China · WORKSHOPS

The 15 Best Workshops & Classes in China

24 tours  ·  from $15 a head

Good workshops & classes fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit - Learn why Sichuan food tastes so bold
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Chengdu, Half-Day, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Chengdu, Workshops

Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit

1.Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 465 reviews · from $90Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide at Chilli Cool’s Kitchen, visit Liangjiaxiang market, taste local ingredients, then cook Sichuan dishes with a chef. Lance, Jerry, and other Chilli Cool hosts help explain the spices, translate instructions, and adapt dishes for vegetarians. Your meal, drinks, recipes, and ingredients are included.

“A delightful time in an authentic traditional Chengdu market, followed by an amazing gastronomic experience. Jerry was just great full of knowledge and energy. The cooking kitchen was a top of the line setting for preparing the meals. The location was perfect an very easy to get to, using the subway. Highly recommend it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing Calligraphy Class - Why the brush technique matters
Calligraphy & Craft Classes, Calligraphy and Craft Classes in Beijing, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Beijing Calligraphy Class

2.Beijing Calligraphy Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 112 reviews · 30 minutes - 1 hour · from $20

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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Chinese Calligraphy Class for Small Group - Step one: settle your attention
Calligraphy & Craft Classes, Calligraphy and Craft Classes in Beijing, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Chinese Calligraphy Class for Small Group

3.Chinese Calligraphy Class for Small Group

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 104 reviews · from $20

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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Organic Chinese Dumpling Class with Market Walk - The best part: cooking and eating what you made
Chinese Food Tours, Food Tours in Hong Kong, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hong Kong, Walking Tours, Workshops

Organic Chinese Dumpling Class with Market Walk

4.Organic Chinese Dumpling Class with Market Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 88 reviews · from $100

Meet host Feliz at Jordan MTR Station for a guided market walk, then make 10 dumplings from scratch in a café kitchen. You’ll prepare filling, shape handmade wrappers, and cook your meal. Organic pork is used, with vegetarian and vegan options available by request. The class begins at 6:00 pm and ends back at the meeting point.

“A great family outing to learn how to cook dim sum and gain a better understanding of Hong Kong's food culture. Our host was very attentive.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing: Dumpling Making Workshop with Meal and Tea - Meeting your guide at 16:30
Chinese Food Tours, Cooking Classes, Food Tours in Beijing, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Beijing: Dumpling Making Workshop with Meal and Tea

5.Dumpling Making Workshop with Meal and Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 69 reviews · 3 hours · from $35

Meet your English-speaking guide at the hotel lobby at 16:30, then learn to roll wrappers, prepare fillings, and shape Beijing dumplings. Hosts such as Eric, Jenny, Janine, and Heyang have led this friendly three-hour class. Eat your boiled or pan-fried dumplings with tea, beer, and other Chinese dishes in a communal meal.

“What a fun activity to do whilst in Beijing. Jenny was a fantastic host and taught the group how to make dumplings and made the experience a lot of fun. The dumplings were delicious, highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef - Picking the Right Chinese Dish
Chinese Food Tours, Cooking Classes, Food Tours in Beijing, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef

6.Online Cooking Class Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflowerli Renowned Chef

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $20

Join Chef Sunflower Li live from Beijing for a private 60 to 90 minute Zoom cooking class. Choose dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, dim sum, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken, steamed buns, or a vegan dish. You receive the ingredient list three days ahead, then cook from scratch at your own pace.

“I enjoyed very much learning to prepare dumplings and they turned out better than expected! It was so nice hearing all your anecdotes about family meal traditions! The ingredients list sent in advance was clear and instructions easy to follow, also well equipped with the two cameras. Thank you for this fun experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Organic Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumpling Class & Market Walk - Learning the soup dumpling method
Chinese Food Tours, Food Tours in Hong Kong, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hong Kong, Walking Tours, Workshops

Organic Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumpling Class & Market Walk

7.Organic Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumpling Class & Market Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $136

Meet Feliz Yau at Jordan MTR Station for a guided wet-market walk, then make Xiao Long Bao from scratch in a café kitchen. You will prepare the dough, filling, and pleats, using organic pork or a vegan alternative. The small group is limited to 12 people, and each person makes 10 dumplings to eat.

“Feliz took us to the wet market to buy meat for the class we also tour the Temple street market and her preferred vendors. Then we went back to a Cafe to make the dragon dumplings. They turned out really good. Very worthwhile. The combo class would have been even better.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing Wangfujing Calligraphy Class by Forbidden City - What You Learn With the Brush
Calligraphy & Craft Classes, Calligraphy and Craft Classes in Beijing, Forbidden City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Beijing Wangfujing Calligraphy Class by Forbidden City

8.Beijing Wangfujing Calligraphy Class by Forbidden City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 58 reviews · from $20

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.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop - Meeting Vivian at MingCha Tea House
Food & Drink, Tea Tastings, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hong Kong, Workshops

Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop

9.Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $65

Meet tea master Vivian at MingCha Tea House in Chai Wan for a 90-minute, hands-on workshop. You’ll taste four premium teas, practice Gongfu brewing with traditional tea ware, examine tea leaves before and after steeping, and pair the cups with dried nuts, chocolate, and flower honey toast. A family-friendly option and two start times are available.

