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Hangzhou Chinese International School

China, Hangzhou

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Mandarin
Fees RMB 491,240
Ages 14 - 15 years
Pupil numbers 100
Type Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 2013
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin, English, French, Spanish
Strengths Languages, Sport, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Community and Service, Cultural and Language
Stages Secondary School
Introduction

CIS Hangzhou is a one-year, residential Year 10 programme launched in 2013 and run by Chinese International School (CIS). The programme is taught in English and Chinese (Mandarin) and is delivered as a tailored CIS Year 10 curriculum (CIS-developed/Bespoke) that emphasises experiential, interdisciplinary and project-based learning using Hangzhou and the surrounding region as a classroom. The mini-campus is housed on the Greentown Yuhua School (GYS) campus and includes residential facilities for up to 144 students, with rooms of up to four students and house structures for pastoral care. The programme timetable runs six days a week and includes a Core, Individual and Elective sports programme and an established music programme (whole-school choir, peripatetic lessons and ensembles). CIS describes substantial opportunities for community service and city-based learning as part of the Hangzhou experience.

1 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill Hong Kong SAR, China

The Essentials

Hangzhou Chinese International School has 100 pupils, instruction in English, Mandarin.

Location
CIS Hangzhou runs from a mini‑campus on the Greentown Yuhua School (GYS) campus in western Hangzhou (Jiangcun/Xihu District). The partner campus address is listed as No. 532 Wenyi West Road; the site is on a large private school campus in the west of the city. Public transport serves the area (Hangzhou Metro Line 5 has stations serving the Xihu/Jiangcun area), and the campus is within the wider West Hangzhou university/education zone—parents should check local maps for exact travel times from your accommodation.

Stages
CIS Hangzhou is a tailored, single year‑level programme built for Year 10 students (a one‑year residential Year 10 intake). The learning experience is autonomous from the partner school and focused on that single year group.

Type
The programme is co‑educational and residential: CIS operates the Year 10 mini‑campus and boarding facilities on the GYS site, with on‑campus dormitories, house system and 24‑hour pastoral supervision. It is part of Chinese International School (Hong Kong)'s curriculum offer rather than a separate day school.

Additional learning support
CIS maintains Student Support services at its Hong Kong campus (learning enhancement, language support and counselling teams) and the Hangzhou programme emphasises personal attention, pastoral care and social‑emotional counselling within the residential setting. Because Hangzhou is a small, single‑year residential programme with limited boarding capacity, families with specific or complex Additional Learning Needs (SEN) should discuss individual provision with CIS Admissions to confirm suitability and available accommodations.

Country affiliation
CIS Hangzhou is a mainland China residential programme run by the Chinese International School (Hong Kong) in partnership with Greentown Yuhua School; it is an extension of the Hong Kong school rather than an independent national school.

Religious affiliation
Chinese International School is listed with no religious affiliation; CIS/Hangzhou is not a faith school.

School day structure
The programme combines on‑campus academic lessons, experiential/field learning in Hangzhou, and residential life routines; the residence is staffed 24 hours a day with Coach Mentors and Heads of House for pastoral care. Detailed daily timetables (class times, study periods and house activities) are set by the programme each year—contact Admissions for the current term timetable.

Bus service
There is no published regular day‑student bus route on the Hangzhou programme pages; because students live on campus the programme focuses on on‑site accommodation and organised excursions. Parents visiting the campus typically use local transport (the Jiangcun/Xihu area is served by Hangzhou Metro Line 5 and local roads to Wenyi West Road). For organised transfers (airport pickups, parent visits or off‑campus trips) ask CIS Admissions or the Hangzhou programme team for the latest arrangements and any provider details.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Residential facilities are housed in two custom-built halls on the Greentown Yuhua School campus, a partner school, and are designed to be in line with those of top boarding schools.
Fees

Annual tuition at Hangzhou Chinese International School ranges from RMB 491,240 for 2026/27.

Annual tuition (published amounts by year group)
- Reception: HKD 216,100 per year.
- Years 1–6: HKD 286,600 per year.
- Years 7–11: HKD 338,300 per year.
- Years 12–13: HKD 342,800 per year.

Per-term and instalment breakdown (calculated from published annual tuition)
- Per-term (3 equal terms) — Reception: HKD 72,033 per term; Years 1–6: HKD 95,533 per term; Years 7–11: HKD 112,767 per term; Years 12–13: HKD 114,267 per term. (Per-term figures shown are simple equal splits of the annual tuition above.)
- Monthly (10 instalments/autopay) — Reception: HKD 21,610 per month; Years 1–6: HKD 28,660 per month; Years 7–11: HKD 33,830 per month; Years 12–13: HKD 34,280 per month. (Monthly figures are the annual tuition divided by 10 instalments.)

