Top Eastern China Classes & Workshops

Learn the ancient Chinese art form of calligraphy and create a unique souvenir with this small-group calligraphy class with a local artist. Discover the history of Chinese calligraphy, learn how to use the tools and basic writing technique, then create your own piece of art in the form of a traditional folding fan decorated with calligraphy.

Explore the intricate world of Chinese art and culture in a hands-on silk fan painting workshop, set in a tranquil studio near Jing’an Temple. Over three engaging hours, delve into the historical significance of Chinese painting while using traditional tools and techniques to create your own masterpiece. This workshop offers an intimate atmosphere, ensuring personalized attention as you sip on tea and connect with fellow art enthusiasts. No prior experience is needed—just bring your creativity and passion for learning.

Eating is one of the great pleasures of visiting China. Learn how to take the experience back home with you in this private dim sum cooking class in Shanghai's French Concession. Under your instructor's guidance, gain a deeper understanding of flavors and techniques as you learn how to make your choice of two bite-size treats, including dumplings, egg rolls, and desserts.

Learn to make Shanghai’s signature dumpling, xiao long bao, in this cooking class in Shanghai. These are called soup dumplings, because they have a broth inside the dumpling itself. Your teacher will be a passionate foodie, who will show you the technique involved. You’ll make some yourself, and cook them two ways. At the end, eat them together, and leave with a full belly and the recipe.

Expert Guidance: The instructor is highly knowledgeable, with deep expertise in Dunhuang art and culture. Customizable Designs: Choose from a wide range of traditional mural patterns—majestic Buddhas, graceful Bodhisattvas, or mythical creatures like the Nine-colored Deer from ancient Chinese folktales. Hands-on Experience: You'll use authentic materials such as mineral pigments, clay boards, and traditional tools to recreate historic art in a peaceful, meditative setting. Cultural Immersion: The quiet, serene classroom atmosphere offers a rare chance to connect deeply with China’s spiritual and artistic traditions.

A calm, hands-on introduction to a traditional Chinese craft, focused on patience, rhythm, and meaning. Small group sizes allow for personal guidance in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

This is more than a Mahjong class—it's a cultural journey in the heart of Shanghai's Former French Concession. Held in a local Chinese tea bar hidden in a real local neighborhood, this experience offers an authentic setting where you can learn Mahjong with a professional instructor. It’s the perfect mix of learning, culture, and relaxation. With English translation provided, even complete beginners will feel confident as they discover Mahjong’s rules, play on automatic Mahjong tables, and explore the game’s rich history and social meaning in Chinese life. ✅ Hands-on Mahjong learning for all levels ✅ A rare look into everyday Chinese leisure life ✅ A perfect balance of learning and playing ✅ Fun, social, and culturally enriching Don’t just visit Shanghai—experience it like a local. After Mahjong class, you can have a walk around Former French Concession such as famous Tianzifang nearby. Book now and join us for Mahjong, tea, and stories you’ll never forget.

Authentic Flavor, fun hands-on experience. we teach you the real techniques of Chinese cuisine. Our class is fully customizable to your cravings, 100% hands-on, and taught in fluent English. You leave with a delicious meal and the skill to recreate genuine flavors in your home kitchen.

Learn to paint elegant Chinese artwork in this ink and brush painting workshop in Shanghai. This is the art of shui mo, or water and ink. Your instructor and translator will help to share the techniques with you. You’ll be collected from your hotel in downtown Shanghai and taken to the workshop in the French Concession. Enjoy tea, painting, and relaxing today in this class, lasting two to three hours.

Take a private cooking class in the home of your chef-instructor to learn about Chinese cuisine and experience daily life in Shanghai. Start with hotel pickup and a guided market tour that includes samples of popular snacks. Then head to your instructor’s home for a hands-on cooking lesson. Afterward, enjoy a lunch or dinner that you helped to make, accompanied by lively conversation.

This is not just a tea tasting. This 2.5-hour premium workshop, set in a serene upscale tea house in very central Shanghai, offers a unique & systematic deep dive into Chinese tea. We blend science (the “why” behind the flavors) with culture (history and philosophy), culminating in a hands-on session where you master the art of brewing your own cup. It's the most insightful and engaging way to understand tea in Shanghai. About Max & Mini Shanghai Culture Tour Company: Founded by passionate Shanghainese locals with decades of global Fortune 100 experience, we creates deeply engaging, self-designed cultural experiences. Through our unique and insightful culture experience, we empower every guest to grow, have fun, and engage more deeply with Shanghai!

It is a chance to sit comfortably, rest your legs, and immerse yourself in a quiet moment of creation. Through the craft of Luodian, you will gain a genuine understanding of Chinese history and culture in a relaxed setting. The process is completely beginner-friendly—no artistic skill is required. By the end of the session, you will have not just a rested body and mind, but a beautiful, unique accessory made by your own hands to remember your journey.

Enjoy drinks and socialize at top spots. Discover the Shanghai nightlife that earned the highest praise. Experience the bars and crowds that make our reviews unbeatable. Your epic night starts here! Experience the vibrant nightlife of Shanghai on a guided pub crawl. Meet new friends as you explore the city’s top bars and clubs. Enjoy a night of fun, drinks, and dancing in one of the world’s most exciting cities. This pub crawl features loads of fun and lots of interesting talks with fellow travelers and locals, while having opportunity to enjoy a variety of drinks in our hand-picked highly-rated bars (all with unique & distinctive ambiance) in Shanghai. The tour size is purposefully kept small so your local guide will be able to pay attention to every participant's interest and need, and always make sure everyone highly engaged and have chance chat with your local guide, have fun with other participants and mingle with local bar visitors.

