Best city to study Chinese in 2026?

I’m trying to decide the best city to study Chinese in 2026 and would love some advice from people who have actually studied in China.

Right now I’m considering cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Kunming, but they all seem so different in terms of lifestyle, Mandarin level, cost, and overall experience.

If you’ve studied Chinese abroad before, which city would you recommend and why?