Explore 62 authentic traditional handicrafts experiences across China. Discover hands-on workshops, performances, and cultural activities in Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an and more. Book unique experiences with local masters.
Experience traditional Chinese handicrafts, learning paper-cutting and clay figurine making. Discover the history of these intangible cultural heritage crafts.
Experience Shanghai traditional handicrafts in Tianzifang, including paper-cutting and Chinese knot making. Discover Shanghai-style craft characteristics.
Make mini terracotta warriors by hand, learning ancient pottery techniques. Discover the history of Emperor Qin's Terracotta Army and experience 2000-year-old craftsmanship.
Experience Sichuan traditional handicrafts, learning Shu embroidery and bamboo weaving. Discover the charm of one of China's four famous embroideries.
Discover Chinese silk culture at Suzhou Silk Museum. Witness silk production process, experience reeling and brocade weaving techniques.
Learn Suzhou embroidery, one of China's four famous embroideries. Master basic stitches like flat stitch and shading stitch under professional guidance.
Experience ceramic making in 'Porcelain Capital' Jingdezhen. Learn throwing, trimming, glazing and firing techniques.
Learn Nanjing Yunjin brocade weaving, one of China's three famous brocades. Experience large flower tower loom operation and create your own small brocade piece.
Learn Xiamen's unique lacquer thread sculpture technique, creating intricate patterns with lacquer threads on ceramic or wood bases.
Learn Xiang embroidery, one of China's four famous embroideries. Master basic stitches and discover its unique charm of 'embroidered flowers that smell, birds that sing'.
Learn Han embroidery with Chu cultural characteristics. Master unique techniques and create Chu-style embroidery works.
Learn to make Chu incense and experience Chinese traditional incense culture. Understand herbal knowledge and make sachets and incense sticks.
Learn Yangliuqing New Year painting, one of China's four major woodblock New Year paintings. Experience the complete process and create your own work.
Learn Tianjin Nirenzhang clay figure art. Under master's guidance, learn basic sculpting and painting techniques to create clay works.
Learn ice sculpture skills at Ice and Snow World. Professional sculptors guide tool usage to create small ice sculptures.
Learn Harbin's unique ice print rubbing technique. Carve patterns on ice plates and create unique ice prints on rice paper.
Learn Dunhuang colored sculpture making. Understand Mogao Grottoes sculpture history and create small colored sculptures.
Learn Tang Sancai making techniques. Understand its history and characteristics, create pottery and apply glazes.
Learn Pingyao polished lacquerware making. Understand lacquerware history and processes, complete polishing and finishing work.
Learn Wuzhen traditional blue calico making. Experience complete processes including stencil carving, resist paste application, dyeing and drying.
Learn Wuzhen traditional lantern making. Understand lantern history and types, learn bamboo framing, paper covering and painting.
Learn Miao silver ornament forging. Understand silver's cultural significance, learn engraving and wire drawing techniques.
Experience Xunpu women's unique Zanhua hair ornament culture. Understand its history and craft, make flower ornaments and try traditional dress.
Learn Hui ink making. Understand ink history and processes, complete gold outlining and make your own Hui ink.
Learn She inkstone carving. Understand inkstone history and stone characteristics, learn basic carving techniques.
Learn to make Huizhou traditional fish lanterns. Understand their cultural meaning, learn bamboo framing and painting, participate in lantern dance.
Understand Huizhou architecture culture. Learn characteristics through model making, experience马头墙, courtyards and other elements.
Learn Lanzhou gourd carving. Carve landscapes, figures and calligraphy on gourds, understand its history and techniques.
