Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Wanderlust Cultural Homestay Tutoring (Au Pair in China) Program

Location
  • China
    • Shanghai
    • Beijing
    • Hangzhou
    • Ningbo
    • Shenzhen
Length
52+ weeks
General grants/scholarships, Work study, Work exchange

Program Details

Timeframe
Academic Year Fall Spring Summer Winter Year Round
Housing
Host Family
Primary Language
English
Age Min.
18
Age Max
30

Pricing

Price Details
You do not pay any program fee, but you will be in charge of your own flights (however, flights stipend will be offered during your stay).

Program time span: 3-12 months
You give: 30 hours of childcare&English tutoring per week
You get: 2000 RMB pocket money/month
You get: Up to 12000 RMB as ticket stipend
You get: 8-10 hours of Mandarin classes/week
You get: Monthly culture activities
You get: 1.5 days off/week
You get: Medical insurance
You get: visa application fee&renewal reimbursement
Program fee: $0
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airfare Domestic Airfare Airport Transfers Meals Tour Guide Travel Insurance Visa Wifi
What's Included (Extra)

* Mandarin classes
* Culture activities
* Medical insurance
* 24/7 support
* Orientation and sightseeing tour
* Airport pick-up

Jan 18, 2024
Aug 25, 2025
109 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Wanderlust Au Pair China Program integrates educational travel, Mandarin learning, childcare and English tutoring together for overseas youngsters to experience China with an authentic touch by staying with Chinese host families.

By offering 30 hours of live-in childcare and English teaching per week, you have an opportunity to explore Chinese culture through weekly Mandarin classes, culture immersion activities held by Wanderlust and your day-to-day colorful life with your host family.

We are culture enthusiasts, we love different languages, we love the tenderness in your eyes when you see children's smile. Fundamentally, we love what we do: helping you go through an off-beat experience that could potentially change your life.

Find your second home in China!

Program fee: 0 $

COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

This program offers strong support, including visa help and orientation, with opportunities to learn Mandarin and engage in cultural activities.

Program Highlights

  • Experience authentic Chinese culture through living with a host family!
  • Flight stipend up to 1800 USD
  • Mandarin course paid by your host family
  • Monthly culture activities
  • Scholarship up to 1300 USD for TEFL certified participants!

2025 Cultural Ambassador Summer Program- Return Flights Covered!

Video and Photos

Impact 🌎

Participants in this program receive an array of benefits to enhance their journey. From fully covered return flights to free Mandarin classes and engaging cultural activities, every aspect is designed to ensure a rewarding experience. Additionally, you’ll receive a stipend to cover personal expenses, making it easier to immerse yourself in the vibrant life of your host city.

This program goes beyond just a summer abroad; it’s an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. By living with a Chinese family, you’ll gain insights into the daily life and traditions of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, all while contributing to a global exchange of ideas and perspectives. This journey will equip you with the skills and understanding needed to thrive in an increasingly connected world.

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Program Reviews

4.72 Rating
based on 125 reviews
  • 5 rating 75.2%
  • 4 rating 23.2%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 1.6%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Housing 4.8
  • Support 4.6
  • Fun 4.45
  • Value 4.7
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 1 - 8 of 125 reviews
Eleonora
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An unforgettable cultural exchange

Wanderlust Exchange helped me realize my dream of coming to China after so many years of studying the Chinese language, culture, and history, and for that I am forever grateful. Thanks to the daily Chinese classes and frequent interactions with my host families, I was able to significantly improve my skills, especially in listening comprehension and speaking. I also had the chance to experience real day-to-day life in China and ask questions about many aspects of Chinese culture, which deepened my understanding.
Working with children was a new and rewarding discovery for me, helping me develop skills I didn't know I had. Although there were some challenges along the way, Wanderlust Exchange supported me throughout and solved them promptly. I truly value the lessons I gained from this experience and the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. I am grateful to both host families for welcoming me into their homes and wish them all the best for the future.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I did this all over again, I would probably arrange more video calls with the host family before makir my final choice. That way, I could better align my expectations with theirs and gain a clearer understanding of what they were hoping for from me. In the end, every experience is valuable, even if i doesn't always feel positive at the time, because it helps you grow and learn.
Pros
  • Significant language improvement
  • First-hand experience of life in China
  • Valuable international experience for my CV
Cons
  • Clearer alignment of expectations and responsibilities
  • Challenging emotional adjustment
  • Difficulties with the organization of the schedule
74 people found this review helpful.
Anonymous
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Beijing

It's been an amazing journey of growth and independence. Finding yourself, and getting out of your comfort one. This experience honestly changed the way I view things now. I've grown a lot! My student could not speak English when I arrived. My lessons plans and constant efforts that I had put in, finally paid off. I was so happy when we could finally have a conversation, share jokes, and discuss different topics in English. Kris, has also been wonderful throughout my 10 months in China. Thanks to Lily for picking me up at the airport, and Walter for his guidance throughout the Visa process. Wishing you all the best!

What was your funniest moment?
My student saying, "When you leave to your country, put me in your pocket and take me with"
Pros
  • Seeing your sudent's English improve
Cons
  • I was not a fan of the food
71 people found this review helpful.
Nana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Au Pair in Harbin

I finished my second programme with Wanderlust Exchange. I did 3 months in Beijing and later I did 6 months in Harbin. It was a wonderful experience overall. During these 9 months i had a lot of travel opportunities with the host families or during my own free time. For me the most rewarding experience was learning chinese and practising it daily in the local environment. Working with the children can be tiring but rewarding as well after seeing their progress and how they open up to you. I've met many amazing people through this program and grown as a person all while getting to know china as a country. Wanderlust team has also been very supportive during my stay. This experience opened up so many opportunities for me, I would absolutely do it over again!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Always hold a clear communication with the host family or the Wanderlust team and be open to accept the cultural differences
Pros
  • Mandarin classes
  • Travel opportunities
  • Delicious local cuisine
Cons
  • Can be overwhelming at times
  • Might be difficult to adapt at first
  • Language barrier
81 people found this review helpful.
Naira
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Aupair Beijing

I am very excited about this program. It help my childhood dream, visiting China come true, here I met amazing people and made fun and precious memories. First days felt a little bit different and difficult to adapt, but you need just to wait some days, and everything will be perfect.

