The China Studies Center (CSC) is committed to providing supports for people in the community to learn Chinese language and about Chinese culture, and also serves as a platform for cross-cultural collaboration and academic research initiatives.
The main functions of the CSC are:
- Organizing the short-term Study in China program/tour for students and Canadian educators travelling to China
- Participating in provincial university student Chinese proficiency competitions and the training programs for Chinese language teachers in Canada
- Supporting academic research by organizing international symposiums, inviting speakers, and facilitating cross-cultural exchange activities
- Facilitating community members in referring to HSK tests, providing consultations for relevant evaluations and certification, and contributing in relevant cultural events
Study in China Fall 2025 Trip
A Study in China program will be offered Fall 2025!
2025 Provincial Chinese Competition
Study in China Summer 2024 Trip
Study in China Trip Summer 2024
Georgia Berg
Two weeks in Beijing proved to be, at times, fun, challenging, educational, and impactful. We managed to fit a lot of cultural excursions into a packed schedule (including a section of The Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, and the Forbidden City), alongside language learning classes. There were so many sights and conversations that I would've never been able to experience outside of this trip that have helped me understand Chinese culture and values. I am especially grateful for our TAs at BNU who took up the roles of teachers, translators, tour guides, and friends to support our group throughout the trip.
Anne Hambly
The trip to Beijing funded by Renison and led by our wonderful teacher Li Laoshi was an amazing cultural experience that I will remember for my entire life. My relevant highlights of the trip were climbing the Great Wall of China, being forced to sing when we were late for class in the morning, getting interviewed for CCTV International Television, and practicing interacting with people in Chinese. As a foreigner in China, it was fun to see how many people wanted to get pictures with us or of us. Our teachers from Beijing Normal University, Wang Laoshi and Yue Laoshi, traveled everywhere with us and were great teachers of Chinese culture and language. Aside from that, they were also cheerful, funny, and extremely kind people, and I miss them already. By the end of the trip, my classmates and I were all very close. We ate meals together every day, stayed up late talking in the dorms, performed Yi Jian Mei on the Great Wall of China, ate a hand destroyed watermelon, and played cards on a Hanfu lobby floor. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime!
Irene Hu
The Study in Beijing trip hosted at Beijing Normal University (BNU) through Renison University College was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime experience. I had the opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese culture through the various excursions we went on, such as the Temple of Heaven, Great Wall of China, and Forbidden City! I was also able to meet 15 other like-minded students who were interested in learning the Chinese language, which made the experience much more rewarding. Everyone from the teachers at BNU to the locals on the streets were welcoming and friendly to all of us. From strolling along the Hutongs of Beijing to eating authentic Chinese food like Peking duck, it was such a memorable experience for me. I hope that more students will be able to experience similar trips like this in the future!
Victoria Jubenville
This trip was truly an amazing experience. I was able to experience Beijing’s culture through courses at Beijing Normal University and excursions around the city. I saw many attractions that I will remember for my lifetime including the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and the Great Wall. These attractions were a great way for me to learn about China’s history and gain deeper understanding of the country. I also enjoyed the daily classes which sharpened our skills in Mandarin. Being able to spend time with students from the university was a great way to learn more about the culture and make international connections. When arriving in Beijing I felt very welcomed from the school and my classmates. I am grateful that I had this opportunity alongside other students from the University of Waterloo as I formed meaningful friendships and was able to experience China in such a unique way.
William Kennedy
Beijing is a city unlike any other place I've been. It is simultaneously very historic yet modern, chaotic yet organized, and urbanized yet lush in green space. I am very grateful to our hosts at Beijing Normal University who brought me and other Waterloo students to many historic landmarks such as the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall of China. Every person I encountered was welcoming and excited to see me, and I am especially fond of the children who would exclaim “外国人!” wàiguórén (foreigner!) upon seeing me... I was even stopped for photos on multiple occasions! Though Canadians like myself may find the level of security and surveillance alarming, I never once felt at risk as Beijing is exceptionally safe to explore. In the end, I feel like I have seen Chinese culture for myself while improving my language skills. This was my first time in China and I would encourage everyone to experience how different China is at least once in their lives. I hope to return again someday!
Olivia Eleanora Rose Laufer
I had the opportunity to take a trip to Beijing to learn more about the culture and language in China. My favourite part of the trip was climbing the great wall. Seeing it made me contemplate all of its history and all of the hands that laboured in creating it. Not only was it a magnificent work of engineering, but witnessing its majesty up close left me awestruck. It was very physically taxing to climb but doing so as a group (and in the rain) brought us closer together. It was nice to be able to see the Chinese locals and school children also hiking the wall at the same time as us and there was calming and beautiful music playing from the speakers.
Gillian Middleton
Wow what a whirlwind 2 week trip! Traveling to China can seem very daunting for the everyday Canadian due to both the cultural and language barriers, even with taking Chinese 101, 102 and 201 before this trip I sometimes felt out of my depth with the language but it provided me with a huge learning opportunity to strengthen my spoken language skills. This trip not only allowed us to experience the rich historical sites such as The Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and The Forbidden City but this trip taught us about the daily lives of students from taking public transport to eating together in the student canteens on campus. I met 17 amazing new friends on this trip that I now know I can go traveling again with them in the future, I will cherish this experiences for the rest of my life. Thanks again for this opportunity. Pro tip for traveling in China: make sure you have Alipay and it works before getting to China. :)
Tomiwa Ogunleye
Visiting and studying in Beijing was such an inspiring experience. For me, one of the major roadblocks in my language learning journey has been finding the courage to speak without doubting myself. From the moment I arrived my courage was put to the test. Just the thought of ordering lunch at the cafeteria had become such a daunting task for me. As the trip progressed, I found community in our collective desire to learn as students. Sometimes we would challenge ourselves to exclusively speak Mandarin to each other. We made lots of mistakes, but it helped us start to shake off our timidity. Then as we explored the city, participated in class, and interacted with the community, my confidence continued to grow. To the point where I was confident enough to bargain in Mandarin at the local market. It wasn’t perfect, but it reinforced this idea: you don’t need to be perfect to try, but you must be willing to try in order to become perfect. I still have a long way to go but I'm so grateful for this experience and would definitely go again in a heartbeat.
Elizabeth Schnurr
This past August, I had the most amazing experience in Beijing through my university’s Study in Beijing summer program. On this trip, we saw so many beautiful places like Beihai Park and the Hutongs. We also got to learn so much about Chinese culture through trips to historic places like the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall of China. One of my many favourite memories was getting to wear Hanfu to the Forbidden City! Throughout my time in Beijing, my Chinese improved a lot! By the end of the trip, I felt much more comfortable speaking and was able to have some conversation with local people. Additionally, not only was it fantastic to see Beijing first-hand, but it was also awesome to see what university life is like in China through our classes and accommodations at Beijing Normal University. I have always wanted to go to China, but as a university student it is expensive to travel. However, because of the funding that was provided to me for this trip, my aspiration to go to China became possible! It is a trip that I will always remember. Thank you!