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?
I visited the studio with some friends for a Calligraphy workshop,and I must say I was impressed by how bright and spacious it was,Nic and AJ were great,welcoming,fun and indeed... read more very knowledgeable about the Chinese culture.We learned about the history of Chinese calligraphy then we wrote our own (May your wishes come true) in chinese characters,and had it signed by the artist.we had a scrumptious lunch in a lovely Local restaurant and visited few galleries at xiaopu village,thanks Nic and AJ for a wonderful day!
May 16, 2019 
I attended this afternoon workshop on traditional sugar blowing and sugar pouring, and it was quite good. I know the language barrier will always be a challenge in China, but... read more with something as difficult as this, I would have appreciated a more step by step approach. The cultural presentation was lovely, not too much info and very interesting. I would definitely attend other events with Cultural Keys!
May 22, 2019 My husband and I attended the Spring Festival Event at Cultural Keys which included writing calligraphy, learning the history of the festival, and making dumplings. Transportation is organized for you... read more (included in the price) from a central spot in Beijing. AJ and Nic are very friendly, inviting and knowledgeable about many aspects of Chinese life and culture. Experts were brought in to teach about Chinese calligraphy, and we got to practice the characters before writing them on beautiful scrolls so we could take them home and hang them on our door. They also had a mother/daughter team come in to teach us how to make dumplings which was really fun! They cooked them for us and we had a big meal together. It was a very fun and well-organized event. I would highly recommend signing up for one of their classes or events.
March 7, 2020 Nice location, bought a nice T-Shirt and got some valuable advice from AJ. Looking forward to the new location!
March 13, 2020 If you are in Beijing, take this opportunity to visit CK in their Tongzhou studio! got a great calligraphy piece for my wall and a wonderful experience that will last... read more forever!
June 4, 2021 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 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 I have ordered 5 beautiful Calligraphy scrolls for different occasions ranging from Graduation to Weddings as a personalized gift and they have all been amazing. With great service and... read more beautiful presentation I highly recommend their service. Also, you can make your own. The owners are...More
October 26, 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!
