Get Creative with these Arts and Crafts Activities in Beijing

Katie Coy | Apr 18, 2022 2:30 pm | Add a comment | 615 reads

I’m always on the lookout for fun and interesting things to do in Beijing. I’ve always been quite a creative person and although my skill set (my drawing skills are rather lacking) doesn’t always match my enthusiasm I still enjoy having a go at anything arts and crafty.

And that is the beauty of these arts and crafts activities in Beijing, you don’t need to be “good” at doing them, they’re all just about the experience and having the opportunity to try something new or improve on something old. So let's have a look at what the capital has to offer!

Nugget - Crafts Night

Do you remember arts and crafts time as a kid? Well, imagine that but with alcohol thrown into the mix too. Sounds like a pretty fun night! Every Wednesday at 8pm nugget host a crafts night, members of the local community volunteer to introduce fellow Beijing dwellers to a variety of different crafts.

Some previous crafts nights have been fabric painting, jewellery making, lino print, sashiko (a kind of Japanese embroidery) just to name a few! Whilst getting stuck into learning or perfecting a craft you can also help yourself to a beer or cocktail or for those teetotallers a coffee or soft drink.

Time: Wednesday 8pm
Price: Usually free unless it is a craft requiring special materials

Nugget – Drink and Draw

Along with their crafts night nugget also do a weekly Drink and Draw every Thursday at 8pm. All materials are provided (though you are welcome to bring your own if desired) and it is completely free with purchase of one drink! They have different models and themes each week and no matter your drawing ability you are welcome to join.

As nugget themselves say “there are no rules. You don’t need to be ‘good’ at drawing”, it’s just an opportunity to express your artistic side! I already mentioned their great drink collection, but if you’re feeling peckish they also have some vegan sweet treats on offer too.

Time: Thursday 8pm
Price: Free with purchase of one drink

Modernista - Drink and Draw

Every Tuesday at 9pm Modernista mixes it up by transforming their usual live music stage into a live art venue instead. Each week there is a different theme featuring a variety of models, stage setups and music. It’s free to join the Modernista Drink and Draw and pens and paper are provided, but you’re also welcome to bring your own materials if you want. As the name indicates you are also encouraged to order a beverage or two as you draw, they have a range of excellent cocktails, wine, beer and soft drinks too (my personal recommendation would be their sangria!)

Time: Tuesday 9pm
Price: Free

CHEERS - Sip and Paint

If you’re wanting to enjoy some fine wines while embracing your inner artist then CHEERS’s Sip and Paint is for you. The price is usually RMB 308 and includes all materials plus three hours of free flow wine. The Sip and Paints are normally held on Sunday afternoons at the CHEERS Central Park Plaza location, however they are not every Sunday so you should check out the Beijinger events page to see when the next one will be.

Time: Sunday afternoons (not every Sunday check events page for exact dates)
Price: RMB 308 (includes free flow wine)

Palace Lantern - Lantern painting

For crafts with more of a Chinese focus, there's a lovely little art studio in Xicheng District where you can go to paint your own traditional Chinese lantern. The woman who runs the studio can give you tips and advice for painting and you can choose whatever you want to paint on your lantern.

If you have a glance on Dianping you’ll see most people tend towards more traditional images like bamboo or flowers, however some go for less traditional designs, I saw one person had painted a Lakers logo on theirs. To book a lantern painting session you’ll need to scan the QR code below to add the woman, note that she only speaks Chinese so if you’re a non-speaker you’ll need to make use of the translate function!

Price: RMB 193 (may vary)
Time: Open daily, need to book in advance (scan the QR code below to contact)

Mosaic Moments – Mosaic Workshops

Another more unusual art activity you can learn is how to create beautiful mosaics. Run by Gertrud Müller, Mosaic Moments offers a range of different mosaic workshops which include individual studio sessions, group workshops, team building workshops in organizations, and community based projects.

Every month they normally run different series of workshops and you can view upcoming workshops by following the Mosaic Moment official account (QR code below) to keep up to date. These workshops normally consist of three sessions that are two to three hours long. You can also add Gertrud and message her directly if you want to book a private session.

Price: RMB 677 for three sessions
Time: Follow their official WeChat to see when they are running future courses (scan the QR code below) or add Gertrud on WeChat.

Pottery Workshops

If you fancy having a go at making your own pottery or perhaps have dreams of recreating that famous scene from Ghost then Beijing has plenty of pottery studios where you can have a go (well probably not at the Ghost part). These studios normally either offer pottery painting where you can paint mugs, plates etc. that have already been made with your own design or you can have a go at making your own pottery from scratch. Most of the pottery places are located in the Gulou area and prices can vary, but here are a few recommendations:

•   Pengcier DIY Handcraft Pottery Workshop 碰瓷儿艺术DIY, 25 Wudaoying Hutong (3 mins walk from Exit G of Yonghegong Subway Station)
•   The Pottery Workshop 乐天陶社, 23 Nanluoguxiang
•   Taozui Pottery 陶醉, 184 Gulou Dongdajie