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?
Nice location, bought a nice T-Shirt and got some valuable advice from AJ. Looking forward to the new location!
March 13, 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 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 I recently visited Nic and AJ’ s lovely art studio for a calligraphy workshop with my friends. This experience gave me much more than I expected: we learned about the... read more history and the making of Chinese calligraphy and I now truly appreciate the depth and sophistication of the true masters. I was able to bring home my very first attempt of calligraphy with my name written on it by the master. I would definitely take friends and visiting family members to this workshop and to the art village. Thank you Nic and AJ for a lovely day!
May 6, 2019 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 We had a great time with friends learning some traditional Chinese painting techniques with a pro. He was very patient and will to help us. Great way to dive into... read more learning about the culture. Definitely will make it back for another class at Cultural Keys.
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 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
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!