Application, assessment and reservation / enrolment charges
- Application fee: HKD 2,000 (non-refundable). Assessment fees: Primary HKD 2,500; Secondary HKD 2,000 (where applicable).
- Reservation/acceptance deposit on offer: HKD 150,000 (this amount includes the first year's Annual Capital Levy and is non-refundable).
- (Other sources report an admission/entry fee practice in local schools; application and reservation fees for CIS are stated above.)

Annual Capital Levy
- Annual Capital Levy: HKD 30,200 per year for students joining in the 2025–26 intake. This levy is charged in addition to tuition.

Other compulsory / recurring charges
- Annual fees for resources, materials and experiential learning vary by year group (examples published): Reception–Year 2 approx. HKD 12,230–12,790; Years 3–6 approx. HKD 14,490–18,150; Years 7–9 approx. HKD 25,050–27,940 (additional China Experience programme charges apply). Year 11–13 annual activity/induction/graduation charges are also billed separately.

Boarding / CIS Hangzhou (Year 10 residential programme)
- Year 10 Hangzhou programme: an additional Year 10 annual fee approx. HKD 30,400 plus a boarding fee reported at HKD 198,800 (boarding charged in addition to tuition and annual fees).

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Families may choose either monthly Autopay (10 instalments, September–June) or termly payments (three instalments: Sept–Dec, Jan–Mar, Apr–Jun). Invoices and instalment due dates are issued by the Business Office.

Refunds and non-refundable items
- Application, assessment and reservation/acceptance fees are non-refundable. Tuition and levies already billed are not refundable once invoiced. The Annual Capital Levy is non-refundable.

Payment methods
- Payment is handled by the school Business Office. Typical accepted methods are bank autopay/direct debit and bank transfer processed through the Business Office; other payment routes are managed by the school's accounts team.
Academics

Hangzhou Chinese International School teaches Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 14 to 15.

Curriculum
CIS Hangzhou delivers a bilingual (English and Chinese) curriculum that uses the city as a classroom and is organised around four interconnected focuses: Autonomy, Better Being, Collaboration and Disciplines. Primary (Reception–Year 6) is a collaborative dual‑language programme with co‑teaching by native Chinese (Mandarin) and English teachers and differentiated Chinese Language Arts for Years 4–6 taught at three proficiency levels. Secondary Years 7–9 follow the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) as foundational years. Years 10–11 follow a CIS‑developed curriculum and assessment model—Year 10 is delivered through the CIS Hangzhou residential programme with personalised, project‑based and interdisciplinary learning, and Year 11 returns to the Hong Kong campus to bridge MYP and DP expectations. Years 12–13 prepare students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP); across the Hangzhou programme core subjects include Chinese (Mandarin) and English, mathematics at different levels, humanities, sciences, visual and performing arts, product design, physical education, and optional French or Spanish.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
CIS Hangzhou delivers a taught programme called Better Being that aims to develop students' self-understanding, strengths, mindfulness practices and coping strategies; it includes scheduled “Home Time”, “Family Time”, project work (Inner Dragon, Footprints, Shifu Yoda and Engine) and house-based group work led by Heads of Houses and Coach Mentors. The Hangzhou page states that Better Being is part of an overall Student Life & Well‑being approach and that both physical and mental health are emphasised. The wider CIS school also describes a Visible Well‑Being/SEARCH approach (developed with Professor Lea Waters) that informs whole‑school SEL practice. These descriptions are published on the CIS Hangzhou and CIS Visible Well‑Being pages.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The CIS Hangzhou pages describe pastoral and one‑to‑one support delivered by Coach Mentors, Heads of House and the school counsellor as part of student life and well‑being, but they do not detail a dedicated Learning Enhancement (SEN) team or the specific categories of special educational needs supported at Hangzhou. CIS' broader site describes Learning Enhancement and Learning Enhancement teachers at the Hong Kong campus and small‑group/in‑class support in secondary years, but the Hangzhou pages do not specify equivalent Learning Enhancement provision for Year 10. The school does not publicly disclose which specific kinds of SEN it can support at the Hangzhou programme or whether CIS Hangzhou is a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
CIS Hangzhou's curriculum is described as bilingual: teaching is delivered in English and Chinese to enhance students' Chinese language proficiency while continuing education in English. The Hangzhou pages explain the bilingual nature of the programme but do not provide a published EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme or details of specialist EAL staffing for the Hangzhou year. Therefore, the school does not publicly disclose detailed EAL provision specific to CIS Hangzhou.

