You arrive for your first day of class with LTL on a Monday, excited to get stuck in.

But, to be honest, after a long haul flight and navigating Chinese public transport for the first time, you’re jetlagged and slightly disoriented.

What do we do first?

We take you out for breakfast, of course! Everyone knows that you can’t learn Chinese on an empty stomach.

This Breakfast Club became a tradition across all LTL schools – every time a new cohort of students arrives to begin their course on a Monday morning, we organize a group breakfast so everyone can get to know each other.

And even better, you’ll learn some basic Chinese breakfast phrases in the process!

Here at LTL, we like to break up the week with a laidback social event for students on Wednesday evenings.

And because we’re in Chengdu – China’s food capital – that usually means a visit to a local restaurant to show off our city’s delicious cuisine.

Since the local food is just so good, we like to go to places that serve up traditional Chinese and Sichuanese dishes in a relaxed setting.

Hot Pot is always a popular choice – including local Chengdu variants on the Hot Pot theme, such as Chuan Chuan (串串) or Mao Cai（冒菜）restaurants.

Wednesday night dinners are all about getting the chance to chat with teachers, your classmates, or students from other LTL classes in an informal setting.

What we love about these meals is it often gives newcomers a chance to get study or travel advice from LTL students who have been in Chengdu a while longer – and of course, everyone gets the chance to practice their Chinese with teachers and waiting staff!

What To Eat In Chengdu – 20 Of The Best Sichuanese Cuisines You Can’t Miss

Price per head for the meal usually works out around 50 to 70 CNY.

When LTL students want to get together after class, but without risk of a hangover the next day, we like to suggest a night at a bilingual board game café in town.

Born to Play 天生爱玩 (Tiānshēng Ài Wán) near Wuhou Flyover metro station is run by the self-confessed board game geek and Chengdu local Nichols (尼克).

The café is open ‘til late and stocked with soft drinks, milk tea and board games from all over the world – mostly in their Chinese-language versions.

But no need to worry if your Mandarin Chinese isn’t quite HSK6 level yet!

Nichols knows every one of his games inside-out and is always more than willing to help his customers understand the rules. He will often offer to play the first round with you and your classmates, or team you up with a pair of locals on the next table.

Are you interested in finding out how playing board games in Chinese can fast-track your fluency?

Check out our blog about Learning Chinese with Board Games here.

Here are some of our favourite haunts for a chilled beer after class:

Mojar: Currently found at two locations in downtown Chengdu, Mojar is a perennial favourite for students on a tight budget.

The two Cuban-themed bars are always busy with a mix of locals and international students chatting or playing pool, whatever time you arrive.

It’s very cheap, very lively, and a little bit grimy. Get your hands on a membership card, and you’ll have unlimited access to 5 CNY draught lager and a variety of mixer drinks (yes, that’s roughly 70 cents).

The Beer Nest: When cheap draught lager won’t cut it, LTL students tend to head over to the Beer Nest opposite the Poly Centre. These guys were one of the first bars in China to popularize craft ale and now stock over sixty branded beers from all over the world.

The atmosphere is cosy and welcoming, with regular comedy nights and other social mixers on the calendar. Their best-selling Chengdu Wheat Beer will set you back 40 CNY (roughly 6 USD), but arrive before 8pm and you can take advantage of their “Buy One, Get One Free” Happy Hour offer!

Many an LTL night out has ended up in a KTV over the years. You’re not sure what a KTV is? Let us explain…

Imagine a karaoke night. However, rather than being in a sweaty dive of a bar, you get your own private room.

Yes, just for you and your fellow LTL students!

There are comfy sofas, a big screen for the music videos (both Chinese pop songs and international karaoke classics) and of course some oversized microphones to pass around.

It’s a tried-and-tested recipe for a great night.

Whether you’re a born Pavarotti or can’t sing for toffee – you’ll be joining a long legacy of LTL students when you realise you’ve learnt all the words to 小苹果!

There are few better ways to spend a Sunday evening than around a table with fellow LTL students – eating fries, sipping a beer and talking about everyone’s sightseeing highlights.

Add a bit of friendly competition to the mix at a local Quiz Night and you’ve got yourself the perfect end to a weekend.

Over the years TEAM LTL has represented our school at Quiz Nights across China – with mixed results!

