I got to know RICH Chinese Summer Camp through Jennifer Sachs of Hyde Education, and I can honestly say it was one of the better recommendations we've received as a family. My daughter had been studying Mandarin for a few years — enough to hold a basic conversation, but not enough to feel confident. We were looking for something that would actually move the needle, not just expose her to the language in a superficial way. RICH turned out to be exactly that.

What set it apart from other programmes we considered was the environment. The Beijing camp is based in the Peking University area, and students live and study on or near one of China's most prestigious university campuses. For a 15-year-old, being surrounded by that academic culture — the architecture, the students, the energy of a real university — made an impression that no classroom back home could replicate. She came back talking about PKU as if she'd actually gone there herself, which I suppose in a way she had.

The classes are genuinely tiny. We're talking two to five students per group, placed by language level rather than age. My daughter ended up in a class with two other students whose Chinese was at a similar stage, and that intimacy made all the difference. There was nowhere to hide, which sounds intimidating, but the teachers were skilled at making it feel safe rather than stressful. By the end of the first week she was already texting me sentences I couldn't read.

What I hadn't fully anticipated was the evening one-on-one tutoring. Every student gets a private session each night, tailored to whatever they're working on — HSK prep, tones, characters, conversation. It sounds intense, and it probably is, but my daughter loved it. She said it was the first time she felt like her specific weaknesses were actually being addressed rather than glossed over in a group lesson.

Beyond the language work, the programme is genuinely immersive. The afternoons are filled with cultural activities — calligraphy, hutong visits, cooking classes — and the excursions are real, not tourist-trap versions. The session also included a multi-day trip to another city, which was a highlight she talked about for weeks afterwards. The students travel and experience China together, which builds a kind of camaraderie you don't get from a two-week classroom course.
The international mix of students was something we valued highly. Our daughter met kids from Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Americas, all there for the same reason. The shared experience of being slightly out of your comfort zone in a foreign country, while working hard at the same language, creates friendships quickly.

On the logistics side — safety, communication, supervision — I never had a moment of worry. Summer and her team were responsive, organised, and clearly experienced. It felt like a small, carefully run operation rather than a conveyor belt of summer programmes, and that personal quality came through in every interaction.

We'll be sending her back. That's probably the most honest review I can write.

When we first started looking for a summer program in China for our 14-year-old daughter, I was honestly a bit overwhelmed. There are so many options out there, and as a parent sending a teenager halfway across the world alone, safety and the actual quality of the program were my top concerns. We didn’t want a glorified tourist trip where the kids just speak English to each other on a bus, nor did we want a rigid, stressful academic boot camp.

We eventually chose the RICH Chinese Summer Camp, mainly because they have been running this since 2007 and seemed to have a very focused, independent approach. Now that my daughter has returned from their Beijing and Shanghai session, I can confidently say it was a fantastic investment.

What really sets this camp apart is the "university-based" residential experience. In Beijing, they stayed at the Global Village (Zhongguanyuan) right in the university district. Instead of staying in generic tourist hotels, the kids got a real taste of college dorm life in a highly secure, academic environment. It gave my daughter a sense of independence and maturity. She loved walking to the dining halls and interacting with the environment just like a local university student.

Academically, the setup was much more practical than what she gets at her weekend Chinese school back home. Before the camp started, they did a one-on-one level assessment. My daughter is a typical heritage speaker—she understands when we speak to her but refuses to talk, and her reading/writing was basically zero. Instead of just grouping kids by age, RICH placed her in one of their 6 specific levels using their own materials. The class sizes were extremely small, which meant she couldn't just hide in the back.

The biggest game-changer, however, was the 1-on-1 evening tutoring. After a long day of classes and cultural excursions in the city, she had a dedicated time to sit down with a teacher and review the exact things she struggled with that day. It made the progress feel very tangible. By the end of the second week, she was confidently ordering food at local restaurants and navigating the subway system in Shanghai without relying on translation apps.

The staff and counselors were professional and genuinely cared about the kids, striking a good balance between keeping them safe and letting them explore. They kept parents updated, but also encouraged the kids to disconnect from their phones and engage with the real world. If you are looking for a program that focuses on real cultural immersion, language application, and personal growth, this is a solid choice.

My child joined RICH Chinese Summer Camp last summer, and overall it was a very good experience.

At first I was a little nervous because it was the first time for my child to attend a camp in China without us. But the RICH team was very organized and responsive, which made us feel much more comfortable.

One thing I really liked was the campus environment. The students were not just staying in a hotel and going out every day. They had classes, meals, tutoring, and daily routines in a university campus setting, so it felt more like a real student experience in China. I think this made the camp feel safer and more meaningful.

The Chinese learning was also very practical. My child had Chinese classes, but also used Chinese during normal daily activities, like meals, shopping, asking questions, and talking with teachers. This was different from learning Chinese at home or in a weekend class.

My child came back more confident and more willing to speak Chinese. He also made friends from different countries and still talks about some of the activities and places they visited.

For our family, RICH was a good balance of Chinese learning, campus life, travel, and independence. I would recommend it to families who want their child to experience China in a structured but not too stressful way.

