What real maning would a signed contract mean?
Are you going to sue them in Chinese court?
Certainly not in any American or foreign court.

If you don't feel comfortable going without a contract, don't go.

I doubt any first timer in China would use the courts to resolve a dispute, even though in my experience, most foreigners win.

Beware private high paying schools, trust government schools, they never break contracts.

Paul Barry
Melbourne, FL