Program Reviews

I live in work in Guilin and I often go to Yangshuo. So, Yangshuo is an ideal place for me to study Chinese. I spent three weeks in Yangshuo during the winter holiday and welcomed the year of the rabbit while studying at Omeida. Overall, I had a great experience! I found the staff to be very welcoming and hospitable. They were very attentive to my needs, not only as a student, but as a guest. In general, everyone was very friendly and personable which fosters a very comfortable environment. More importantly, is the language learning environment at Omeida where you have the opportunity to immediately put to practice what you have learned. As an English teacher in China who has studied on and off for many years, I think I learned the most Chinese within this three-week time period that I have ever learned anywhere else. The two teachers who instructed me were engaging, extremely helpful and highly experienced. I've been teaching for over 10 years, and I was impressed with some of the approaches and methods they used in my classes. Apart from the actual Chinese classes, there were a variety of cultural activities offered as well as just exploring Yangshuo with staff members and students. I went out to dinner on a few occasions with Nissa, who I originally met in Yangshuo and introduced me to Omeida. Also, the school treated us to a very nice dinner at a local restaurant on the eve of the Chinese New Year as well as New Year's Day. This was a very kind gesture! I could go on at length about the positive experiences I had while studying at Omeida, but suffice it say that I had a great experience, and I was a little sad to leave. However, I plan to continue with online classes and return to Yangshuo to study in person as soon as I can.

Omeida's courses are totally flexible. You can start any Monday and spend anything from a week to ten years at the school, choose between a standard course (only morning or afternoon classes) and an intensive one (both), and pick up your Mandarin journey at exactly your level, even if that means a class of one. My teacher was attuned to my needs, professional and fun, following her lesson plan or indulging me in free conversation as the mood dictated. I only experienced one teacher, but swapped stories with fellow students and never heard anything but praise for the other half-dozen Mandarin teachers.

Because they operate an English academy as well, Omeida staff can usually match you a language partner, whom you will meet after class, as frequently and for as long as suits you both. This is an opportunity not only to learn more Mandarin for free, but also to befriend someone you'd never have crossed paths with in the normal course of your life, and learn about their story, hopes and dreams. Most likely your language partner will introduce you to other English-language students, and you'll soon be part of a bigger social group, with opportunities for cultural exchange every evening (if you have time -- students are expected to do their homework.)

Omeida provide accommodation, lunch, weekly cultural events (learn májiàng, Chinese painting) and weekend outings to local villages and scenic spots. There is a lounge-cafe where students mingle before and after class, also you can buy the best coffee in Yangshuo. In addition the staff support students in many ways, helping with transport and bureaucracy, or just making conversation in whichever language you feel like in the moment. From the instant you arrive you're part of the family. Many of the foreigners studying at Omeida were multiple return customers; I'll be one myself.

Good teachers and warm community

Beautiful landscape in Guilin. It was a bit cool when I was there in January. yangshou was a bit quite as it was Chinese new year’s. Apparently in the summer the school can get very busy. Teachers where of high quality and quite dedicated. Cost of apartment and for the classes was quite reasonable.

Administration was very kind and would set up 1 culture day a week and on week would arrange set a weekend trip to going to a local food market.

Omeida is a Chinese school who is knows what it is and are very well meaning

I originally booked four weeks and stayed for seven weeks in the end - I loved the atmosphere and found the teaching methods very interesting and engaging! Also the culturral program was interesting! the first week i did chinese class and yoga, the second one class and calligraphy and chinese painting, then two weeks of intensive chinese studying and the rest standard classes in the morning, to also be able to enjoy beautiful Yangshuo to the fullest! every saturday different trips were being organized and the atmosphere inside school was always welcoming and nice. can highly recommend!

The staff is fantastic, always kind and helpful. The language partner program is a great way to improve your Chinese and exchange with Chinese students learning English. There are many things to do around the area and the staff is always ready to help with the organization. The teachers are obviously passionate about their job. I also loved the cultural classes. There is a very relaxed and very nice atmosphere in the school. The accommodation is very close to the school. It has been a fantastic experience!!!

I spent 1 week studying in Yangshuo with Omeida. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and were picked up at the train station and brought to the accommodation. The accommodation was conveniently located a 2 minute walk from the school. The staff was so friendly and made us feel at home. The teachers made the lessons interesting and I learned a lot. The staff was also very helpful organizing rock climbing for us and I highly recommend trying this in your free time. I wish we could have spent more time at Omeida!

First of, the landscape surrounding Yang Shuo is breathtakingly stunning. It would soak up any existing stress that you might have carried along the way.

The program in Omeida is conveniently sorted out for you so it takes away any hassle of planning. As the teacher/staff here are used to interacting with a wide array of nationalities and personalities, they are open minded and have a wicked sense of humor. They are neither overbearing nor reserved and would adjust their interaction to suit your learning needs.

Firstly, Yangshuo is a remarkable area, scenery-wise. I will never forget the Karst, hill formations I saw there. The Omeida staff were friendly and helpful. I particularly remember Cecily and Wency who helped make my visit a happy and enjoyable time. The food in the Omeida cafeteria is delicious. Especially the bowls of "la" to mix with one's rice. Also, the Omeida, paid-for supper at City-On-City was great, and fire juggling show afterwards. Xi Jie, or "West Street" is a lot of fun! I will remember my experiences at Omeida and in Yangshuo forever. Oh yes, I learned a lot of Chinese there as well.

It is an experience and place that will stay with you long after you leave. Who knows, maybe you will end up going back like so many do, for the learning, the friends, the teachers, the mountains, the rivers, the caves--the good times. The small class sizes, usually around 4, are taught by experienced teachers who can teach to the class as well as the individual. You will learn about the language, the people, the culture, and most of all, meet amazing people whom you would never have otherwise met by staying at home. And being there will make you a part of this exclusive, amazing family. Yes, like all things, Omeida is what you make of it. However, what makes Omeida special is that it has all the ingredients there for you to succeed and experience something that you will never forget. So if you're looking for schools in China but don't want to be in a big city environment, then I can say after having studied there for 5 months Omeida should be one of your top choices.

If you are looking for a place to learn Chinese (both in and out-of-classes), do biking and make some friends, Omeida can be the place for it!

Regarding myself, I came in Omeida for a few weeks in July and December. Both were enjoyable but different experiences - super, super hot in Summer, quite cold in Winter. Usually, the Chinese classes are small (3 to 5 students), which is great for practice. My teachers - Tommy and Yuri - were lovely & really professional teachers, able to handle students with slightly different levels. Apart from classes, you can have a Chinese language partner and/or a Chinese roommate (I was super lucky, but some people might prefer the private rooms).

And when you are not studying? Well, the landscapes are truly amazing - with hidden villages or waterfalls - perfect for biking, rock-climbing, hiking, running or simply scooter-riding. These activities will fill your weekends (or even weekdays), in addition to the activities organized by the school (e.g. pizza night, rice terraces, bamboo rafting). Speaking about the urban side, Yangshuo is not an enormous city, but you can find a decent amount of restaurants, bars and bubble tea shops.

Another word is that it is quite easy to meet people from all kinds in Omeida - University students, backpackers travelling across Asia, employees making a break, etc. Plus, the staff is really welcoming. So you won't feel alone!