Create your own masterpiece in our Nanning Zhuang Brocade Weaving workshop in Nanning. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Sanya Li Minority Weaving Experience workshop in Sanya. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Foshan Ceramic Art Workshop workshop in Foshan. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Guiyang Miao Batik Dyeing Experience workshop in Guiyang. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Guiyang Miao Silver Jewelry Making workshop in Guiyang. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Dali Bai Tie-dye Experience workshop in Dali. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Lijiang Naxi Embroidery Workshop workshop in Lijiang. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Kunming Dongba Paper Making workshop in Kunming. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Ningbo Bamboo Root Carving workshop in Ningbo. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Wuxi Huishan Clay Figurine workshop in Wuxi. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Yangzhou Paper Cutting Art workshop in Yangzhou. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Jinhua Wood Carving Workshop workshop in Jinhua. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Nanchang Porcelain Painting workshop in Nanchang. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Jinan Shadow Puppet Making workshop in Jinan. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Taizhou Woodblock New Year Print workshop in Taizhou. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Jingdezhen Blue and White Porcelain workshop in Jingdezhen. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Jingdezhen Ancient Kiln Experience workshop in Jingdezhen. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Yichang Tujia Brocade Weaving workshop in Yichang. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Taiyuan Paper Cutting workshop in Taiyuan. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Datong Copperware Making workshop in Datong. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Changchun Manchu Paper Cutting workshop in Changchun. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Urumqi Uyghur Carpet Weaving workshop in Urumqi. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Kashgar Uyghur Pottery workshop in Kashgar. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Create your own masterpiece in our Beijing Cloisonne Enamel Experience workshop in Beijing. Learn centuries-old techniques from local artisans, work with traditional materials, and take home a unique handmade souvenir. Perfect for creative travelers. Duration: 2-3 hours.
Escape the tourist crowds and dive deep into Bai ethnic tie-dye tradition in the UNESCO-recognized Shaxi Ancient Town. Unlike commercial Dali workshops, this experience takes place in a 200-year-old courtyard where you'll learn natural indigo fermentation, resist-tying techniques passed down through generations, and create your own piece using traditional wooden stamps and hand-stitching methods.
Create your own piece of imperial artistry at a Beijing cloisonne workshop. Known as 'Jingtailan,' this enamel technique adorned Ming Dynasty palaces. You'll learn copper body shaping, delicate wire filigree placement, color filling with mineral pigments, and the firing process. Take home a small cloisonne ornament or pendant you helped create.
Go beyond basic pottery and experience the ancient art of wood-fired kiln ceramics. Join a master potter for the full firing process: load your hand-thrown pieces into a traditional dragon kiln, stoke the fire with pine wood for 24+ hours, and witness the unpredictable ash glazing effects that make each piece unique. This is the real deal—no electric kilns, no shortcuts.
Learn the mesmerizing art of Chinese sugar painting—a street performance tradition where molten sugar is poured onto a marble slab to create intricate animal figures, flowers, and Chinese characters. Under a master's guidance, you'll master the temperature control, pouring techniques, and even try the traditional 'sugar roulette' wheel to determine which animal you'll create.
Step into the golden age of Shanghai and have a qipao (cheongsam) custom-made for you. Learn about the history of Shanghai-style tailoring that blended Suzhou embroidery with French couture, select your fabric and patterns, get professionally measured, and watch master tailors demonstrate the intricate pankou knot button technique. Your finished qipao will be delivered within 3-5 days.
Live like a Kazakh nomad on the stunning Nalati Grassland. Learn to assemble a traditional Kazakh yurt (kiiz uy) using wooden frames and felt coverings, prepare traditional horse milk tea (kumis), and try your hand at eagle hunting demonstrations. End the day with a lamb feast and Kazakh folk songs around the campfire under the Milky Way.
Go beyond viewing the Terracotta Army and step into an archaeologist's shoes. Learn ancient clay molding techniques, create your own miniature warrior with traditional tools, and understand the 2,200-year-old craftsmanship that built one of the world's greatest archaeological wonders.
Learn the art of snow sculpting from Harbin's master craftsmen. Using professional tools and compacted snow blocks, create your own sculpture under expert guidance while understanding the techniques behind the massive festival creations.
Witness the entire silk-making process from mulberry leaf to finished fabric at a working Suzhou silk factory. Try your hand at silk reeling, watch master weavers create intricate patterns on traditional looms, and understand why Suzhou silk was once worth its weight in gold.
Learn the ancient Bai minority art of tie-dye (Zha Ran) using natural indigo dye and traditional folding techniques. Create your own patterned scarf or wall hanging while learning about the symbolism of Bai textile designs passed down through generations.
We offer 62 curated traditional handicrafts experiences across 42 cities. Each experience is verified for authenticity and led by local masters or experts.
Most experiences are designed for beginners and include full instruction. Difficulty levels are clearly marked, so you can choose experiences that match your comfort level.
Jingdezhen offers the most traditional handicrafts experiences, but each city brings its own unique traditions and techniques to explore.
For most hands-on workshops, you can absolutely take your work home as a unique souvenir. Specific details are listed on each experience page.