Bilingual Schools in Nanjing: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Families moving to Nanjing often start their search for bilingual schools in Nanjing expecting a choice of English and Chinese dual-language campuses. The reality is narrower. Chinese regulation separates schools for the children of foreign personnel from Chinese private schools, so the options open to an expat child are mostly English-medium international schools that teach Mandarin as a strong second language, rather than schools that split the timetable evenly between the two.

That still leaves real choices. Some schools build Mandarin into every year group, one runs a named immersion track, and one offers a Chinese curriculum class for foreign students who may later apply to Chinese universities. This guide explains what each label means in practice, where the schools sit in a sprawling city, what families typically pay and how to judge the Mandarin provision for yourself before you sign anything.

Living in Nanjing: where the schools are and how families get around

Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu province, a large city on the Yangtze roughly an hour and a half from Shanghai by high-speed rail. International families tend to arrive for manufacturing, automotive and engineering roles, for university research posts, or with regional offices of multinational companies. The expat community is smaller and more spread out than in Shanghai, which shapes school choice: the nearest suitable school can easily be 40 minutes away by car.

The international schools cluster in three areas. Jiangning, south of the old city, is home to a large share of industrial parks and newer compounds, and it hosts The British School of Nanjing, Nanjing Echo International School in Hushu town and Wycombe Abbey School in Tangshan. Xianlin, the university town in Qixia district to the north east, is where Nanjing International School has its campus. Jianye, the Hexi new town west of the centre, is where EtonHouse is based.

Commutes between these areas are long. Driving from southern Jiangning to Xianlin can take most of an hour at peak times, and the metro, while extensive, rarely lines up neatly with school gates. Most families either choose housing after the school, or rely on school buses where they run. Ask each school for its current bus map before you commit to a lease.

Curricula and what "bilingual" really means in Nanjing

It helps to sort schools into three groups. The first is the English-medium international school with a Mandarin programme: lessons are in English and Mandarin is taught daily or several times a week, often split by ability so that a beginner and a heritage speaker are not in the same class. This is the most common model in Nanjing.

The second is the immersion or dual-language track, where a meaningful share of the school day is taught in Mandarin by native-speaking teachers, usually in the early years. Here the questions are how many hours per week are in Mandarin, whether the Chinese teacher is a co-teacher or a specialist who visits, and what happens to the model after age seven or eight.

The third is the Chinese-curriculum or blended school. These serve mainly Chinese families, and because of the rules below, they are generally not an option for a child on a foreign passport during the compulsory years. Do check eligibility before you fall in love with a campus.

Based on the school profiles, these are the programmes open to expat families in Nanjing:

• International Baccalaureate (IB): taught in English at Nanjing International School, which describes itself as the only PreK to Grade 12 IB World School in Nanjing, and at EtonHouse International School.
• English National Curriculum with IGCSE and A level: offered by The British School of Nanjing from Early Years to the Sixth Form.
• American K to 12 curriculum: offered by Nanjing Echo International School, which also has a Chinese Curriculum Class for foreign students.
• Chinese and British blended model: described by Wycombe Abbey School Nanjing, which also offers boarding.
• English and Mandarin immersion: the named bilingual programme at EtonHouse International School.

Schools to consider in Nanjing

Nanjing International School

Nanjing International School (NIS) was founded in 1992 and sits at Xue Heng Lu 8 in the Xianlin university town, Qixia district. It says it was the first three-programme IB school in China and is the only PreK to Grade 12 IB World School in Nanjing, with a community of more than 40 nationalities. Teaching is in English, and all students have the opportunity to study Mandarin. A Reggio-inspired Early Years area opened in August 2019. Tip: ask how Mandarin classes are grouped by level and whether native speakers follow a separate first-language track through the Diploma years.

EtonHouse International School

EtonHouse, at 6 Songhua River West Street in Jianye, teaches the International Baccalaureate in English and also runs an English and Mandarin Immersion Programme, which it describes as a high-quality bilingual language environment. The campus includes a bilingual library, gymnasium, cafeteria and dedicated Early Years areas. This is the closest match on our list to a genuine bilingual pathway for young children. Tip: ask for the weekly split of hours in each language in the immersion classes, and up to which age the programme runs.

The British School of Nanjing

The British School of Nanjing (BSN) at 16 Han Fu Lu in Jiangning is part of the Nord Anglia Education group and describes itself as the longest-running British international school in the city. It follows the English National Curriculum from Early Years (ages 2 to 5) through Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary, ending with IGCSEs and A levels. English is the language of instruction. Tip: for a family relocating from the UK or moving on to a British-system school elsewhere, continuity is the main argument here; ask what Mandarin is offered alongside the core subjects and at what level.

