.

What are the best Chinese classes in Shanghai?

The best Chinese classes in Shanghai are italki for online one-on-one lessons, and GoEast Mandarin, That’s Mandarin, LTL Mandarin School and Mandarin House for in-person study. 

1. italki: best for personalized lessons and speaking practice

• Format: Online 1-on-1 video lessons
• Price: From $4/lesson
• Location: Online, from anywhere in Shanghai
• Ideal for: Busy Shanghai learners, beginners through advanced students, conversational Chinese, tone practice, HSK preparation and business Chinese

italki is an online language learning platform where students take live, one-on-one Mandarin Chinese lessons with teachers who adapt each session to their level and goals. From complete beginners to learners who understand Chinese but struggle to speak it, lessons provide dedicated speaking practice and real-time corrections on pronunciation, tones, grammar, and vocabulary.

For learners in Shanghai, lessons can focus on everyday situations such as ordering food, talking with colleagues, or preparing for the HSK exam. You can choose teachers from mainland China, Taiwan, and other regions based on their teaching style, accent, and availability, then learn online from home or the office without commuting to a language school.

Pros

• Personalized one-on-one lessons. Every lesson is one-on-one, so your teacher focuses entirely on your progress, with no group pace to follow. Your teacher explains grammar and Chinese characters as they come up in conversation and recommends materials to practice between lessons. For specific goals, tutors build a study plan around your target level for the HSK exam, a business Chinese course covers the vocabulary and formal register you need for meetings, emails and negotiations, and parents can compare the best Chinese classes for kids.
• Real-time tone feedback. Mandarin has four main tones plus a neutral tone, so using the wrong tone can change a word’s meaning. Your teacher corrects your Chinese tones as you speak and helps you improve pronunciation through repeated practice.
• Native and verified professional teachers. Native-speaking teachers, including teachers based in Shanghai, help you practice the accents and everyday phrases you hear around the city, and you can filter by native language, where teachers are from and teaching style. Teachers with the Professional Teacher label have submitted proof of teaching qualifications to italki, such as a master’s degree in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL).
• Measurable speaking progress. An independent study found that 71.6% of italki learners moved up at least one level in oral proficiency after roughly two months of lessons (Vesselinov & Grego, 2018). For Shanghai learners who want to speak Chinese with more confidence, it shows that measurable speaking progress is possible with regular one-on-one lessons.
• Lessons that fit your week, with no commute. You can book lessons before work, after dinner or on weekends, with no semesters to follow. Every lesson takes place in the italki classroom, so the time you would spend traveling across the city goes into speaking practice.
• Pay per lesson. Lessons start from $4, with no subscription required. You choose how often to study and compare teachers by price, experience, specialty, and student reviews. Chinese tutor costs vary depending on the teacher and lesson type.

Cons

• Lessons happen online, so you won’t meet classmates in person.
• There is no set course curriculum by default, so the lesson structure depends on the plan you agree with your teacher.

What Chinese learners say about italki

Reviews of italki on Trustpilot point to three recurring benefits: improved speaking, practice with native speakers from different regions and fast progress.

Speaking progress: “I have made such great progress with speaking in Indonesian and in Chinese using this platform. I was really struggling with speaking until I started booking on italki. If there is any language you want to learn go sign up on here.”

— Trustpilot review

Practice with native speakers: “I recommend italki as a great platform where you can find a teacher that suits your needs. I use italki to practice conversational Chinese. I had classes with native speakers from China and Taiwan and they helped me feel more confident.”

— Trustpilot review

Fast progress: “Since I’ve started having classes on italki, my Chinese level boosted up very quickly. I do really recommend it!”

— Trustpilot review

Across these reviews, learners credit one-on-one practice with native-speaking teachers for their speaking progress and confidence.

How to get started and learn Chinese on italki

1. Create a free account on italki.
2. Browse Chinese tutors in Shanghai and apply filters for price, availability and specialty. View each profile’s introduction video and reviews, and contact a teacher with any questions before you book.
3. Book a trial lesson. In your very first lesson, share your goals and Chinese level with the teacher and ask for recommendations on how to study between lessons.
4. Join your online 1-on-1 video lessons at the time you chose and start learning.