“I loved this experience. We tried four different teas and learned about how to brew and serve a proper cup of tea. Oue tea master was knowledgeable, engaging and most of all, kind. She helped us get a taxi back to our hotel and waited with us until it arrived.”

Check availability →Read our full review

Beijing Wangfujing Calligraphy Class Nearby Forbidden City - Finding the meeting point near Wangfujing
Calligraphy & Craft Classes, Calligraphy and Craft Classes in Beijing, Forbidden City Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Beijing Wangfujing Calligraphy Class Nearby Forbidden City

10.Beijing Wangfujing Calligraphy Class Nearby Forbidden City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 56 reviews · 45 minutes - 2 hours · from $35

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!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Chinese Kungfu class in old temple beside Forbidden Ci - What the one-hour class actually teaches
Shaolin Temple & Kung Fu Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Chinese Kungfu class in old temple beside Forbidden Ci

11.Chinese Kungfu class in old temple beside Forbidden Ci

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 53 reviews · 3 days · from $45

Meet kungfu master Limeng and an English-speaking translator in Pudusi, a former royal temple beside the Forbidden City. In a one-hour lesson, you practice Shaolin basics, traditional forms, and practical self-defense. The class suits beginners, includes personal corrections, and can be paired with a local tea ceremony. Kungfu uniforms are available to buy.

“A great lesson in a very beautiful place! Everything was very authentic!We were late, the coach did us a favor and rescheduled the class. Thanks!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit - Starting at Xiangshan Market at 9:15 am
Cooking Classes, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Lijiang, Workshops

Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit

12.Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 48 reviews · from $59

Meet Fancy at 9:15 am near Xiangshan Market for a guided walk through Lijiang’s largest Naxi market. Then cook and eat three dishes at a family-run studio, with snacks, drinks, tea, lunch, and your own cooking station included. The class lasts about three and a half hours and accepts fewer than 10 people.

“Lovely experience to discover Naxi culture through food. You will learn a lot about culinary traditions at the market and cook a delicious meal that is easy to cook and to replicate at home. Fancy host I lovely and kind, I highly recommend it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Chengdu: Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience - From Sichuan tea to the cooking station
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Chengdu, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Chengdu, Workshops

Chengdu: Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience

13.Cooking Class with Fresh Market Half Day Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 42 reviews · 4.5 hours · from $82

Meet Lance, Jerry, or another English-speaking guide at Liang Jia Xiang Station for a market walk, Sichuan tea, and hands-on cooking with a local chef. You will study spices, prepare several dishes, and sit down to eat with beer or soft drinks. Vegetarian and vegan menus can be arranged in advance.

“If you like cooking and Chinese kitchen, this experience is a must in Chengdu! The market tour with the two guides - Lance and Lichi, who speak perfectly English - is very interesting, they taught us many things about Chinese food and culture. Ling, the chef, was a great teacher! And the food was delicious in the end. Truly recommended experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

Yangshuo Cooking Class with Market Trip - Choosing ingredients for beer fish
Cooking Classes, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Yangshuo, Workshops

Yangshuo Cooking Class with Market Trip

14.Yangshuo Cooking Class with Market Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $45

Meet Hans in Yangshuo for a market walk, local snacks, ingredient shopping, and a hands-on cooking class built around beer fish. You will learn how to choose fresh produce, enjoy family tea, and eat the meal you help prepare. Lunch and dinner time slots are available, with private transport and mobile tickets included.

“Hans was punctual, arriving exactly on time, and we began with a journey through a local Yangshuo market. We had a small bite to eat, then picked up some "happy water" and ingredients for the class. Throughout the experience, Hans shaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

Half-Day steamed Buns Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit - Stop 2: Tea and Baozi in a Sichuan courtyard
Cooking Classes, Cooking Classes in Chengdu, Half-Day, Markets, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Chengdu, Workshops

Half-Day steamed Buns Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit

15.Half-Day steamed Buns Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $80

Spend about four hours in Chengdu visiting a local spice market, learning about Sichuan ingredients, and making Baozi in a traditional courtyard kitchen. An English-speaking guide such as Lance or Jerry may lead the class. Ingredients, tea, drinks, and a light meal are included, with vegetarian options available.

“A great experience, the local market was fun, interesting and we got to try and use a little Chinese language. Lance our guide was great from start to finish and took lots of fabulous pictures which meant we could get with our cookery class. Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

New in Workshops

★ 5.0Food Tour – Eat Like Local + Rice Roll WorkshopFrom $994 reviews
★ 4.8Chinese Kung Fu Experience Class in BeijingFrom $686 reviews
★ 5.0Beijing Hands-On Culture Tour: Tea, Instrument, CalligraphyFrom $156 reviews

Keep browsing

Calligraphy & Craft Classes11Hanfu & Costume Photoshoots7Photography Sessions5Shopping Tours19
Scroll to Top

Explore China

Pick a wall, a palace, a river or a kitchen.

The wall

Great Wall DaysMutianyuBadalingJinshanlingSimatai & Gubei

Imperial Beijing

Forbidden CityTiananmen SquareSummer PalaceTemple of HeavenHutongs

Food and tea

Food ToursCooking ClassesTea TastingsMarket WalksBar Nights

Rivers and mountains

Li River CruisesHuangpu CruisesYangtze CruisesGorges & CavesHiking Trips