lifeistreschic

Which would you choose to spend a study abroad year at? Why?

I know zero Mandarin and would be studying at The University of Hong Kong or Fudan University in Shanghai. I want to travel a lot throughout Asia - India, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Thoughts?

seekingknowledge

Shanghai, hands down. Mandarin is spoken on the streets in the city, Cantonese is much more common in Hong Kong. If you are really serious about learning the language, better programs with incredible intensity can be found in Beijing and Harbin.

winx12432

Well, if you know nothing about Mandarin, I would suggest Hong Kong, mainly because the people there mostly know basic english, so communicating with them shouldn't be a problem. Hong Kong is also a city that has a dynamic cultural background, since you can technically find any type of cuisine there, and I personally enjoyed shopping there a lot. The views there at night are also amazing, especially at their well-known Victoria Harbor. But most importantly, the life style in Hong Kong is just inspiring (to me), their way of life, and their passion towards efficiency. It may be a little crowded, but it's another thing you may would like to experience