Chinese Language & Culture Events in Beijing – March 2022

While Cultural Keys can be considered your go-to for a variety of traditional Chinese culture activities, there are of course plenty of other fun and interesting cultural events happening around the capital every month!

Here's our round-up of activities connected with Chinese language and culture for March in Beijing!

Please note: Cultural Keys is in no way affiliated with any of the events or organisations listed in this article, unless explicitly stated. We offer no guarantee about the quality of any third party events, and strongly suggest interested participants contact the relevant organizers to clarify event details before attending.

Exhibition: Peking Opera Maestro Mei Lanfang, His Art, His Life 梅澜芳华—梅兰芳艺术人生展

Date: Ongoing from January 20th 2022
Location: National Museum of China | East side of Tiananmen Square 中国国家博物馆 | 北京市中心天安门广场东侧
Time: 9:00 AM- 17:00 PM, Tue-Sun (Admission closes at 16:00PM)
Price: Free
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://ticket.chnmuseum.cn/yuyue/index
Language: Chinese

Known as the "Queen of Peking Opera", Mei was known for playing female lead roles and particularly his "verdant-robed girls", young or middle-aged women of grace and refinement. Based on artefacts and documents showing Mei Lanfang's artistic life, this exhibition displays Mei Lanfang's creations in different historical periods, allowing the audience to experience the personal charm and morality of a generation of art masters at close range.

Exhibition: The sounds of a prosperous age
钟鸣盛世—紫禁城和避暑山庄藏钟表联展

Date: January 26th - May 8th, 2022
Location: The National Palace Museum | 4 Jingshan Qianjie, Dongcheng District北京故宫 | 北京市东城区景山前街4号
Time: November 1st - March 31st 8:30 - 16:30 Last Entry: 15:40
Price: 25 yuan per person for seniors and students, 50 yuan per person for adults
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://gugong.ktmtech.cn/
Language: Chinese

Most of the clocks and watches at the National Palace Museum have been preserved, and they are an important category in the collection of the Palace Museum. The museum has selected some of the best for this exhibition, from which you can appreciate the superb skills of Chinese and foreign clockmakers more than a hundred years ago.

Workshop: Pottery drawing and glazing experience 陶艺拉坯上釉体验

Date: February 13th - June 30th 2022
Location: Tao Tao Tao Handicraft Workshop | 3rd Floor, Capital Land Crystal Shopping Center, Haidian District 陶淘陶手工坊 | 海淀区凯德晶品购物中心3层
Time: 10:00-20:00
Price: 48/68/98/138RMB per person
Payment: Reservation and more details:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ngWrL4P4GvcOWfZg9XhONA
Language: Chinese

Through the process of making ceramics by hand, children and adults alike can understand and learn about the richness of Chinese ceramic culture.

Workshop: Handmade ancient style round fans 古风团扇手工制作

Date: February 25th-May 25th 2022
Location: Fairy Rabbit DIY Workshop | Room 1010, Unit 3, Yongli International, Chaoyang District 仙兔国风DIY手工坊|朝阳区永利国际3单元1010
Time: 11:30-20:30
Price: 168RMB per person
Payment: Reservation and more details:
http://dpurl.cn/IpcsPgLz
Language: Chinese

Learn to make a round fan in this fun workshop! The round fan is a traditional handicraft and art of the Han nationality, representing reunion, friendship and good luck.

Workshop: Jian Bing - Beijing's Favorite Street Food

Date: March 1st-30th 2022
Location: No. 10 Shique Hutong, Dongcheng District | 东城区石雀胡同10号
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes(Approx.)(Admission closes at 16:00PM)
Price: 252RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.viator.com/tours/Beijing/Jian-Bing-Workshop-Bejings-Favourite-Street-Food/d321-86263P7
Language: English

We will learn where Beijing's favorite street food comes from, and then go onto making our own delicious creations and becoming legendary jian bing chefs! Our experiences are all about the good times... It's the only reason we exist. This experience puts our favorite food on the stage with our new flavors and fillings to make them our own! If you like food and would like to learn how to make this tasty food with ease, then this is for you.

Online Cooking Class: Beijing Dumplings and Cuisine by Sunflower Li

Date: March 1st - 30th 2022
Platform: Facetime or Zoom
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes(Approx.)
Price: 162RMB per person
Payment: Reservation and more details:
https://www.viator.com/tours/Beijing/Online-Cooking-Class/d321-67316P243
Language: English

Wherever you are in the world, savor a delicious introduction to China’s culture, food and heritage with this private online Chinese cooking class over Facetime or Zoom. Schedule your class for a slot that works for your time zone, pick your dish—vegan options are available—then shop for the ingredients you need. Perfect for solos, couples, families and groups of friends—or anyone who’d like to discover Chinese food and travel virtually.