But more often than not, the diverse ages and backgrounds of our students mean we’re able to pool our knowledge and come away with at least a third-place prize.

The most popular Quiz nights in Chengdu are at Underground bar (a British-themed pub) or Homeplate BBQ (an all-American Grill & Bar).

Both run Happy Hour drinks specials during the Quiz and attract a mix of local and visiting teams. Prizes range from free shots to 500 CNY food and drink vouchers.

Oh life in Chengdu is so sweet! Go Team LTL!

Those of us who live in Chengdu are blessed with easy access to beautiful mountain scenery. And after a week of hitting the books, many LTL students like to get out and about at the weekend to enjoy Sichuan’s natural scenery.

Mount Qingcheng – One Day

Less than an hour from central Chengdu is the wonderfully lush and green Qingcheng mountain area.

This is one of the holiest sites in the Taoist religion, and a former place of pilgrimage.

Hiking to the highest peak in the mountain range takes roughly four hours, but don’t worry – the path is well-paved, and there are plenty of places to stop, have a snack and enjoy the view!

The path up the far side of the highest mountain (Qingcheng HouShan) passes countless waterfalls and streams and winds through woodlands of Chinese fir and cypress.

In this case, the journey is just as beautiful as the destination!

But if you’re low on energy or time, there are also cable car routes. These can take you up to the main viewing platform and even high up across the entire mountain range, for a true bird’s-eye view of the area.

Mount Emei – Two Days

Mount Emei proudly holds the impressive title of highest Buddhist mountain in China, and is home to over one hundred Buddhist temples and religious sites.

The mountain area has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status for this reason – but the natural scenery is also spectacular.

The main peak (known as the Golden Summit) is well over three thousand metres above sea level and is often shrouded in mist.

Most guides recommend allowing between 8 and 10 hours hiking for the main attractions.

Since a high-speed bullet train from Chengdu to Emeishan usually takes between one to two hours, most LTL students prefer to stay overnight in the national park or in nearby Leshan city.

There are even a few hotels and hostels near the summit, which means you can witness the famous Emeishan sunrise or sunset from high above the clouds.

One tip – watch out for the monkeys (Tibetan macaques) if you have any hiking snacks in your bag!

Looking for cocktails and a night on the tiles?

Full House Bar: If you and the rest of Team LTL Chengdu are on the hunt for delicious cocktails with Instagram-able presentation, look no further than this little neighbourhood bar.

With its swanky casino-style interior, super friendly staff and prime location (right next to the river and the clubs of LanKwaiFong!), Full House Bar has it all.

Ask the bar staff for a recommendation and you won’t be disappointed.

LanKwaiFong Clubs: The LanKwaiFong area is a hotspot for nightclubs and high-end bars – having been built by and named after the owner of the synonymous area in Hong Kong.

Among LTL students Jellyfish is probably the most legendary, with its lively playlist of pop and dance anthems.

Maybe you’ve heard of Peking Opera, and perhaps even seen a performance.

But did you know that life in Chengdu and the surrounding province of Sichuan can boast their own unique form of the art?

One of the best things about coming to China to study Mandarin is the opportunities you have to see traditional culture in action.

Many LTL students have this in mind when they choose to study in Chengdu – and for them, seeing a small-scale, intimate performance of an ancient art form is a true highlight of their stay.

Your LTL Student Advisor will be more than happy to recommend where to go and how to get tickets.

Get ready for a night of fire breathing, rapid “face” changing, puppetry – and exquisite traditional costumes!

Life in Chengdu wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t see a panda, right?

For many LTL students in Chengdu, a trip to the Panda Research Base is absolutely top of the to-do list.

For precisely that reason, there will always be someone to go with and help you take those once-in-a-lifetime photos!

The centre in downtown Chengdu is the headquarters for China’s national panda breeding program, so no matter what time of year you arrive, you’re bound to see a few baby pandas here as well.

Make sure you arrive early though – both to beat the main rush of tourist crowds, and see pandas at their most active (before 10am). From mid-morning onwards, they can get a little drowsy.

Well, it is a hard life rolling around and eating bamboo, all day, I guess!

If you have a bit more time on your hands at the weekend, we would highly recommend a visit to the Dujiangyan Panda Base just outside of Chengdu.

Fewer tour groups make the effort to go here, and the pandas are granted fresher area in their large outdoor enclosures, among the scenery of the Qingcheng mountains.