Chinese Language & Culture Events in Beijing - July 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!

For anyone currently residing in Beijing, you know that many locations have been closed and events postponed - but that some events are cautiously starting to resume. With fingers crossed, and hope that things will get back to normal as soon as possible, here's our round-up of activities connected with Chinese language and culture for July 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, including COVID-19-related requirements, before attending.

Exhibition: The Inheritance of Ink Charm - Li Geng Ink Painting Exhibition 墨韵味传承——李庚水墨画展

Date: April 29th - July 6th 2022
Location: National Art Museum of China | No. 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 中国国家美术馆 | 北京市东城区五四大街1号
Time: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 - 17:00 (Last admission at 16:00)
Price: Free
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://www.namoc.org/zsjs/zlzx/202204/t20220426_331214.htm
Language: English and Chinese

Li Geng, President of Heshan Painting Association of China Artists Association and Professor and Researcher of Kyoto University of Arts in Japan, was born in Beijing in 1950. This exhibition aims to explore new possibilities in Chinese ink wash painting.

Exhibition: Deng Tuo Donated Ancient Paintings Exhibition  斯文传古风——邓拓捐赠古代绘画精品展

Date: June 21st - July 14th 2022
Location: National Art Museum of China | No. 1 Wusi Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 中国国家美术馆 | 北京市东城区五四大街1号
Time: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00 - 17:00 (Last admission at 16:00)
Price: Free
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://www.namoc.org/zsjs/zlzx/202206/t20220617_331515.htm
Language: English and Chinese

 In 2022, which is the 110th anniversary of Mr. Deng Tuo's birth, the National Art Museum of China selected more than 70 donations from him to showcase the cultural value and enduring charm of ancient Chinese paintings. Dig deep into the "bamboo and stone" imagery in ancient paintings, vividly showing the artistic characteristics of traditional Chinese flower and bird paintings and landscape paintings. In addition, the exhibition presents for the first time precious photos and real objects provided by the artist's family.

Exhibition: Dunhuang on the Silk Road - Digital Dunhuang Exhibition  丝绸之路上的敦煌—数字敦煌展

Date: June - December 31st 2022
Location: Exhibition Hall 34/35, Central Plaza, National Foreign Cultural Trade Base (Beijing) 国家对外文化贸易基地（北京）中央广场34/35号展厅
Time: 9:30-17:00
Price: 89RMB per person; Children under 6 are free; Students and seniors  discounted.
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.moretickets.com/content/623ab2b1e24c3a49da5c2567
Language: English and Chinese

This exhibition allows citizens to experience the splendid cultural heritage of Dunhuang frescoes, cave stone Buddhas, and painted sculptures. The exhibits include 6 replica colored sculptures, 25 high-fidelity digital mural replicas, 5 imitation musical instruments, and more than 10 auxiliary exhibits, such as Zhang Qian's mission to the Western Regions, Wutai Mountain, nine-color deer, rebounding pipa, and 158 caves of Nirvana. It is the representative of the most famous murals and painted sculptures in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

 Performance: Beijing Quyi Troupe's "Beijing Taste" cross talk special performance  北京曲艺团“京味儿”相声专场演出

Date: July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th 2022
Location: Temple of Heaven Park | No. 1, Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing 北京天坛公园 | 北京市东城区天坛路甲1号
Time: 19:30
Price: 60/120/180RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.moretickets.com/content/629dacfba81bd04b0759126f 

Language: Chinese

This is a special crosstalk performance that brings together many outstanding young crosstalk actors from the Beijing Quyi Troupe. The program contains traditional sections and new creations, and provides the audience with wonderful jokes in turn. It's full of entertaining Beijing flavour!

 Concert: "Pipa Night" specially planned concert

国风雅韵 国家大剧院第一届国乐之春：“琵琶之夜”特别策划音乐会

Date: July 3rd 2022
Location: National Grand Theater | Beijing Xicheng District West Chang'an Avenue No. 2 国家大剧院 | 北京市西城区西长安街2号
Time: 19:30
Price: 80/180/280/380/480/580RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
http://ticket.chncpa.org/product-1090830.html
Language: Chinese

This concert is performed by the Central Chinese Orchestra, a national-level group with the largest scale and the most varied Chinese traditional instruments in the world. This performance focuses on the repertoire of the traditional Chinese musical instrument pipa.

