Beijing · WORKSHOPS
Good workshops fill up weeks out; the best go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and where they genuinely differ.
Learn Beijing calligraphy in 30 to 60 minutes in downtown Wangfujing, with brush and ink practice, character meaning, and peaceful focus for $20.
“We had a one hour learning and practice session with the master. The experience has given us insights into the art of calligraphy and an appreciation of its rich history. Our instructor was very patient and gave plenty of guidance. Highly recommended.”
Learn Chinese calligraphy in small-group Beijing instruction near Wangfujing, with brush basics, tea, and a take-home souvenir for $20.
“This was an awesome way to dip into the cultural side of Beijing.Learning they ways of writing.He was nice and he explained happiness and taught me and my children something new!!! It was fun and challenging. I say if you need an acRead more”
Join a 3-hour Beijing dumpling workshop at 16:30, learning dough, fillings, and shapes, then eating your dumplings with tea and beer for $35.
“Very nice activity - lots of food, veggie friendly, nice group :)”
Cook Beijing dumplings and classic Chinese dishes live on Zoom with Chef Miss Li, with a clear ingredient list sent 3 days ahead.
“We had an absolutely amazing cooking class with Sunflower. It was both fun and very informative. We learned how to make authentic dumplings, Kung Pao chicken, and bok choy with mushrooms. We felt like we were in her home in Beijing Read more”
A small-group Chinese calligraphy class in the Wangfujing area, learning brush strokes, rice paper, inks, and character writing for adults and kids.
“The class was good, he showed me how to write and learn how to do calligraphy in mandarin. Good experience!”
Calm Hutong calligraphy class near the Forbidden City in Wangfujing. English instruction, 45 min to 2 hours, take home your character.
“Richard is a naturally empathic and wise teacher; it was a privilege to learn some basic strokes with him and to learn more too of Buddhist philosophy. It was the best few hours I spent in Beijing and my memory of the depth and richness of the experience will last for ever. We practiced for most of the session in order to then write characters on a red cardboard “canvas” to take away. The tea was also delicious and the experience of being in the studio also most nurturing. I recommend this without hesitation! On my second day it was also lovely to meet his teaching assistant, Fiona, who was…”
Train in traditional Shaolin kungfu in a 700-year hutong temple beside the Forbidden City, with English guide and practical self-defense.
“Very very nice !! Great experience but bring an extra t-shirt to change afterwards 😂😂”
Learn Chinese calligraphy in central Beijing with an expert art teacher. Practice strokes, ink, brushes, and seals, then take a piece home.
“Great experience, highly recommended!!! Richard is an amazing teacher and kind person, you’ll learn a lot from him!!!”
Learn jian bing in Beijing with a private, hands-on street food class, custom fillings, and personal help from your instructor.
“I did the jian bing workshop with some of my friends in September. It was a ton of fun! I really enjoyed getting to make as many jian bings as I wanted and getting to both make the dough and cook it on the pan myself. I definitely needed a few tries to get the techniquRead more”
Private Tai Chi near Temple of Heaven, Beijing. Learn a 9-step form, meditation, and self-massage with an English master in 90 minutes.
“Our lesson with Eric Liu was great. He was very friendly he teach us the basic moves in Tai chi and also he explained us a lot of things about the philosophy.”
Learn Chinese Kung Fu in Beijing near the Temple of Heaven with a 90-minute small-group class covering stances, five-stance form, locks, and self-defense.
“Keeping the interest levels of adults through 6 years old is no easy task but our guide knocked it jour of the park! He was fun, engaging and attentive to the whole of the group. Must do on trips!”
Private beginner Tai Chi at Temple of Heaven, English masters, nine-step form, meditation and push hands, plus self-massage tips.
“One of our favorite activities in china so far!”
Temple of Heaven in the morning, a hands-on Tai Chi lesson, then a guided tea ceremony. Private pickup, line skip, and real local calm.
“This was such a wonderful experience in Beijing. Visiting the Temple of Heaven was unforgettable, but the Tai Chi lesson truly made the day extraordinary. The Tea House visit was another highlight—the owner was so knowledgeable, sharing both fascinating stories and incredible teas. The best part of the entire tour, though, was Candice. She wasn’t just a guide—she felt like a friend, which made the whole experience even more special. It’s a day I will always treasure. I also want to thank the rest of the Beijing Tour Company team for their support. Amber and Kolar, your help with coordinating our two groups was greatly appreciated. We now understand why…”
Private Kung Fu class in Beijing at Temple of Heaven gardens with Master Eric and English support. Learn stances and five-form basics.
“The instruction level in this on session was excellent. Myself and my 2 children learned an entire basic kung fu form, and a good deal about internal and external kung fu. The only reason I didn't give this a 5 star review us because the instructor demonstrated a 1 inch punch on me without letting me know he was going to do it. Now, I am a martial artist, so I am no stranger to getting hit, but it is a very different thing to take a strike you are prepared for than I strike you aren't. A little warning would gave been nice. All that said, I still had…”
A 3-hour Beijing hands-on culture class with tea ceremony, Guqin music, and Chinese calligraphy, plus Hanfu rental and photo time.
“An unexpected gem! Our family of 5, ages 11-40 absolutely loved this experience! My kids & husband were not so excited when I told them what I had booked us in for, but by the end of the experience they couldn’t stop raving about how much fun they had!! It was a really rich cultural experience, very personalised, thoughtful, & immersive. We met many experts of the arts and emerging artists (young children) who stole our hearts with their talent & positive enthusiasm. We loved how genuine & wholesome the entire experience was. We felt like we had been taken into a local community with arms wide open, ready to…”
Every kind of day out in the city, and the best of each.