Mental Wellbeing
CIS Hangzhou places mental wellbeing at the centre of its Better Being curriculum, which includes mindfulness practice, regular Home/Family/One‑to‑One times, and taught projects intended to build resilience and self‑awareness. The Hangzhou programme explicitly names student life and well‑being staff, Coach Mentors and Heads of House as the adults responsible for delivering these elements in the boarding context. At the wider school level, CIS also operates a Counselling Department that offers self‑referral and referrals by staff or parents, presentations in curriculum and ongoing counselling sessions. These provisions are described on the Hangzhou Student Life & Well‑being and CIS counselling pages.

Safeguarding
CIS runs a school‑wide Child Protection Programme with a published Child Protection Policy, designated Child Protection Officers, a Code of Conduct for staff and visitors, mandatory training, reporting protocols and a Child Protection Reporting Form; the programme explicitly includes materials and appendices that reference Hangzhou (e.g. visitor and self‑harm protocols for HK & HZ). The Child Protection page states the school adopts a strict zero‑tolerance policy towards mistreatment of children and that governance oversight includes two designated Board members. For enquiries the school lists a Child Protection contact (cpo@cis.edu.hk) and links to its Child Protection handbook and reporting procedures. These safeguarding policies are published on the CIS Child Protection Programme pages.
Parent Experience

History
CIS Hangzhou was launched in August 2013 as a one‑year academic and residential programme for Year 10 students. The programme operates as a mini‑campus on the campus of partner school Greentown Yuhua School (GYS), with purpose‑built academic and residential halls. It is part of the Chinese International School organisation, a Hong Kong non‑profit charitable foundation governed by a Board of Governors. The Hangzhou programme was designed to give students an immersive Chinese‑language and cultural experience while they continue their CIS curriculum.

Community
CIS describes its parent body as culturally diverse and actively involved in school life; parents have a long history of volunteering for practical services and events. Families commonly take part in the Annual Fund and serve on parent sub‑committees (for example Community Events, Transport and Sustainability), and there are parent‑run groups that support school programmes. For the Hangzhou year specifically, the programme uses the city and region as a cultural classroom, with supervised opportunities for community service and local learning.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Chinese International School PTA Limited (CISPTA) includes all parents and guardians as well as full‑time faculty and school management and is governed by a General Committee of 14 elected parents serving two‑year terms. CISPTA's stated mission is to build a cohesive community among families and to facilitate open communication with school leadership. It promotes and organises volunteer activity across the school and runs a calendar of events intended to bring families together. Typical volunteer roles include Primary Class Parent and Secondary Year Representative, and parents also act as Annual Fund Advocates. CISPTA supports a number of sub‑committees (Community Events, Transport, Sustainability) and works alongside parent‑run clubs such as the CIS Phoenix Sports Club and the CIS Phoenix Arts Club, which specifically support the school's sports and arts programmes.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school teaches in English and Chinese and uses Hangzhou resources to enhance students' Chinese language proficiency and understanding of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. The campus is a mini-campus designed to align with top boarding school facilities worldwide and is housed in two custom-built halls on the Greentown Yuhua School campus, the partner school.

Sports Facilities
The school offers a Core, Individual and Elective Sports Programme.

Academic Facilities
The school provides a Whole School Choir, individual music lessons and music ensembles as part of its music programme.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Hangzhou is treated as a cultural classroom, with opportunities for community service and supervised leisure activities in the city.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The CIS Hangzhou curriculum is taught in English and Chinese. It is built around four pillars—Autonomy, Better Being, Collaboration and Disciplines—and uses four Learning Pathways: Experiential, Personalised, Interdisciplinary and Learning In Depth. Subjects include Chinese (Mandarin), English, Mathematics, Humanities, Sciences, Physical Education, Product Design, Visual & Performing Arts, with French or Spanish as an optional language. China as Our Classroom provides experiential learning opportunities and service learning in Hangzhou and across China.

Arts & Creative
Visual & Performing Arts are included in the CIS Hangzhou subjects. The Music Programme includes a Whole School Choir, private lessons and music ensembles. A private music lesson programme is offered as part of the co-curricular activities.

Cultural & Language
Chinese (Mandarin) and English are core language offerings, with French or Spanish available as optional language choices. Mandarin and Mathematics are offered at different levels. The Hangzhou curriculum integrates language study with cultural learning through experiential experiences in Hangzhou.

