Want to get the most out of your time in China? Interested in learning more about the traditional culture and perhaps even experiencing it for yourself?
Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Centre helps expat residents and visitors experience, understand and enjoy traditional Chinese culture by providing a variety of authentic content, classes, presentations and services.
From private workshops to team building, from children’s parties to community group presentations, read on for more information about how Cultural Keys can help you get more out of your time in China!
Chinese Culture Workshops
Based in Xiaopu Village in Beijing’s Songzhuang Art District, our tranquil culture centre offers both regularly scheduled events and private workshops in a large variety of traditional Chinese arts, crafts and activities, including:
| Calligraphy | Pinwheel making |
| Beijing Opera | Lion dancing |
| Knot making | Dragon and phoenix painting |
| Papercutting | Face changing masks |
| Taichi | Model making |
| Shaolin kung fu | Sugar blowing |
| Traditional painting | Sugar painting |
| Grass weaving | Kite painting |
| Fan painting | Gourd burning |
All our workshops are suitable for both adults and children, with no previous experience or artistic skills needed. Each one includes a presentation on the history and culture of the subject, given by a native-English speaking guide, and is taught by an expert, accompanied by a native-English speaking translator, to ensure language is never a barrier to your experience.
Our workshops are available for booking by private groups, companies, groups, hotels, schools or embassies, both at our centre or at a location convenient for you. We also hold monthly Chinese culture workshops that are open to everyone!
Chinese Martial Arts Programs
With Cultural Keys you get the chance to learn more about yourself and what you are truly capable of by training traditional Chinese martial arts, and experiencing the life and culture that surrounds them.
We offer traditional Chinese martial arts training to individuals and groups, both in Beijing and at iconic locations around China, such as the Shaolin Temple. These types of programs are offered several times a year, and are also available for private bookings.
Our list of programs and workshops is constantly expanding. We currently offer:
– Shaolin and taichi martial arts workshops
– Team building through martial arts
– VIP group and 1-on-1 workshops
– Self-defence seminars
– ‘Confidence in Kids’ martial spirit workshops
Chinese Culture Presentations
While hands-on experiences are without a doubt the best way to the learn about a culture, in some situations a presentation may be the most suitable way for a group to get to know more about a new culture.
Cultural Keys offers a range of English-language presentations that we can make to your club, school, office or other large group. Our presentations include:
Welcome to Beijing – a guide to surviving and thriving in the Chinese capital
Chinese Spring Festival – the stories, language and customs you need to know
Daily Feng Shui – tips and tricks for a healthy, wealthy and comfortable life
Yin vs. Yang – the dynamic balance at the core of Chinese culture
The Shaolin Temple – the origins, development and modern status of a Chinese cultural landmark
Chinese Tea – learn about the history, processing methods and benefits of different types of tea
We are constantly adding new presentations, and if there is something specific you are interested in, let us know!
Why Cultural Keys?
Our Mission Statement
Cultural Keys is dedicated to making traditional Chinese culture more accessible so that everyone can experience, understand, enjoy and embrace it without barriers
Cultural Keys, a registered company in Hong Kong, Beijing and the UK, was founded in 2013 by three expats who were inspired by the difficulty of accessing authentic traditional culture in Beijing.
Since then, Cultural Keys has been doing exactly that.
Over the years, we have developed a simple objective – making the beauty, wisdom and customs of traditional Chinese culture available to everyone. Today, through a variety of content, events, products and services, combining local experts and native English-speaking guides, we believe we are able to offer authentic, accessible, unique and enjoyable experiences unlike anyone else in Beijing.
And because we are a foreign-owned and foreign-run company, we can see Chinese culture through unique eyes, and are able to work with our expert teachers to tailor all our classes, products and services in a way that makes our content most accessible to our clients.
As a result, no matter what your reason for being interested in this country and its culture, whether at our culture centre, at your school or office, at iconic locations around China, or on our website and social media channels, when you are with Cultural Keys you truly have the opportunity to unlock the potential of China!
What do other people say about Cultural Keys?
Cultural Keys has been organizing online presentations on Chinese traditional culture in these past few months, and they have been really fun, informative, engaging, memorable! Really pleasant experience!
They... read more also have many on-site programs for all those interested in learning great details about China, those that only people who are so immersed in the culture and its intricacies can provide. Real treasure!
The team has rich experience in making Chinese culture closer to other cultures! I will definitely attend more of their programs!
Definitely inquire about their martial arts programs and their trips to Shaolin Temple!
April 14, 2020 As a martial arts practitioner, going to the legendary Shaolin Temple is like going on a pilgrimage and back to basics. There are no words to express the sensation that... read more one feels there is magic! I went at Shaolin Temple with CK Martial Hearts Warrior's...More
June 14, 2019 Dear Nomo,
Many thanks for your lovely review! We are so glad that you got a feeling of inclusiveness from the Warriors' Workshop, and felt so much was... read more covered. If people leave one of our cultural activities feeling that they really gained something, whether that's a historical insight, self improvement, or even just a fun memory, we know we have done a good job. Sincerely, thank you so much for joining the workshop, and we most definitely look forward to you finding time to join one of our programs in the future!
五福临门，
AJ
December 19, 2019 Cultural Keys' martial arts training program at the Shaolin Temple is like nothing else you will ever experience. Cultural Keys is run by two amazing individuals that work hard to... read more provide their students with the most immersive, authentic Shaolin Temple and Chinese Culture experience available to the public. If you decide to take the leap, AJ Donnelly will be your main instructor for the duration of your time in Shaolin and Nic will be your guide/encyclopedia.These two make a great team providing you with a well rounded experience, physically and culturally. If you are enthusiastic about martial arts and progressing yourself mentally and physically, you couldn't ask for a better instructor. AJ will push you beyond what you previously thought you were capable of, while guiding you for personal success throughout the trip.
March 14, 2020 The perfect activity to join for fun, knowledge and to get new and fresh view of all that Chinese traditional culture has to offer. So don't hesitate, is way more... read more than you can think. Is definitely a must! Such an experience 😉
May 2, 2020 This was a well organised trip to Tianjin. We were shown the Italian concession and were given time to look around. I think it was nice we got time to... read more explore the city ourselves, while also being guided. The lunch was brilliant and we then saw the old town of Tianjin, which we had time to explore. Worth taking some cash with you as some places still didn't accept WeChat Pay
February 17, 2020 I attended the Warriors' Way program at the Shaolin Temple with Cultural Keys in May 2019. It was a life-changing experience, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who... read more is interested in kung-fu and t'ai chi, Chinese culture, and/or Buddhism. The training pushed me...More
June 5, 2019
In whatever way we can help you unlock the potential of traditional Chinese culture, we look forward to hearing from you soon!
Photo Credits
– Cultural Keys
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About Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Company
Cultural Keys helps you access, understand and enjoy life in China through traditional Chinese culture. Click here to read more about Cultural Keys and what we can do for you, your school, company or group to help you get more out of your time in China!
