China · CALLIGRAPHY & CRAFT CLASSES
Every trip has one free day too few. These 15 calligraphy & craft classes justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Meet your English-speaking calligraphy teacher at Sun World Dynasty Hotel in Wangfujing for a 30-minute or one-hour lesson. You will learn brush handling, basic strokes, Chinese calligraphy styles, and the meaning behind selected characters. Richard is often the instructor, with David and Li also named, and you may take home a finished piece.
“We loved this activity! Richard was so friendly and a great instructor!”
Meet an art teacher at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing for a 30-minute to 2-hour Chinese calligraphy lesson. Practice brush handling, posture, and basic strokes, then create a personal piece to take home. Richard and other teachers also add Chinese cultural ideas, tea, and simple Yin-yang exercises.
“Very good experience with Richard - timely communications, met us outside the venue to make sure we didn’t get lost, super friendly and helpful, a fantastic introduction to the art of calligraphy for the whole family and good value for money. Highly recommend!”
Spend 3.5 hours walking from Huguang Guild Hall through old hutongs, Liulichang, Yangmeizhu Byway, Dashilan, and Qianmen. Guides such as Kris and Hao bring history, food, and daily life into the story, with calligraphy along the way. Pay $5 to reserve your place, then tip about 160 to 200 RMB.
“I had such a good time during this tour in Beijing and it exceeded all my expectations! Hao was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the city's history, providing various insights at every stop. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore Beijing in such unique way!”
Meet at Hilton Beijing Wangfujing for a hands-on Chinese calligraphy lesson with an English-speaking teacher, including Richard when available. You’ll learn about brushes, ink, rice paper, inkstones, and seal carvings, then practice characters such as 福, meaning happiness. Choose a 30-minute, 1-hour, 90-minute, or 2-hour session.
“Very nice and authentic experience. Richard is a very good teacher, and we had a very good adventure in this class. We recommend! Thank you.”
Spend 2.5 hours at Beijing’s private 813 Creative Park venue learning tea ceremony, calligraphy, and Guqin music. A bilingual guide with a master’s degree in history and sociology explains the rituals, while cultural specialists lead the hands-on sessions. Tea snacks, traditional clothing, photos, and a small group of up to eight are included.
“I didn’t expect to feel so moved. Playing the Guqin while the master guided my fingers felt like stepping into another time. It was quiet, personal, and completely different from anything else in my itinerary.”
Meet your English-speaking calligraphy teacher at Sun World Dynasty Hotel near Wangfujing, then practice brush handling, posture, basic strokes, and Chinese characters in a calm studio. Richard, David, or another listed teacher guides beginners and children through the process, ending with artwork on a special canvas and, in some cases, a brush gift.
“It was the perfect calligraphy class in Beijing. Relaxing environment and much patience. Also a very calm atmosphere to practice. Highly recommended it!”
At Hutong Calligraphy Class near Wangfujing, you’ll practice Chinese brush writing with an art teacher such as Richard or Li. Choose a 30-minute, 1-hour, or 1.5-hour session, learn about brushes, ink, rice paper, seal carvings, and Chinese characters, then take your finished work home. Classes welcome adults and children with an accompanying adult.
“Richard was very kind and informative during our class. We got lots of practice before our final piece which we got to take home. Highly recommend!”
Spend two hours with Shanghai artist Lucy learning the history, tools, and brush techniques of Chinese calligraphy. In a small group of up to eight, you practice strokes, choose a Chinese character, and create a folding fan or scroll to take home. Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions are available, with tea or coffee included.
“It was very interesting and informative caligraphy class! Lucy speaks perfect English and it was easy to communicate. I made beautiful fan for hot days in Shanghai!:) Thank you Lucy and it was lovely meeting you! All the best!”
Spend 3.5 hours walking through old Beijing with an English-speaking guide. Visit Huguang Guild Opera Theatre, hutongs, Yangmeizhu Byway, Dashilar, Qianmen, and the area outside Tiananmen Square. You’ll also stop at a local courtyard, try street snacks, and create free Chinese calligraphy to take home.
“This was the most amazing tour. So much information, our guides were incredible. A great value, would highly recommend!!”
Travel from Shanghai to Zhujiajiao in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking guide. Walk old lanes, cross Fangsheng Bridge, cruise the canals or practice Chinese calligraphy, and add Kezhi Garden, tea, or local food to your five-hour visit.
“Our guide, Jenny, and her assistant, Jessie, were both brilliant. Excellent spoken English, knowledgeable, informative, kind and helpful. The floating village was absolutely beautiful and we really enjoyed the calligraphy lesson. Clean, comfortable, air conditioned vehicle, excellent communication, honestly it could not have been better. Highly recommended.”
You’ll be picked up downtown by a guide such as Eric, Lucy, or Sunny and taken to a private artist workshop in Shanghai. Over two hours, an art teacher introduces the Four Treasures, brush strokes, ink, paper, and composition. Paint flowers, bamboo, or orchids, drink tea, and take home your finished work.
“We have so much fun today painting with lovely teacher and we love it so much. Thank you for the unforgettable experience.”
Meet an English-speaking Chinese teacher in your Yangshuo hotel lobby for a private one-hour lesson. Choose calligraphy or classical painting, then learn paper handling, ink grinding, brush grip, and basic techniques. Materials are included. Xingping-area hotels cost an extra 150 RMB for transfer.
“Our tour guide Andy was very attentive and helpful, his English was excellent. The tour was perfectly organised, including assistance with fulfilling all the additional Covid19-related regulations The tour on the Li River is wonderful, Andy provided many interesting facts about the sights on the way, which we would have stayed unaware of as all information on the boat was only provided in Chinese. Altogether, a very enjoyable trip!”
Meet your guide and calligraphy teacher, Richard, for a 1.5-hour private lesson focused on brush technique, breathing, and Chinese philosophy. Then walk through hutong lanes before sitting down for Beijing-style dumplings or noodles. The experience costs $68 per person, with transport to the meeting point extra.
“Super nice calligraphy class, the guide was very kind and teach to us the basic of chinese calligraphy, we got some backround infos about the history, some jokes ;) we tried dumplings and saw some piece of Hutong.”
In a private Beijing art center, an English-speaking guide leads you through tea ceremony, Guqin music, calligraphy, cultural rituals, Hanfu dressing, and photos. You brew three teas, play a full melody on China’s ancient Guqin, and write your name or a blessing in brush and ink. Sylvia can meet you at the metro entrance.
“We hadden deze activiteit met onze twee dochters van 9 en 14 jaar geboekt en iedereen heeft er volop van genoten. Echt een aanrader als je wat meer over de Chinese cultuur wilt leren. Fantastische vonden wij dat je deze kunstvormen op één plaats kunt ervaren en iedere sessie zit perfect qua timing. Echt een aanrader! Wij vonden het fantastisch!”
Meet Bruce Gao and the Sino-Voyages team at Liulichang East Street for a short cultural walk, then enter a traditional studio. Choose calligraphy, silk fan painting, or seal carving. You receive materials, patient instruction, cultural context, and your own handmade souvenir. No experience is needed.
“Such a great moment. We’re so happy we booked this experienced with Bruce and his friend, they were patient and encouraging with us. We recommend !”
Pick a wall, a palace, a river or a kitchen.