Move beyond surface-level sightseeing and dive deep into authentic Chinese culture with a fresh, hands-on art experience! At China Culture Land, you can directly engage with traditional art by choosing your own creative path: opt for the vibrant, bold colors of Intangible Cultural Heritage Peasant Painting, or try traditional Freehand (Xieyi) Painting—which feels like watercolor but carries a profoundly different Eastern spirit. Uncover the stories behind every brushstroke, and take home more than just photos: leave with a truly special, one-of-a-kind souvenir crafted by your own hands.

Escape the urban rush in a serene Shanghai park. Train under Master John – an elite instructor whose rare skills come from 15+ years mastering Tai Chi, Wing Chun, and Sanda under China’s national team coaches. Why Choose This Experience: UNIQUE ACCESS: Learn from a coach who trained Gary Locke (Former US Commerce Secretary) and Fortune 500 giants like Volkswagen, Goldman Sachs & Air France. TWO ICONIC ARTS: Flow through Tai Chi’s meditative movements or master Wing Chun’s lightning defenses. Want both? Add the second(add-on) session! ELITE TECHNIQUES: John teaches rare combat applications – from Tai Chi’s soft-power throws to Wing Chun’s close-quarter strikes – honed through championship wins. NO PRIOR SKILLS NEEDED: Patient, personalized corrections adapt to all levels. Your Session Includes: Warm-ups Master John’s live demonstrations Hands-on practice with posture refinement Power drills & self-defense applications Qigong energy work & standing meditation (Zhan Zhuang)

- Shop like a local: Explore a real wet market and pick your own ingredients, just like Chinese home cooks do every day - Discover Chinese food culture: Learn about unique local ingredients, seasonal eating, and the philosophy behind everyday Chinese meals - Cook authentic home-style dishes: We teach what Chinese people actually eat at home — not just restaurant version - Truly hands-on: Chop, stir, fry, taste — you do every step yourself, guided with care - Understand flavors, not just follow recipes: Learn the meaning behind ingredients and techniques - Immersive & intimate: It’s personal, local, and real — like being welcomed into someone’s kitchen, not a tourist class - Cultural connection through food: Leave with a full belly and a deeper understanding of Chinese daily life

Travelers can experience the Chinese Cheongsam outfits, the Bund (Hema) Photo Studio will take photos for them and make the photos into pictorial photography. PLEASE CONTACT US AT FIRST TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO TAKE PHOTOS BECAUSE THE PRICES ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDS ON THE NUMBER OF DRESSES AND PICTURES. By fusing traditional Chinese elements into photography, the craft of picturesque photography inherits and carries forward the traditional Chinese culture, turning photography into painting-like art piece. ?Carefully overlapping the photographs with elaborate Chinese realistic style painting and adjusting the tone, we converge dreams with reality. By shining classic lights into modern photographs, fusing photography and Chinese classic art into one, we promise to turn the real you into a piece of art. Recommend to contact us by email or cell phone first before you put your order.

Learn how to make several Chinese dishes during a private half-day cooking class in Shanghai. Your chef-instructor shows you how to make popular snacks such as dumplings and steamed buns with different fillings. Your hands-on lesson covers Chinese culinary traditions and provides step-by-step guidance from the instructor. Top off the class by eating the dishes you helped to prepare.

Join this award-winning archery club for an adventure in becoming a Ming Imperial Guard – craft your own weapons, wear royal guard robes & earn your Imperial Token through mastering the martial art of archery.

Wan Ling will share her unique experiences of sourcing the teas you will enjoy during the experience. As we know the exact provenance of each of the teas, we can share about each tea's journey from field to cup, as well as give you an insight into the people and places behind the teas. Our tea house provides a calm and relaxing space, which allows you to focus on enjoying the tea and gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese tea and tea culture. You are encouraged to engage and ask any questions you have, so we hope that you will feel confident when talking and enjoying tea in the future.

Master the culinary secrets of China in a hands-on cooking class that takes place in the heart of Shanghai. Learn to prepare iconic dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken and delightful Shepherd's Purse Wonton, all while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of a local kitchen. This immersive experience offers not just cooking skills but a taste of authentic Chinese cuisine!

By fusing traditional Chinese elements into photography, the craft of picturesque photography inherits and carries forward the traditional Chinese culture, turning photography into painting-like art piece. ?Carefully overlapping the photographs with elaborate Chinese realistic style painting and adjusting the tone, we converge dreams with reality. By shining classic lights into modern photographs, fusing photography and Chinese classic art into one, we promise to turn the real you into a piece of art. Recommend to contact us by email or cell phone first before you put your order.

This is a Chinese Tea Culture experience suitable for all levels, including beginners. In this trip, you can learn Chinese tea systematically. Not only can you see, feel and taste those fine tea to find your favorite, but also you can relax and enjoy the tea ceremony offered by our professionals at Tianshan Tea City, complete with a detailed presentation. You’ll explore at least six types of premium teas, engaging in an in-depth tasting journey that lets you discover each tea’s unique characteristics. After this trip, you will be equipped with basic Chinese Tea knowledge, which enables you to tell the categories and the quality of Chinese Tea. Also, with the guide of our professionals, you will have the chance to make tea by yourself just like a tea expert! First Sip of Tea: Your first taste of Chinese tea culture, where every sip begins a journey into tradition and discovery.