Nanjing Echo International School

Nanjing Echo International School (NEIS) is at No.12 Qianyuan Street, Hushu town, in southern Jiangning. Its profile states it was founded in 2003, is approved by the Jiangsu Education Department as a school for children of foreigners, follows an American K to 12 curriculum in English and became a WASC accreditation candidate in 2018. Distinctively, it runs a Chinese Curriculum Class for foreign students who want stronger Chinese language and culture, and to prepare for Chinese universities. Tip: this is worth a visit if your child may stay in China for higher education; confirm current accreditation status directly.

Wycombe Abbey School

Wycombe Abbey School Nanjing is in Tangshan, Jiangning district, and describes an education that blends Chinese and British approaches, with boarding available. It is the clearest example in the city of the third group above. Tip: before visiting, ask the admissions office directly which sections, if any, can enrol a foreign passport holder, since a blended school is often licensed mainly for Chinese families.

Fees and the regulations behind them

None of these schools publishes fees on its profile, so treat the following as rough, indicative bands for day places in 2026:

Early Years: roughly RMB 130,000 to 200,000 a year (about USD 18,000 to 28,000). Primary: roughly RMB 170,000 to 260,000 (about USD 24,000 to 36,000). Secondary and Diploma or A level years: roughly RMB 220,000 to 320,000 (about USD 31,000 to 45,000). Boarding, where offered, adds considerably to these figures.

The legal context matters as much as the price. China's revised Implementing Regulations of the Law on the Promotion of Private Education took effect on 1 September 2021 and tightened rules on private schools at the compulsory stage (Grades 1 to 9); schools for children of foreign personnel admit only holders of foreign passports. In practice that means a foreign child usually enrols in a school for foreign personnel, while the Chinese-family bilingual sector is largely closed to them in those grades.

Budget for these extras on top of tuition:

• Application and assessment fee, usually non-refundable.
• Enrolment or registration fee and a refundable deposit to hold the place.
• Development or capital levy at some schools.
• School bus, which can be a significant line given Nanjing's distances.
• Lunch and snacks, uniforms and sports kit.
• External exam entries for IGCSE, A level or the IB Diploma.
• Laptop or tablet under a device programme, plus residential trips.

Practical advice for families seeking a bilingual education

Measure the Mandarin, not the marketing. Ask every school the same three questions: how many minutes of Mandarin per week in your child's year group, how classes are set by level, and what qualifications the Chinese teachers hold. Then ask to sit in on a Mandarin lesson. A school with daily, well-grouped lessons may outperform a "bilingual" label with thin delivery.

Match the language goal to the length of stay. On a two or three year posting, conversational Mandarin and a smooth return to your home system usually matter most, which favours an IB or British school with a solid Chinese programme. If you expect to stay longer, or your child may study at a Chinese university, an immersion track or a Chinese curriculum class becomes far more valuable.

Check eligibility and paperwork early. Schools for foreign personnel will ask for your child's foreign passport and a valid residence permit for the family, along with previous school reports. If one parent holds Chinese nationality or the child has dual status, raise it at the first enquiry, because it can affect which schools are allowed to enrol your child.

Compare the wider region

If you are weighing Nanjing against Suzhou or Wuxi, or simply want a broader view of quality across the province, see our ranking of the best international schools in Jiangsu.

More guides to schools in Nanjing

• International school admissions in Nanjing
• International school fees in Nanjing
• Best international schools in Jiangsu

Frequently asked questions

Can my foreign child attend a Chinese bilingual private school in Nanjing?

Usually not during Grades 1 to 9. Since the revised private education regulations took effect on 1 September 2021, schools for children of foreign personnel admit only foreign passport holders, and Chinese bilingual private schools are licensed mainly for Chinese families. Ask each school's admissions office about eligibility in writing, especially if your child holds dual status or one parent is a Chinese national.

Which international schools in Nanjing teach Mandarin?

Nanjing International School offers Mandarin to all of its students alongside the IB, and EtonHouse in Jianye runs an English and Mandarin Immersion Programme with a bilingual library. Nanjing Echo International School has a Chinese Curriculum Class for foreign students. British and American schools also teach Mandarin, but hours vary, so compare minutes per week by year group.

How much does an international school in Nanjing cost per year?

Fees are not published on the school profiles, but day places generally fall roughly between RMB 130,000 for early years and RMB 320,000 for the final secondary years, about USD 18,000 to 45,000. Add application and enrolment fees, a deposit, school bus, lunches, uniforms and exam entries. Boarding at schools that offer it costs considerably more.