Living abroad is a learning experience in itself. However, once that "shiny newness" has worn off the new home, expats sometimes find themselves cocooning into a routine, often involving laying on the couch and watching too many DVDs. Fight the urge to hibernate by signing up for classes in a new (or old) hobby. Guangzhou offers many enrichment opportunities, from cooking to kung fu. They're also quite affordable, with prices varying depending on experience level and duration. And if you're still not convinced, remember what my mother used to say: It's your brain—use it or lose it.

1) Fitness
One of the best ways to break out of a routine is to take a fitness class. Because pupils can learn by seeing and doing, limited Chinese skill isn't a problem (or an excuse!). Most gyms and fitness centers offer classes in yoga, pilates, and aerobics. One of the biggest fitness chains in Guangzhou is Total Fitness.

Total Fitness (Grand View Mall Branch) View In Map
Add: 8F, Center Atrium, Grandview Mall, 228 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区天河路228号，8偻
Tel: 020 3836 1688
Opening Hours: Daily, 10:00-22:00
Price: 80 RMB per day to use all gym facilities, including fitness classes; 788 RMB per month for unlimited use
Website: www.totalfitness.com.cn

2) Dance
Various Total Fitness locations also offer classes in belly, Chinese and Indian dancing, while other Guangzhou businesses are dedicated to showing customers how to cut a rug in different styles. Touchteam and Speedcrew teach hip hop, jazz and street dance styles, while LoLan Pole Dancing teaches women how to get their sexy on, in addition to some more traditional dancing styles.

Speedcrew (Tianhe Branch)View In Map
Add: YMCA Speed Dance Studio, 4F, 549 Tian He Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区天河路549号4楼
Tel: 020 3416 1042
Website: http://www.speedcrew.net.cn/ (in Chinese)

Touchteam (Tianhe Branch)View In Map
Add: 204, 21 Tiyu Dong Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市天河区体育东路21号204
Tel: 020 8551 0169
Website: http://touchteam.popsheep.cn/ (in Chinese)

LoLan Pole DancingView In Map
Add: 5F, 82 Haoxian Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址：广州市越秀区豪贤路82号自学成才大学五楼
Tel: 020 8351 6835
Email: 190509802@qq.com

3) Kung Fu and Tai Chi
Impress friends back home and learn some of that good ole’ "mysticism of the East" by taking Kung Fu or Tai Chi classes. In Guangzhou, try classes with the well-reviewed Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun School. Meanwhile, Tai Chi teacher Pang Huang offers individual and group classes and enjoys practicing English with his students.

Mai Gei Wong Wing Chun School View In Map
Add: Unit 801, 170 Tiyu Xi Heng Jie, Tianhe District
地址: 广州市天河区体育西横街170 号801
Tel: 020 8754 1642, 137 1124 7240
Website: www.kf-cn.com

Teacher Pang Huang
Tel: 189 2221 8986
Email: 241691577@qq.com
Website: http://taichichuan24.blogbus.com/

4) Cooking View In Map
If you want to brush up your cooking skills, try classes with Says Cheese cooking school. They say they can teach everything from lamb kebabs to Beijing Duck to chocolate cake. They also offer a Family Day Pass so kids can learn to cook along with their parents. Classes taught in English.

Add: 3F, 28 Yi Xiang, Nan’er Jie, Siyouxinma Lu, Wuyang New Town, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州越秀区五羊新城寺右新马路南二街一巷28号广兴华花园会所3楼
Tel: 020 8735 7762
Website: www.sayscheese.com

5) Language View In Map
Give your brain a workout with Mandarin classes. Classes are available citywide from private institutions or private tutors, or you could give the Public Chinese school at Sun-Yat Sen University a try.

Add: Room 102, School of Foreign Languages, Sun Yat-Sen University, 135 Xingang Xi Lu, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
地址: 广州市海珠区新港西路135号中山大学外国语学院一楼102室
Tel.: 020 8765 6887, 136 1008 2491
Email: service@publicchinese.com

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