Social & Hobbies
The Co-Curricular Programme offers CCAs across categories including Arts, Music, Sports, Academic & Enrichment, Communication & Language, Global Issues, Community, Environment, and Service. Popular activities include Chess, Debate, Model United Nations, Science and Speech, with popular clubs such as F1 in Schools, Entrepreneurship, and Underwater Robotics. Secondary students can propose and lead their own clubs under faculty guidance. We understand the impact of physical and emotional well-being on learning, with competitive leagues through HKPSSA, PASS, HKSSF, ISSFHK and ACAMIS.

Community & Service
China as Our Classroom includes a service-learning component with Hangzhou local partners such as Qimingxing Educational Centre for autistic children, Huiling Work Therapy Station, Greentown Yuhua School, and others. Hangzhou Connections connects classroom learning to the local community, and Beyond is a project period that uses China as the classroom for experiential learning.

Leadership & Professional
CIS Hangzhou uses a house-based residential model with a Head of House and two Coach Mentors for each house. Houses are named Ren, Yi, Li, Zhi, Xin and Yong and foster leadership through house life. Secondary students can propose and lead their own clubs under faculty advisors, developing leadership through student-led initiatives.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Better Being is a taught wellbeing program focusing on self-understanding, mindfulness and resilience, with four year-long projects: The Inner Dragon, The Footprints, The Shifu Yoda and The Engine Project. Regular Home Time, Family Time and Move Time activities, plus One-to-One Time with staff, support student well-being. Assemblies, celebrations and Community & Invisible Time help build a safe, joyful learning environment and a strong sense of community.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include Chinese (Mandarin) and English, with French or Spanish offered as an optional language. Chinese (Mandarin) and Mathematics are offered at different levels. Language Acquisition includes Chinese, French and Spanish, and Language and Literature covers English and Chinese.

Bilingual Teaching
The CIS Hangzhou curriculum is taught in English and Chinese. It uses the resources of the city to enhance students' Chinese language proficiency and understanding of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. Students enjoy a high degree of personal attention, with teachers hired to ensure experience in and commitment to international education and boarding school life. The curriculum is organized around four pillars—Autonomy, Better Being, Collaboration and Disciplines—and four learning pathways that connect living and learning in Hangzhou.
Reputation

Awards
No school-level awards (awards given to the institution itself) for the past five years (January 1, 2021 through January 1, 2026) are listed on the Chinese International School website. I checked the CIS Hangzhou overview and programme pages, the school's About/History pages, and the site sections that publish institutional news and recognitions; those pages list accreditations, memberships and milestones but do not present any awards granted to the school in that period. Summary of pages checked: CIS Hangzhou overview (Academics), About CIS, and History & Governance.

If you'd like, I can (a) do a deeper site-wide search for any news posts or annual reports that might mention awards, (b) check external news sources for awards granted to CIS (outside the school site), or (c) pull specific accreditation documents or the latest annual report from the school site for verification — tell me which you prefer.

Accreditations
Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) — CIS accreditation is an international school quality-assurance process involving a self-study and external peer review; it signals a school's commitment to continuous improvement against international standards.

Authorized as an IB World School (International Baccalaureate) — IB authorization confirms the school is approved to deliver one or more IB programmes and that it meets the IB's programme standards and practices.

Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) — NEASC accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review accreditation process that evaluates whole-school quality (governance, safety, curriculum, teaching and learning) and supports ongoing school improvement.

Other site-listed partnerships/memberships (not accreditations): The Alliance for Sustainable Schools (TASS) membership — a network and support organisation for schools working on systems-level sustainability; and a sustainability partnership with Metanoia (sustainability consultancy) — both indicate the school's engagement with external sustainability bodies rather than formal academic accreditation.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Confirm programme and eligibility
Decide whether you are applying to the CIS Year 10 Hangzhou programme (a year-long, residential Year 10 placement on the Greentown Yuhua School campus) or to a Year 7–13 place at CIS in Hong Kong that includes the required Year 10 Hangzhou year. Parents should note that the Hangzhou placement is an integral part of CIS Year 10 and that for students applying only for the one‑year Hangzhou programme the application route and timing differ — contact the Admissions Office for one‑year placements. Check language expectations: secondary applicants must have a solid command of English; Chinese (Mandarin) is a required subject offered at different proficiency levels.

2. Start the online application (timing and fees)
Open the online application (CIS accepts secondary applications from 1 September) and upload required documents (identity documents, photos, recent school reports). For Year 7–13 applicants CIS recommends submitting ideally by late October because assessments begin in November; late applications are accepted but places and course choices may already be limited. Be prepared to pay the non‑refundable application fee (HK$2,000) and the non‑refundable assessment fee (HK$2,500) at the time you submit.