Dance: Cao Xueqin《曹雪芹》

Date: March 2nd & 3rd, 2022
Location: National Grand Theater | 2, West Chang'an Avenue 国家大剧院 | 北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30 - 21:05
Price: 80/120/180/280/380/480/580RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1088473.html#2022-03-02
Language: Chinese

The dance drama "Cao Xueqin" presents not only the beauty of "A Dream of Red Mansions", but also the great love of Cao Xueqin. We are lead into Cao Xueqin's life, into his emotions, into his spiritual world, into the literary pinnacle of "Dream of Red Mansions", to appreciate the influence and vitality of traditional Chinese culture that penetrates historical time and space.

Workshop: Black Sesame Kitchen Sichuan Cooking Class

Date: March 5th 2022
Location: Black Sesame Kitchen | 28 Zhonglao Hutong, Dongcheng District
Time: 11:30-13:30
Price: 350RMB per person
Payment: Scan QR code for reservation and payment
Language: English

Sichuan Province is the birthplace of many dishes that are well-received globally. Sichuan food, originating from the Southwestern region of China, is the most widely served cuisine in China itself. The dishes of Sichuan cuisine are known for their deep and rich flavors.

Concert: Hongzhuang Chinese Music Central Chinese Orchestra 
红妆国乐中央民族乐团音乐会

Date: March 6th 2022
Location: National Grand Theater | 2, West Chang'an Avenue 国家大剧院 | 北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time:  19:30-21:20
Price: 100/180/280/380/480/580RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1088445.html

This concert is performed by Central Chinese Orchestra and will use traditional Chinese musical instruments to present some famous traditional Chinese pieces to the audience.

Drama: Huaya Canal 北京市河北梆子剧团大型原创历史剧《花雅运河》

Date: March 8th & 9th, 2022
Location: National Grand Theater | 2, West Chang'an Avenue 国家大剧院 | 北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30-21:30
Price: 80/120/180/280/380RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1088345.html
Language: Chinese

Hebei Bangzi is a kind of traditional opera from the late Qing dynasty. The historical drama "Huaya Canal" is performed by the Beijing Hebei Bangzi Troupe, presenting a story of a Qing dynasty opera troupe.

Peking Opera: Women Generals of the Yang Family
国家京剧院京剧《杨门女将》

Date: March 11th 2022
Location: National Grand Theater | 2, West Chang'an Avenue 国家大剧院 | 北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30
Price: 180/280/380/480/580RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1088389.html
Language: Chinese

Women Generals of the Yang Family is performed by the troupe from the National Peking Opera. The opera is set during the war between the Northern Song Dynasty and the Kingdom of Western Xia, after the death of Song general Yang Zongbao. Yang Zongbao's 100-year-old grandmother, She Saihua, along with the widows of the Yang family, lead the Song army to resist the invaders.

Online Presentation: European Artillery Technology in Kangxi Dynasty
故宫文化讲座系列：康熙朝的欧洲火炮技术

Date: March 12th 2022
Platform: Zoom
Time: 10:00-11:00
Price: Free
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/8R4Ec0TzusZG6qUNApY2aw
Language: Cantonese which will be translated into Mandarin in real time.

Learn all about the development of large-caliber guns in this fascinating presentation given by Zhou Weiqiang, Research Fellow at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. In the early Qing Dynasty, European-style artillery was found throughout Asia. Although the Manchus were good at riding and shooting, they also attached great importance to firearms. The Kangxi Dynasty was an important period in the history of Chinese artillery, with breakthroughs in artillery knowledge and military applications. Emperor Kangxi attached great importance to artillery. After the rebellion of the San Francisco in the 12th year of Kangxi, the Qing army, with the assistance of the Jesuit Nan Huairen, cast artillery and was able to quell the rebellion. After that, the Qing court ordered the construction of various European-style weapons for use in war, and strengthened the assembly and training of the artillery of the Eight Banners troops, laying the foundation for the prosperity of the Qing Empire. 

Community: International Potluck Dinner at That's Mandarin!

Date: March 19th
Location: That's Mandarin, 7 Xinzhong Street, Building Two
东城区新中街7号2号楼
Time: 5-7PM
Price: 20RMB
Payment: Scan QR code on poster to register and pay
Language: English and Chinese (beginners welcome!)

Foodies from all countries - unite! Cook and/or bring your country’s traditional food to this fun event! Share and learn about other countries’ cuisine. Adults and kids are welcome. Enjoy free drinks and make new friends!