Study around your week, with a teacher who focuses on you. Book a trial lesson with a Chinese tutor in Shanghai.

2. GoEast Mandarin: best for flexible part-time group classes

• Format: In person and online
• Price: RMB 9,600 to RMB 24,480
• Extra fees: Course materials, RMB 700 to RMB 1,600
• Location: Changle Lu 801, Room 705, Xuhui District, with a second campus in Changning District
• Ideal for: Learners who want part-time group classes with flexible time slots

GoEast Mandarin is a Chinese language school in Shanghai that runs part-time group classes of up to 6 students, meeting twice a week for 16 to 24 weeks. Its courses cover speaking, listening, reading and writing, with separate courses for HSK preparation, Chinese characters, spoken Chinese and business Chinese, plus intensive group courses for a faster pace.

Pros

• Morning, afternoon and evening time slots, plus a Sunday afternoon slot, make it easy to fit classes around work
• Cultural events every month, semester trips and company visits give extra chances to use Chinese outside class and learn about Chinese culture

Cons

• Speaking time is shared among up to 6 students, so you get less individual practice and tone correction than in one-on-one lessons.
• Courses run 16 to 24 weeks and are paid by the semester, so you commit to the full course before you know whether the class suits you.
• Course materials cost an extra RMB 700 to RMB 1,600.

3. That’s Mandarin: best for HSK-aligned group courses and intensive Chinese

• Format: In person and online
• Price: From RMB 104 per class for the intensive group course, and from RMB 117 per class for the part-time group course
• Location: Wuding Road 881, Building 1, 5F, Jing’an District
• Ideal for: Learners who want group courses that follow the HSK levels

That’s Mandarin is a Chinese language school founded in 2005, with campuses in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Chengdu, plus online classes. It offers intensive and part-time group courses that follow a level system aligned with the HSK.

Pros

• Course levels follow the HSK system, so progress is easy to measure

• Visa support is available for intensive group courses
• Weekday and weekend activities add cultural immersion outside class

Cons

• Part-time classes have up to 8 students, so you get less speaking time and fewer tone corrections
• The intensive course is expensive, at about RMB 2,080 a week
• Class times are fixed on weekdays, so they are hard to fit around a full-time job

4. Live The Language( LTL )Mandarin School: best for full-time small group courses

• Format: In person and online
• Price: From USD 387 per week, with the 18-week semester program from USD 5,902
• Location: Xiangyang South Road 218, Modern Mansion, Building A, Room 901, Xuhui District
• Ideal for: Learners who want full-time small group classes, including 18-week and 36-week semester programs

LTL Mandarin School is a Chinese language school with campuses in several cities across Asia, including Shanghai. Its group courses cover listening, speaking, reading and writing in small classes of 3 to 6 students, and it also offers a part-time option, an 18-week or 36-week semester program and online classes.

Pros

• Part-time and full-time schedules are both available
• Semester programs run twice a year on fixed dates, which gives a clear structure from start to finish
• At least one social event is scheduled each week, which helps you meet classmates

Cons

• Full-time courses require 20 hours per week, making them difficult to combine with a full-time job.
• Fixed group schedules offer limited flexibility for learners with changing work commitments.
• Semester programs require a significant upfront payment compared with individual lessons.
• Classes of 3 to 6 students offer less individual speaking time and personalized feedback than one-on-one lessons.

5. Mandarin House: best for intensive Chinese courses

• Format: In person
• Price: RMB 1,890 per week for the 20-lesson intensive course to RMB 9,690 for the 24-week part-time course
• Location: Central Shanghai, just off Nanjing Road
• Best for: Learners who want an intensive weekday course with a dedicated Reading and HSK course

Mandarin House is a Chinese language school in central Shanghai that runs small group courses of up to 6 students. Its intensive courses run Monday to Friday and include a Comprehensive course, a Conversational course and a Reading and HSK course, and the school also offers a part-time course.