3. Attend an Information Session and (optional) tour
Information Sessions (strongly encouraged for Years 7–13) explain CIS's mission, curriculum and practical details for families and usually run during the academic year immediately before entry (November–December). If you apply, you will receive registration details by email; attending helps you understand expectations for Year 10 Hangzhou (residential, experiential learning) and clarifies logistics such as travel, medical and visa matters. Virtual or in‑person campus tours are available — if you cannot visit in person use the virtual tour link the school provides.

4. Entrance assessment and interviews
All Year 7–13 applicants are required to sit an entrance assessment (November–May window). The written assessment typically includes English, Chinese (Mandarin), Mathematics and logic and lasts about three hours; oral interviews (English and/or Mandarin where applicable) are about 15 minutes. Parents should arrange any necessary translation of school reports and prepare to share prior-school records; results and teacher references are used in a holistic admissions decision.

5. Placement offers and conditional/visa considerations
Decisions are usually communicated 3–4 weeks after assessment sessions. Some offers may be conditional (for example, pending receipt of a valid visa for overseas students); if space is unavailable after a successful assessment you may be placed on the school's internal reserve pool (see below). If you need a conditional offer for visas, notify Admissions early so they can advise on timing.

6. Accepting an offer and paying the reservation deposit
To accept a place the family confirms and pays the non‑refundable reservation deposit immediately (CIS currently requests a reservation deposit of HK$150,000) — the deposit is credited toward the Annual Capital Levy and tuition. Note that the Annual Capital Levy amount was adjusted for the 2025–26 academic year on the CIS fees page, so confirm how the deposit will be allocated for your child's entry year with the Business Office before finalising payment. Parents should also be ready for additional charges (annual fees, capital levy, materials, meals, bus, and — for Hangzhou Year 10 residents — residential and meal charges).

7. If applying for financial assistance
If you require financial assistance, indicate interest during the online application so the Admissions Office can provide the financial aid application steps. Financial Aid at CIS is targeted at new students entering Year 8 and above (students should be aged 12+ at enrolment); the process is competitive and involves submission of financial documentation and a holistic review of merit and need. For the 2026 cycle the financial aid application deadline listed by the school is 1 March with notifications in May or June — check the Financial Aid page for current deadlines and join the school's information session (usually held in January/February).

8. Practical follow‑up (documentation and communication)
After acceptance, complete required administrative steps promptly: submit final transcripts, identity documents, health/medical forms, and any visa paperwork; failure to provide paperwork promptly can delay enrolment or boarding arrangements for Hangzhou. If you have specific questions about the one‑year Hangzhou-only application path, contact the Admissions Office directly for the separate guidance they provide.

Scholarships
CIS does not use the term "scholarship" on its public pages in the way some schools do; instead it operates a Financial Aid programme (means‑tested support) for new students entering Year 8 and above. The Financial Aid programme requires applicants to be aged 12+ at enrolment and is awarded after a holistic review of merit and family need (factors include academic and co‑curricular achievements, household income, number of dependents, assets/liabilities and expenses). Families indicate interest during the online application and submit supporting financial documentation; the school states there is no fixed salary cutoff and each application is assessed individually. Financial Aid may help cover tuition and families should raise any anticipated non‑tuition expenses (for example residential or meal charges for Hangzhou, materials, or transport) early in the process so those needs can be considered. The Financial Aid page also lists an application deadline (for the 2026 cycle the deadline shown is 1 March with notifications in May/June) and recommends attending the school's financial aid information session (usually held in January or February). For students already enrolled who encounter financial difficulty, the school asks families to contact the Director of Finance and Business Administration confidentially. If you need an exact, current schedule of deadlines, ranges of award amounts or application forms, request that information directly from Admissions/Business Office since award availability and deadlines can change year to year.

Waitlist
CIS uses a small "reserve list" (a pool) for some year groups rather than a strictly ordered public waitlist. According to the school FAQ, a small number of candidates for each year group may be placed on a reserve list; that reserve list is not ranked — it functions as a pool from which the candidate who best complements an available space will be chosen. For Year 1–6 and Reception the site explains that applications not invited to assessment are kept open and families are contacted later to confirm continued interest; for Secondary, places are offered on a rolling basis after each assessment session, and applicants who have been assessed but not admitted may be asked to reapply for a later year. Parents should therefore: keep their application file complete and up to date, respond to Admissions' periodic emails when asked if you remain interested, and be prepared to reapply if necessary for a different academic year. If you want a clearer reading of your child's position, contact the Admissions Office directly — the school does not publish an ordered waitlist position.
School Events
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