While Cultural Keys can be considered your go-to for a variety of traditional Chinese culture activities, there are of course plenty of other fun and interesting cultural events happening around the capital every month!
For anyone currently residing in Beijing, you know that many locations have been closed and events postponed. But with fingers crossed, and hope that things will get back to normal as soon as possible, here’s our round-up of activities connected with Chinese language and culture for June in Beijing!
Please note: Cultural Keys is in no way affiliated with any of the events or organisations listed in this article, unless explicitly stated. We offer no guarantee about the quality of any third party events, and strongly suggest interested participants contact the relevant organizers to clarify event details, including COVID-19-related requirements, before attending.
Concert: Birds pay Homage to the Phoenix – Dragon Boat Festival Traditional Music Concert 百鸟朝凤·北京音乐厅端午国风专场音乐会
Date: June 3rd 2022
Location: Beijing Concert Hall | No. 1 North Xinhua Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 北京音乐厅 | 北京市西城区北新华街1号北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30
Price: 199/299/399/499/599RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://bjyyt.maitix.com/h5?code=043Rfcll2fvKd947zPnl27xrkt2Rfcll&state=044822aa2ef059eb8068cedf77065a90#/pages-order/projectDetail/index?projectId=207850151
Language: Chinese
This concert is a special Dragon Boat Festival concert at the Beijing Concert Hall, with the theme of celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival. Suona players Liu Wenwen, Yan Yongqiang, Shi Yalong, pianist Wang Yu, drummer and conductor Yuan Xin and sheng player Zhang Aoxuan will perform pieces including ‘A Spray of Flowers’.
Concert: Dragon Boat Festival Folk Music Appreciation Concert 龙腾午乐——端午节民乐赏析音乐会
Date: June 3rd 2022
Location: National Library Arts Center | No. 33, Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 国家图书馆艺术中心 | 北京市海淀区中关村南大街33号
Time: 19:30
Price: 180/280/380/480RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://gtyszx.maitix.com/h5?code=011VtEkl2lQfd94rI2ml2VOZV02VtEkq&state=f9a3108d9222ebe2e7334c0fb69c4854#/pages-order/projectDetail/index?projectId=207754151
Language: Chinese
The Dragon Boat Festival combines traditional Chinese landscapes, folk customs, human emotions and Chinese folk music. In this concert, the melodious “Spring River, Flowers and Moonlight Night” vividly shows beautiful scenery on the moonlit river. The cheerful “Dragon Race to Win the Brocade” depicts the folk dragon boat race on the Dragon Boat Festival, and the melodious “Cinnabar Mole” depicts the artistic life which educated scholars lived in ancient China.
Online Interactive Presentation: The Essentials of the Chinese Zodiac
Date: June 19th 2022
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 7.30-8.30pm (Beijing time)
Places: Unlimited
Price: 50RMB for members of Cultural Keys’ WeChat group; 80RMB for non-members
Payment: Prepayment via PayPal (no Paypal account needed), WeChat, or Alipay Fapiao available on request.
Join Cultural Keys online on June 19th for a fascinating presentation on the essential things to know about the Chinese Zodiac. Find out about the origin of the Chinese system and the significance of the animals that make it up! CK Culture Presentations are perfect entry points for anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese culture through stories, humour and fascinating facts – great for those with no previous knowledge, but also interesting for those who already know something about the subject.
Walking Tour: History of the Hutong Walking Tour 徒步之旅：胡同徒步之旅的历史
Date: June 18th 2022
Location: Beijing Postcards, No.97 Yangmeizhu Byway 杨梅竹斜街97号
Time: 2:00PM – 4:30PM
Price: 300RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.beijing-postcards.com/public-events/history-of-the-hutong-jun-18
Language: English
What is all the fuss about? When you arrive in Beijing you soon get the idea that the narrow Hutong alleyways contain the very soul of China’s capital. But who built these charming maze-like neighbourhoods? “History of the Hutong” is the history of Beijing told through the Hutongs. We will take on more than 2000 years of history and piece together a comprehensive narrative seen from street level. Utilizing a huge floor map of Beijing that we can stand on, old antique depictions of the city and other related archival material we will penetrate deep in to the urban maze of old Beijing in search for answers.
