Successful travel en family is never lack of fun activities and games for kids, who actually don’t care that much about those places of interest or famous scenic spot. Why not take some interesting cultural classes – a selection of family-friendly projects when touring China? Which are perfect for introducing both kids & parents to the Chinese history and culture in the forms of practicing Tai Chi, making dumpling, writing calligraphy…
1. Chinese Cooking Class: From Dumplings to Regional Delicacies
A culinary trip is one of the best way to know a culture. Therefore you won’t skip the excellent Chinese food, nor the culinary class to learn how to make it. You’ll find great pleasure when making extraordinary varied local dishes in different Chinese cities with your children, and sampling the Chinese food cooked on your own. As the most traditional food in China, Dumpling (jiao zi) is always the first dish for foreigners to try.
2. Kung Fu & Tai Chi Class: Discover the Chinese Martial Art
An authentic Kung Fu (wu shu) class in China provides you the chance to discover China’s national treasure in history. Kong Fu training for kids is usually moderate, funny and aiming at developing their physical skills and emotional skills. Shaolin Kung Fu (wu shu) originating from Shaolin Temple – the cradle of Chinese martial arts is the most popular among learners, followed by Tai Chi. Both adults and kids can take Kong Fu class.
3. Chinese Calligraphy Class: The Art of Brush & Ink
Take the Chinese calligraphy class to savor the elegant art of writing. Calligraphy embodies the unique beauty of Chinese script, and can reflect the writer’s character, mindset and mood. It won’t be easy to master calligraphy. First of all you need learn how to handle the brush – the traditional writing tool in China, then the word structure and writing style.
4. Peking Opera Mask Painting: Traditional Chinese Theater Art
Parents and kids seeking programs to dig into Chinese culture and art are recommended to have a Peking Opera mask painting class. Peking Opera is a time-honored comprehensive stage art style, a blend of literature, music, painting, martial arts, acrobatics and performance art. Peking Opera performance can’t go without mask. And the class is for you to learn how to paint this put-on facial make-up for opera actors and actresses.
Moreover, Shadow puppetry, another traditional Chinese handicraft and performing art also attract many kids and adults to learn and play.
5. Mahjong Lesson: Tiles & Strategy of the Classic Game
It’s mainly for the adults with entertainment. There’s no other pastime more popular than playing Mahjong in China. Legend has that Confucius developed the game of Mahjong in 500 BC. Nowadays, Mahjong playing varies in different places, and Chengdu in Sichuan province is most famous for this game. After learning playing Mahjong, you can also enjoy this pastime at home with your friends.
6. Local Wet Market Visiting: A Feast for the Senses
Chinese food is an important part of Chinese culture. If you want to learn the culture of Chinese food, one of the best way is to learn to cook Chinese food, exploring the local wet market is another. No matter which city in China you are going to visit, it’s recommended to visit a local grocery market if you have time. You will find local people shopping for meat, fish, eggs, seafood, vegetables, fruits, etc.
7. Cultural Performances/Shows: Living Traditions
China’s performing arts are also an integrate part of Chinese culture. For thousands of years, Chinese people of all ethnic groups have created rich performing art forms. Each art form has many different schools and styles, with various shapes and colors. Chinese opera, puppet shows, shadow puppet shows, acrobatic performances, Chinese folk music, Chinese folk arts, and ethnic minority dances and dramas are all fine works of traditional Chinese performing arts. We can arrange cultural performances for you when you are visiting China.
8. Tea Picking: From Leaf to Cup
China is the hometown of tea. The discovery and utilization of tea by the Chinese is said to have begun in the Shennong era, which is at least more than 4,700 years. China’s traditional tea-making techniques and related customs were included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2022.
At Easy Tour China, we offer tea tours to China, especially crafted for tea lovers to delve into Chinese tea culture. Or you can simple add tea culture experience to your personalized China family tour. There are lots of tea plantations in China. For example, if you visit Guilin and Yangshuo, we can arrange you and your family to visit a local tea research institute where you can pick tea leaves yourselves, learn about tea making, and enjoy Chinese tea ceremony.
9. Ethnic Handicrafts: Touching Tradition, Creating Together
For an in-depth cultural exploration in China with kids, experience the handicrafts of various ethnic groups in China. Parents and children will not only learn a skill, but also get a glimpse of the life wisdom and aesthetic of an ethnic group passed down through generations.
Under the guidance of local professional artisans, the whole family can create a unique earthenware piece. Witness the pure white cotton cloth magically transformed into patterns of changing blues and greens. In a Dong or Miao village in Guizhou, you can even personally experience using ancient methods to mold a piece of paper with the texture of plant fibers.