Nice Exchange 耐思优
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Matteo Ricci Exchange How it works Costs & services Requirements
✦ Matteo Ricci Exchange

An investment that keeps paying long after you come home

The participation fee is €790 for Carp (3 months) and €890 for Dragon (6 months). You do not pay it all upfront: it is split into three moments along the way.

✦ The language

Chinese does not stay in the classroom.

During the Matteo Ricci Exchange you study Chinese in lessons organised around your city and your level. But the learning does not stop when the lesson ends. Living in China, the language gradually enters your everyday life: from the host family to the neighbourhood, from the metro to the supermarket, all the way to everyday conversations.

Vera holding her HSK 4 certificate
Vera with her HSK level 4 certificate.

How much does the Matteo Ricci Exchange cost?

With Dragone you live the programme for twice the time, for 100 € more.

  • Carp

    Carp

    3 MONTHS · €790

    Three months inside China. The time to step into the everyday life of a host family, study Chinese and start building a life of your own in the country.

    Participation fee 790 €
  • Dragon Recommended

    Dragon

    6 MONTHS · €890

    The time to make it everyday life. Six months to go past the early phase: improve your Chinese, build a deeper relationship with your host family, gain independence and feel less and less like a guest and more and more part of the life around you.
    Only €100 more. Twice the time.

    Dragon also includes a personalised reference letter and a CV & LinkedIn kit. For just €100 more you live the experience for twice as long.

    Participation fee 890 €
Participation fee
Carp3 months790 €
RecommendedDragon6 months890 €

✦ You do not pay it all upfront

  1. 100 € once the application is approved
  2. 500 € (Carpa) · 600 € (Dragone) once the matching is confirmed
  3. 190 € for the visa

The €190 for the visa is already included in the total: it is not an extra cost. It is paid directly to the agency handling the application.

With Nice Exchange 耐思优 you are not simply buying a programme: you are choosing a journey designed to support you before departure, during the stay and all the way home.

A fee designed to keep the experience accessible and to cover all the main services you need to leave with peace of mind.

Return flight included HSK + HSKK included No hidden costs

What the fee covers

  • ✈ Return international flight
  • 🛂 Visa for China
  • 🩺 Accident insurance
  • 🏠 Host family matching
  • 📚 Chinese language course
  • 🎓 HSK + HSKK exams
  • 🚗 Pick-up on arrival in China
  • 📍 Orientation day
  • 📱 Chinese SIM card
  • 🎒 Pre-departure training
  • 🤝 Support from the Italian team
  • 🇨🇳 Support from the Chinese team
📞 Support from the Italian and Chinese teams throughout the whole experience, right up to the return home.
Certificazione

You do not just learn Chinese. You can certify it.

During your stay you attend a Chinese language course. At the end, if you feel ready, you can sit the HSK and HSKK exams in China: the official, internationally recognised Chinese language certifications.

HSK + HSKK covered when taken in China during the programme, once the required level is reached

HSK certification

We handle the logistics

  • ✓ The visa is handled through a specialised agency — no trip to the embassy
  • ✓ We arrange accident insurance before departure
  • ✓ We book the return international flight
  • ✓ We guide you through preparing all the required paperwork

During the stay

The host family provides:

  • 🍽

    Meals

    Meals shared with the host family.

  • 🛏

    Accommodation

    A private room in the family home.

  • 💰

    Allowance

    A monthly allowance towards living costs.

Nice Ambassador

Your experience can inspire someone else’s

Nice Ambassadors are former participants who share their experience and support those who want to go.

Apply with an Ambassador’s personal code and get 5% off the fee.

✦ Partnership

15% off Airalo eSIMs

We are Airalo partners: with the code below you get 15% off your eSIM for China. You activate it before you leave, so you are connected from the moment you land, without hunting for a shop on arrival.

Discount code NICE15 Go to airalo.com
✦ Matteo Ricci Exchange

The first step is applying. We build the rest together.

Every experience begins with a simple application. We stay by your side at every stage.

Apply or ask a question You can use the same form just to ask for information: it is not binding.

✦ Answers

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Matteo Ricci Exchange cost?

The participation fee is €790 for Carp (3 months) and €890 for Dragon (6 months). It covers the return international flight, the visa, accident insurance, matching with the host family, pre-departure training, pick-up on arrival in China, first-day orientation, help buying and activating a Chinese SIM card, Chinese lessons, preparation for the HSK and HSKK exams, local support throughout and the final certificate. Dragon also includes a personalised reference letter and a CV & LinkedIn kit.

Are there any extra costs?

The fee covers all the services listed. Participants cover their personal expenses during the stay — partly offset by the 2,000 RMB monthly allowance the host family provides along with board and lodging — and daily local transport, which is not included.

Do I have to pay everything upfront?

No. Payment is split into three moments: €100 once the application has been sent and approved; €500 (Carp) or €600 (Dragon) once the matching with the host family is confirmed; €190 for the visa, paid directly to the specialist agency handling it.

Is the €190 visa fee an extra cost?

No. The €190 is already included in the €790 and €890 totals: it is not an additional charge. It is paid directly to the agency handling the application and also covers sending your passport back with the visa in it. Sending your passport to the agency in the first place is at your own expense.

Does the host family pay the participant?

Yes. The host family provides meals, accommodation in their home and a monthly allowance towards living expenses.

Are there partner discounts for participants?

Yes. Nice Exchange is an Airalo partner: with the code NICE15 participants get 15% off eSIMs for China.

How does the Nice Ambassador discount work?

Applying with the personal code of a Nice Ambassador — a former participant — gives a 5% discount on the participation fee.

Are the HSK and HSKK exams included?

Nice Exchange 耐思优 covers the cost of the HSK and HSKK exams when they are taken in China during the programme and once the level of preparation required by the school has been reached. There is an assessment before enrolment and the level is set on the preparation actually achieved. If you decide to take them later instead — after returning to Italy, for example — the cost is neither covered nor refunded: it is not a credit to use afterwards.

How are the Chinese lessons organised?

Lessons are included in both options and are organised according to the city and the participant's level. In most cities they are generally two or three a week, lasting around one to one and a half hours, but the arrangement changes from city to city and from school to school: Beijing, for instance, currently follows a different setup. They can be online or in person, individual or in small groups. Anyone without a certification takes a placement test; those who already hold one are placed on the level reached.

How does the flight work?

The return international flight is included in both options. Departure is arranged from Milan or Rome and the journey usually involves one stopover. The exact itinerary and baggage rules depend on the flight actually booked and are communicated directly to the participant.

Are cultural activities included?

Experiences and cultural activities may be offered during the stay, and they vary with the city, the time of year and the opportunities available. They are not a guaranteed service with a fixed frequency: when they happen, they come from what the place has to offer at that moment.

What does the insurance cover?

The cover is an accident policy for foreign nationals and lasts for the whole programme, from entry into China to day 90 for Carp and day 180 for Dragon. It includes medical expenses following an accident up to ¥50,000, accidental death or disability up to ¥500,000, a hospitalisation allowance up to ¥18,000 and ambulance costs up to ¥2,000. It is not general health insurance and does not cover illness; the policy given to each participant lists the hospitals and geographical areas covered.

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