A brand-new Mandarin language Student Guide to Edinburgh has recently been launched by Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG), it offers inspiration and support to young Chinese people who have chosen Scotland and the rest of the UK for their studies. The new guidebook – which is being circulated digitally to Chinese students in the city and is also available for download here – provides tips, recommendations and suggested itineraries to Chinese students, many of whom have spent extended periods away from home due to the ongoing impact of COVID 19.

Chair of Edinburgh Tourism Action Group’s China Ready Initiative, Rob Lang said: “ETAG is delighted to introduce Edinburgh’s first ever Chinese Student Guidebook, where students will find content created by our four Chinese Student Ambassadors as well as all the latest info on key tourist attractions and go-to restaurants and experiences.

In line with Government guidelines our initial aim is to focus on local Chinese students, making sure they feel absolutely welcome, safe and confident that Edinburgh is a responsible, inspiring home from home. As and when travel restrictions ease, and with record numbers of Chinese students elsewhere in the UK, we believe that this new guide will ensure Edinburgh is exceptionally well positioned in 2021 to benefit from domestic Chinese student tourism, as part of the city’s sustainable pandemic recovery efforts.”

According to latest figures, one third of all international students in the UK are Chinese, and the total number of Chinese Students in the UK in 2018/19 was 120,385, over 11,500 of which are based at Scottish universities. Edinburgh has a long history of welcoming students from all over the world: in 1850, Wong Fun was the very first Chinese student in the UK, attending the University of Edinburgh to study medicine. As part of Edinburgh’s Chinese Social Media Campaign, ETAG has delivered regular engagement activities with Chinese students not just in Edinburgh but across the UK. Annual Edinburgh briefing and welcome events take place during Freshers Week, and a dedicated Chinese Student WeChat group provides regular tips and inspiration. Four talented UK based Chinese student bloggers were selected to visit Edinburgh to celebrate Chinese New Year and Burns Night earlier this year as part of a nationwide competition. During the visit they were named official Chinese Student Tourism Ambassadors of Edinburgh, and their insights and experiences have contributed to this brand-new guide.