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About the Course
🌿 Introduction to Chinese Culture
Chinese culture is shaped by thousands of years of history, philosophy, tradition, family life, regional differences, and continual change. This introductory course offers a welcoming starting point for understanding the ideas and practices that have influenced Chinese society and continue to shape everyday life today.
Rather than approaching culture as a collection of facts or customs to memorize, this course looks at the deeper values and perspectives behind them. You will explore how tradition and modern life exist side by side, how cultural ideas influence relationships and daily routines, and how practices such as tea continue to connect people with history, community, and identity.
Throughout the course, you will be encouraged to observe, reflect, and make connections between Chinese culture and your own experiences. Tea is woven into the discussion as both a traditional practice and a continuing part of modern Chinese life, helping illustrate how culture evolves while still carrying meaning from the past.
This self-paced course is designed for anyone who wants a thoughtful introduction to Chinese culture, whether you are interested in tea, travel, daily life in China, cultural traditions, or simply understanding China beyond the surface.
You may return to the lessons and course materials as often as you like and move through the course at your own pace.
All videos include English and Chinese subtitles, with worksheets and reflection materials provided in both languages.
Your Instructor
Dawn VanderArk/Li Xiaoying
Dawn is an American girl from Texas who moved to China in 2022. She is a university professor teaching EAP courses. She became a disciple to a top tea master in China and has a passion for traditional Chinese culture and wants to share the wonderful knowledge and experiences gained through her life, studies, travel, and practice living in China. She has over a 1,000 hours of training and practice in tea ceremony, incense ceremony, and traditional flower arranging and has trained with various other traditional Chinese culture masters throughout China. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and experiences with you.
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