Join us for an immersive, museum-based learning experience at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where children explore Chinese art, history, and culture through guided observation and hands-on creation.

Throughout the program, students will engage with carefully selected artworks—including ancient artifacts, porcelain, murals, gardens, calligraphy, and decorative arts—to discover how people in ancient China lived, expressed beliefs, and connected with the world around them.

Children will explore:

• Ancient Chinese artifacts such as bronze, silver, and ceramics, and how they were used in daily life and ceremonies

• Chinese porcelain, learning how patterns, shapes, and designs reflect cultural values across different dynasties

• A large-scale mural of the Buddha of Medicine, understanding how art can tell stories about belief, history, and human experience

• Traditional Chinese scholar gardens, observing how nature, architecture, and design create harmony through elements like rocks, water, and space

• Calligraphy and ink painting, discovering how brush and ink were used to express ideas, emotions, and stories across time

• Enamel decorative arts, exploring how Chinese and European influences came together through color, pattern, and craftsmanship

Through guided discussion, sketching, compare-and-contrast activities, and hands-on art projects, students will:

• Develop critical thinking and observation skills

• Build cultural awareness and global perspective

• Strengthen confidence in expressing ideas through language and art

• Engage in creative making, including clay work, painting, and design

As part of the experience, each child will create their own artworks inspired by what they observe—such as a Chinese zodiac clay sculpture, calligraphy scroll, or enamel-style design—bringing their learning to life through personal expression.