Beijing has such a unique and vibrant energy. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse myself in a rich cultural heritage, explore historic landmarks like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, hutongs, and buzzing night markets.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Follow your dreams, don’t be afraid of coming new culture, welcome every opportunity in this life
Pros
  • History, culture
  • Food and drinks
  • Meeting new people
Cons
  • Missing family members and your country
92 people found this review helpful.
Lungelo
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Lungelo in China

I joined the Wanderlust Exchange program and spent six amazing months in Suzhou, China. From the moment I arrived it was a life changing experience. I got to live with a local family, learn about Chinese culture, and share my own.The main thing I enjoyed was shopping and going out every weekend with my host family. They really made me feel like part of the family. I also got to meet other au pairs and make new friends from around the world. I especially loved ordering food. It became my favorite hobby 😂 Because of my passion and love for the experience, Wanderlust even made me an Overseas Representative 🩷Throughout my journey we took many pictures and shared lots of stories. If you want to see what life in China was really like for me, you can check out my Instagram. I’ve posted highlights from the beginning of my trip all the way to now.Thank you Wanderlust for helping me grow, explore, and feel at home in a new country. If you’re thinking about joining, go for it. It’s an unforgettable adventure 🌏✈️

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do as much research as you can before coming. It helps you feel more prepared. Also, book your flight tickets a few months before your departure. They are usually much cheaper if you book early. I made the mistake of booking mine too late, and when my plans changed, there was a slight delay in getting my refund.
Pros
  • ESL experience
  • Culture exchange
  • Beautiful country
Cons
  • Culture shock
  • Fat phobia
  • Colorism
91 people found this review helpful.
Aleksandra
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Cultural exchange in China

Being in China was an interesting and very different experience. There is so much to discover in this country! When it comes to the program it was a great opportunity to learn more of Chinese, don't worry if you don't know any Chinese yet, the teachers at my school in Bejing were very friendly and patient, I learned so much and I also made many amazing friends, especially because it is not a big school, but that makes it more family like environment. Living with Chinese family was also very different and although there were many challenges and language barrier sometimes I also had a good time and made many great memories, including traveling with my host family to other cities in China.

102 people found this review helpful.
Nicolas
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great family, poor agency

I was very lucky with the family, but I know other au pairs who had horribly cruel families, and the agency didn't remove those families from their program.

I'm very grateful to the agency because they made everything possible, but I have to say they weren't completely transparent. They didn't tell me that Mandarin class wasn't during the whole stay, just a percentage of the time. They also told us we would have monthly activities, and the only activity I had with the agency was a picnic with industrial crisps and Oreo (I really liked the girl who organized it, she just didn't have the financial support from the agency).

At the end of the stay, they had to send me money, and they charged me about 40$ of transfer commissions, which they should just pay themselves.

I want to clarify that the people from the agency are lovely and willing to help. Kris and Tongyu were very nice! Thanks for everything!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Duck tongue and donkey skin
Pros
  • Completely changes your view of the world
  • Good food
  • Learn a lot
Cons
  • Brutal cultural shocks
  • Horrible apps for foreigners (maps etc)
  • Agency not very supportive
97 people found this review helpful.
Response from Wanderlust Exchange

Dear Nicholas,

We appreciate the unique cultural exchange you brought to the family you are working with and the enriching experiences you've shared with the children.

Wanderlust Exchange is dedicated to immersive cultural exchange and educational travel for over a decade. We value au pair experience and is here to ensure each and every of you are in good hands.

We host online & offline cultural activities and the Mandarin school we are working with also host cultural events such as tea ceremony, flower arrangement, painting fans and making dumplings. As for the Mandarin course, the course duration accounts for 70-85% of the au pair program period. This policy is listed in the Services and Subsidies to au pairs.

Thank you so much for your invaluable feedback, we will carry on our work in a more thorough and efficient manner. We appreciate your kind words on our coworkers Kris and Tongyu, who are invaluable members and part of WE Team.

Wish you all the best in your future endeavors!

Wanderlust Team

Meline
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life as an au pair

Being an au pair in China is a really good way to experience life there. You get to live with a Chinese family, which means you're surrounded by the culture every day. I got to travel, try a lot of new food, and learn about their customs up close. Living with a Chinese family helped me understand their lifestyle better and made the whole experience more meaningful. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you might feel a bit alone at first—you have to figure things out on your own, like exploring your neighborhood and getting used to everything but finding other au pairs nearby makes a big difference and can turn the experience into something really fun and memorable.

What would you improve about this program?
One thing I would suggest to improve the program is to help new au pairs connect with previous ones. That way, the former au pair could share their experience and tips, which would make things easier for both the newcomer and the host family
126 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hello Joanna, Thank you for your question and interest in Wanderlust Au Pair China Program. I would like to answer your questions in three aspects: how au pairs can get ready for their trip to China; what support they will have from Wanderlust; what's to be expected of your daily life with the host family. In regards to how au pairs can get themselves prepared for the trip to China, here are some...