Walking Tour: Saijinhua & the Brothels of Dashilar 徒步之旅：赛金花和大栅栏青楼
Date: June 19th 2022
Location: Beijing Postcards Gallery | Yang Mei Zhu Xie JieXicheng Qu, Beijing 北京邮政博物馆 | 杨梅竹斜街97号
Time: 2:00PM – 4:30PM
Price: 300RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.beijing-postcards.com/public-events/saijinhua-amp-the-brothels-of-dashilar-jun-19
Language: English
A hundred years ago, in a country on the verge of collapse, a woman from the shadows stood up and defended her Chinese countrymen. Abandoned by the imperial government, and occupied by western forces looking for revenge, the fate of Beijing was placed on the narrow shoulders of a common courtesan. But who was this saint like figure? A plain prostitute or a Maria of the East? The lover of a German general? A Brothel Madam? An opium addict? Or a liar and a cheat?
Follow us, in the small footsteps of a very unlikely hero with tiny lily feet, through old opium dens and brothels still standing, when we look for answers. During this walk we will track down the life of Beijing’s most famous prostitute – Saijinhua, and create a portrait of Dashilar, the more than 600 year old commercial district of Beijing, and Ba Da Hutong – the old red light district. The Walk ends with an exhibition of related pictures from Beijing Postcards collection.
Concert: Cheng Haoru Guzheng Symphony Concert 程皓如古筝交响音乐会
Date: June 19th 2022
Location: Beijing Concert Hall | No. 1 North Xinhua Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 北京音乐厅 | 北京市西城区北新华街1号北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30
Price: 199/299/399/499RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://bjyyt.maitix.com/h5#/pages-order/projectDetail/index?projectId=208337020
Language: Chinese
This concert is part of the “Opening the Doors of Music” series of events held by Beijing Concert Hall, and introduces the elegance of the traditional Chinese zither to the audience. The zither will be played by the famous young musician Ms. Cheng Haoru. In addition to the zither, the audience can also see the performance of the traditional Chinese flute and harp.
Concert: Chinese and Western Classics Concert of Li yuhe and her Friends “雨”君“荷”鸣——黎雨荷与朋友们演绎中西经典名曲音乐会
Date: June 24th 2022
Location: Beijing Concert Hall | No. 1 North Xinhua Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 北京音乐厅 | 北京市西城区北新华街1号北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30
Price: 299/399/499/1029RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://bjyyt.maitix.com/h5#/pages-order/projectDetail/index?projectId=207929086
Language: Chinese
This concert will be performed by Ms. Li Yuhe, associate professor of the violin in the Orchestra Department of China Conservatory of Music. She has not only won numerous awards on the international stage, but is also a pioneer in promoting the dissemination of traditional Chinese music and a popularizer of classical music. In this concert, we will not only be able to enjoy Western classical music, but also listen to the traditional Chinese music performed by traditional Chinese instruments such as pipa, zither, and Western instruments such as violin and piano.
Walking Tour: Drama Kings 徒步之旅：戏剧之王
Date: June 25th 2022
Location: Huguang Huiguan 湖广会馆
Time: 7:00PM – 9:30PM
Price: 300RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.beijing-postcards.com/public-events/drama-kings-jun-25
Language: English
Not long ago Beijing Opera was the most popular kind of entertainment in China. Even the communists could not ignore its immense popularity, and the infamous intellectual Lu Xun was worried that China’s main cultural export to the world was Mei Lanfang, a man pretending to be a woman. But how is it that a tradition with such widespread appeal has almost disappeared today? Drama Kings traces the history of Beijing Opera and explains how performers at the bottom of society during the dynasties became kings of entertainment during the republic, just to then abruptly lose their status during the 1960s.
Online Interactive Presentation: The Essentials of Chinese Folk Arts and Crafts
Date: June 26th 2022
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 7.30-8.30pm (Beijing time)
Places: Unlimited
Price: 50RMB for members of Cultural Key’s WeChat group; 80RMB for non-members
Payment: Prepayment via PayPal (no Paypal account needed), WeChat, or Alipay. Fapiao available on request.
Language: English
Join Cultural Keys online on June 26th for a fascinating presentation on the essential details of select folk arts and crafts from China. Learn about paper cutting, weaving with grass or palm fronds, sugar art, dough figurines and shadow play. CK Culture Essentials presentations are perfect entry points for anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese culture through stories, humour and fascinating facts – great for those with no previous knowledge, but also interesting for those who already know something about the subject!
What are you looking forward to this month? Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing your thoughts and insights!
Photo Credits
– The organisers; Cultural Keys
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Cultural Keys helps people access, understand and experience the traditional culture of China. Click the image above to read more about Cultural Keys and what we can do for you, your school, company or organisation to help you get more out of your time in China!