Performance: Peking Opera "Lady General Mu Takes Command"  国粹吉祥 京剧《穆桂英挂帅》

Date: July 3rd 2022
Location: Beijing Jixiang Grand Theater | 7th Floor, Wangfujing Yintai, Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 北京吉祥大戏院 | 北京市东城区王府井大街王府井银泰7层
Time: 19:30
Price: 200/360/380/480RMB per person
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.moretickets.com/content/62ac3a9f908c3830d762194c
Language: Chinese

"Lady General Mu Takes Command" was adapted from the Henan Opera of the same name in 1959 by artists such as Mei Lanfang to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The play praised the heroic deeds of the Yang family to protect the family and the country from generation to generation, and the patriotism of the Yang family's "loyalty and good for the country".

Walking Tour: History of the Hutong

Date: July 16th 2022

Location: Online via Zoom

Time: 3-5.30pm

Price: 300RMB

Payment: See here for payment link: https://www.beijing-postcards.com/public-events/history-of-the-hutong-july-09

Language: English

When you arrive in Beijing you soon get the idea that the narrow Hutong alleyways contain the very soul of China’s capital. But who built these charming maze-like neighbourhoods? “History of the Hutong” is the history of Beijing told through the Hutongs. We will take on more than 2000 years of history and piece together a comprehensive narrative seen from street level. Utilizing a huge floor map of Beijing that we can stand on, old antique depictions of the city and other related archival material we will penetrate deep in to the urban maze of old Beijing in search for answers.

Online Interactive Presentation: The Essentials of Chinese Painting

Date: July 17th 2022
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 10-11am (Beijing time)
Places: Unlimited
Price: 50RMB for members of Cultural Keys' WeChat group; 80RMB for non-members
Payment: Prepayment via PayPal (no Paypal account needed), WeChat, or Alipay. Fapiao available on request.

Language: English

Join Cultural Keys online on July 17th for a fascinating presentation on the essential things to know about the art of traditional Chinese painting. Find out about the history of painting, the tools and techniques used, and some of the most famous painters in history! CK Culture Presentations are perfect entry points for anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese culture through stories, humour and fascinating facts - great for those with no previous knowledge, but also interesting for those who already know something about the subject.

Workshop: Chinese Jewelry  中式首饰设计

Date: July 20th 2022
Location: That's Mandarin Beijing Campus | Xinzhong Street 7, Bldg 2Beijing Concert Hall 思道睿北京校区 | 北京音乐厅2号楼新中街7号
Time: 7:00-9:00PM
Price: 150RMB per person, 100RMB per person(if you bring a friend)
Payment: Reservation required via online platform:
https://www.thatsmandarin.com/2022-chinese-jewelry-workshop/
Language: Chinese and English

 Are you in Beijing or Shanghai on Wed, July 20th? Come and learn how to make handmade jewelry at our Chinese Jewelry Workshop! Bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and more — limited only by your imagination!

Online Interactive Presentation: The Essentials of Beijing Culture

Date: July 31st 2022
Location: Online via Zoom
Time: 5-6pm (Beijing time)
Places: Unlimited
Price: 50RMB for members of Cultural Keys' WeChat group; 80RMB for non-members
Payment: Prepayment via PayPal (no Paypal account needed), WeChat, or Alipay Fapiao available on request.

Language: English

Join Cultural Keys online on July 31st for a fascinating presentation on the essential things to know about Beijing culture. Find out about the origins of several different aspects of 'typical' Beijing culture, like hutongs, Beijing cuisine and Beijing's own folk 'deity' the Rabbit Lord, and how they are faring in this modern metropolis. CK Culture Presentations are perfect entry points for anyone who wants to learn more about Chinese culture through stories, humour and fascinating facts - great for those with no previous knowledge, but also interesting for those who already know something about the subject.

Have we missed anything? Let us know in the comments section on our website (click the read more button below), or on our social media pages on Facebook (@CulturalKeysChina) or Instagram (@CulturalKeys). We always love hearing from you!

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