Pros

• Intensive courses start on flexible dates, so you can begin without waiting for a new term
• Lessons use role-play, group discussion and projects, with cultural activities and excursions outside class

Cons

• Intensive courses run on weekdays, making them difficult to combine with a full-time job.
• Group classes of up to 6 students offer less individual speaking time and personalized feedback.
• The Reading and HSK course focuses on reading and writing, so learners seeking more speaking practice may need additional lessons.
• Intensive courses start at RMB 1,890 per week, making long-term study a significant financial commitment.

Looking for lessons built around your own Chinese level? Explore one-on-one Chinese lessons in Shanghai and book a trial lesson.

Online vs. in-person Chinese classes in Shanghai: which should you choose?

Choose online one-on-one Chinese lessons if you want more speaking practice, personalized tone corrections, and flexible scheduling. Choose in-person Chinese classes in Shanghai if you prefer learning with classmates, following a structured timetable, and participating in group activities.

Factor	Online one-on-one lessons (italki)	In-person classes in Shanghai
Flexibility	Book lessons around work and personal commitments	Usually follow fixed class schedules
Individual attention	Teacher focuses entirely on your learning needs	Teacher’s attention is shared among students
Speaking practice	Dedicated one-on-one conversation time	Speaking time is shared with classmates
Pronunciation feedback	Immediate corrections tailored to your tones and pronunciation	Feedback is shared across the group
Cost	From USD 4 per lesson, pay as you go	Weekly, semester, or course fees
Learning environment	Private online lessons with your teacher	Classroom interaction and group activities
Commute	Learn from anywhere in Shanghai	Travel to the language school

• Choose italki if you work full-time, have an unpredictable schedule, or want personalized Mandarin speaking practice, tone correction, or targeted HSK preparation.
• Choose in-person classes if you prefer learning alongside classmates, want a fixed study routine, or have time for intensive weekday courses.
• Combine both if you attend group classes but want additional one-on-one speaking practice and pronunciation feedback between sessions.

If flexibility and personalized feedback matter most, book a trial lesson with a Chinese teacher.

Which Chinese class in Shanghai is best for improving your Chinese skills?

• Choose italki if you want to improve your spoken Mandarin with personalized online lessons, real-time tone corrections, and flexible scheduling.
• Choose GoEast Mandarin if you prefer part-time group classes with a fixed weekly schedule.
• Choose That’s Mandarin if you want structured group lessons aligned with your target HSK level.
• Choose LTL Mandarin School if you have time for full-time weekday study in a small group.
• Choose Mandarin House if you want intensive Chinese courses or focused preparation in Chinese characters and HSK reading.

Want lessons tailored to your speaking goals? Explore Chinese lessons in Shanghai on italki and book a trial lesson.

Ready to improve your Chinese in Shanghai?

Learn Chinese with personalized guidance from Chinese teachers in Shanghai trusted by over 10 million learners worldwide. No commute, no fixed timetable, just lessons built around your goals. Book a trial lesson today.

FAQ

Where can I take Chinese classes in Shanghai?

You can take Chinese classes in Shanghai online with a private tutor or in person at a language school. On italki, you book one-on-one lessons with a teacher who matches your goals, from $4 per lesson, with no commute or fixed timetable. Language schools in Shanghai run group courses in districts such as Xuhui and Jing’an, which suit learners who want classmates and a set weekly routine. Compare online Chinese tutors in Shanghai and book a trial lesson to start.

How much do Chinese classes cost in Shanghai?

Chinese classes in Shanghai cost from USD 4 per online lesson on italki to over USD 5,900 for an 18-week full-time semester program at a language school. On italki, you pay lesson by lesson with no booking fees, and the price varies with each teacher’s experience and specialty. Part-time group courses at Shanghai schools typically cost RMB 9,600 or more per semester, intensive courses start at about RMB 1,890 a week, and some schools charge extra for course materials.