My child joined RICH Chinese Summer Camp in China, and it turned out to be a very meaningful and memorable experience for our family.

What we appreciated most was that the program was not only about taking Chinese classes or visiting famous places. It felt like a real camp experience. The students lived together, followed a daily routine, joined activities, had meals together, and slowly became more independent while being supported by the teachers and counselors.

The Chinese learning was also very practical. My child had small-group Chinese classes and tutoring, but more importantly, Chinese was used naturally throughout the day — during meals, activities, shopping, city visits, and conversations with teachers and other students. This made the learning feel much more connected to real life.

The university campus environment was another highlight. It gave the students a safe and structured place to live and learn, while also allowing them to experience student life in China. The city activities were well arranged and helped the students understand both traditional culture and modern China.

As a parent, I also felt reassured by the communication and organization of the camp. The team was responsive, caring, and experienced. The full-board arrangement, including accommodation, meals, transportation, and daily management, made it much easier for us to feel comfortable sending our child abroad.

My child came back with more confidence, more willingness to speak Chinese, new friends from different countries, and many wonderful memories.

I would recommend RICH Chinese Summer Camp to families looking for a Chinese immersion program that combines language learning, campus life, cultural experience, and personal growth.

As a parent, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Rich Chinese Summer Camp for offering such an amazing and life‑changing experience for my child. This summer camp has far exceeded all my expectations in every way.

First of all, the professional Chinese courses are truly impressive. The teachers are experienced, patient and well‑organized. Under their guidance, my child’s Chinese skills have improved noticeably in listening, speaking and confidence. The immersive learning environment makes Chinese study fun and effective, instead of boring textbook work. My kid became more willing to communicate in Chinese and grew more confident day by day.

Besides language learning, my child got to dive deep into authentic traditional Chinese culture through various wonderful hands‑on activities. They experienced many unique Chinese cultural projects, learned about Chinese history, art and customs, and gained a real‑world understanding of Chinese culture that books cannot provide. It is such a meaningful journey that broadened my child’s horizons and helped them appreciate different cultures from a global perspective.

What’s more, the well‑planned field trips around many fascinating places in China brought great joy to my child. Exploring beautiful scenic spots and historic sites made learning vivid and unforgettable. Most importantly, my child made precious friends from all over the world here. They learned to communicate, share and cooperate with peers from different countries, which greatly improved their social skills and cross‑cultural awareness.

Every time my child came back home from the camp, she was full of excitement and kept talking about her fun daily stories, new friends and wonderful activities non‑stop. She cannot wait to join Rich Chinese Summer Camp again and look forward to meeting more new friends and having more amazing adventures.

Rich Chinese Summer Camp is absolutely an excellent choice for kids to learn, grow and explore. I highly recommend this camp to every family. Thank you again to the whole team for your hard work, care and dedication in creating such a warm, safe and inspiring summer experience for our children.

I’m a Chinese teacher at an international school in Vietnam, and in 2018, I brought several of my students to the RICH Chinese Summer Camp. Each of us had an unforgettable experience. The camp was held at a university in Beijing, and the students had the chance to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and language. Later, we also visited Shanghai and Chengdu, which made the trip even more special. The camp provided a perfect blend of learning and fun, and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to explore China while improving their Chinese skills!

As a Chinese language teacher from Singapore, I had the privilege of bringing 10 of my students to RICH Chinese summer camp in 2019, and it left an unforgettable impression on all of us! The camp not only offered high-quality Chinese language classes at BLCU but also took us on educational trips to Shanghai and Chengdu. These excursions allowed students to practice their language skills in real-life settings while immersing themselves in China’s rich culture and history.

The program was exceptionally well-organized, balancing intensive language learning with cultural exploration. My students particularly enjoyed activities like calligraphy, traditional crafts, and visits to historical landmarks. The teachers were professional and supportive, ensuring that every student felt engaged and motivated to learn.

What stood out most was how the camp fostered a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and language. My students returned home not only with improved language skills but also with a broader perspective and unforgettable memories. I highly recommend this camp to any school or teacher looking for a transformative educational experience for their students!

Last summer, my 11-year-old son attended RICH Chinese summer camp, and as an overseas Chinese family from Belgium, we were extremely satisfied with the experience! The camp not only helped improve my son’s Chinese language skills but also deepened his understanding and love for Chinese culture. The curriculum was rich and engaging, and the teachers were passionate and professional, effectively sparking the children’s interest in learning. My son particularly enjoyed the interactive teaching methods and various cultural activities, such as calligraphy, traditional crafts, and Chinese cooking. The atmosphere of the camp was relaxed and fun, allowing the kids to learn through play and make many new friends.

What touched us the most was that the camp focused not only on language learning but also on building the children’s confidence and teamwork skills. After returning home, my son’s Chinese became more fluent, and he often shared stories and knowledge he gained from the camp with us. As parents, we are truly grateful for the valuable opportunity this camp provided for our child and highly recommend it to other overseas Chinese families! We look forward to joining again next year!