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 Amazing experience with AJ and Nic in Tianjin! They've been extremely kind, hospitable and cheerful, making it an unforgettable trip. Very insightful too, I learnt a lot about Tianjin's... read more / China's history. Great food choices! Made some new friends. Loved the tourist attractions. The trip was super well organized! I highly recommend it!
February 14, 2020 I am Chinese and I have a 3 years and half daughter . It was such an amazing experence .I added Nic and AJ on wechat in advance , they... read more shared lots of their experiences in China, which was so deep.They've been extremely kind, hospitable and humble , making it an unforgettable half day at their workshop.
I can see from their eyes that they love Chinese culture as 2 foreigners, for whom you dont know them , one of them have stayed in China for 20 more years , BTW.
They provided thoughtful services which can catering to many kinds of ppl's needs. I could easily tell they work so damn hard for their presentation and this event.
I am moved by their careful thinking to my daughter, My daughter just loves AJ and Nic even though she is bit shy to express her feeling. She kept telling me her excitment and how happy she was that day .
And for the content , I as a 100% born and raised Chinese can assure you it is very deep and meaningful and rich. Many Chinese they think they understand cultural but acturally we are not understand that so much, not if we dont study and experice any more .
THANK YOU again so much , would definitely come next time if they hold such one !
stonerocky
September 13, 2022 I have now done two workshops with Cultural Keys and they were both great. The studio in the art village is a bright and cheery place filled with different Chinese... read more arts. Nic gave interesting and informative presentations before the workshops and then a master artist gave instruction. Tea and snacks were provided as well as a delicious dumpling lunch at a quaint local restaurant. All in all a fun outing with friends, and I went home with a lovely piece of art!
May 16, 2019 Recognizing my Spirit The experience at the Shaolin Temple was as I expected, hoped for and much more. I knew I had to push my body, this was a... read more fact I tried to prepare myself for this back in Holland. However, I was more curious...More
October 15, 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 I attended a 2 weeks Boot Camp organized by CK Martial Hearts at the Shaolin Temple during last September and It really surpassed my expectations.
Although I’d experience... read more with other Martials Arts I didn’t have any previous experience with any style of Kung Fu and I personally think that I learned in these two weeks with CK Martial Hearts much, much more than If I would joined the Temple by myself for two months.
AJ (co-founder of CK) help us a lot during our staying: he was the translator with the Shaolin Monk assuring a smooth communication, he gave us additional classes - to the 4 hours per day we had with the Monk - in order to improve specific aspects (like Speed, Resistance, Focus, etc.) and he was willing to answer us any questions regarding the styles we were training here.
And talking about the training: we had the chance to train during these two weeks the styles ‘Tong Bi Quan’ (Unarmed Form) & ‘Yin Shou Gun’ (with Shaolin Staff), that I really enjoyed. The training it was around 7 hours per day, so It arrives to push you to your own limit what it is great.
I only can have good words with CK Martial Hearts and I truly recommend to anyone who want a 100% real Kung Fu experience and more over to anyone who is interested in the Chinese Culture.
December 8, 2019 Since I was a kid I always have wanted to go to Shaolin Temple. So I had the great oportunity to go there with the Cultural Keys company.
All the... read more staffs were very polite and attentive with me and I felt very confortable with them. They had all the support during the training inside of Shaolin Temple and helped everyone who had needed, especially during the training because it is really hard :D.
I recommend this program for people who really want to learn about kung fu and who want to feel one of the highest expectations in their life.
I recommend this program to people who really want to learn about kung fu and who want to feeling one of the most great expirence in them life. More
June 17, 2019 I attended this program after finding it through YouTube, and I could not speak more highly of it! It’s definitely challenging, but if you seek personal enlightenment, be immersed in... read more chinese culture, and pushing your limits... this program will do just that!!More
June 3, 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
Contact Us
Stay up-to-date with the latest offers, information and events from Cultural Keys. Follow our Official WeChat Account by scanning the QR code (click for larger image), or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to be the first to know!
For more information about anything on this page, or for more information about Cultural Keys, please contact us or use the form below to let us know your specific requirements.
CLICK TO SHOW CONTACT FORM
Recent Posts
Mouseover to see left and right arrows
Upcoming Events
Mouse-over to see left and right arrows
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!
