Learn all about the mighty Red Dragon nation with these fun China crafts for kids! Learn about pagodas, brush painting, Ming vases and more!

The third biggest country in the world, the second most populated one, and the world’s second largest economy. Who are we talking about?

Why, China, of course!

One of the world’s most ancient civilizations, China has always been a step ahead of other countries in STEM fields. The four great inventions of human civilizations were made in China: paper, printing, gunpowder and the compass. Besides these, they also invented tea, silk, porcelain and many more!

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5 Kids’ Books about China

Fortune Cookie Fortunes by Grace Lin
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Red Is a Dragon by Roseanne Thong
Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang
Two Bicycles in Beijing by Teresa Robeson

But it’s not Chinese New Year yet, so why are we talking about China? Well, the first of October is the day of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, and we think it’s a day that deserves to be celebrated! That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best China crafts for kids to learn about this amazing country!

25 Charming China Crafts for Kids

1. Panda Paper Crown Printable

Did you know that every single panda in the world today, yes, every single one, belongs to China? The ones you see in other countries are loaned from China, meaning they’re still Chinese! Let’s start our list of China crafts for kids with a cute printable panda headband craft.

2. Chinese Zodiac Animals Coloring Pages

Chinese New Year is not on the first of January – it’s an entirely different date, based on the lunar calendar and the Chinese zodiac. Chinese New Year is the country’s biggest holiday, and it’s also a major celebration in other countries today. You can now join in the celebrations too, with these Chinese zodiac animals coloring pages.

3. DIY Panda Hug Bookmarks

The giant panda is China’s national animal, and besides tumbling around and eating bamboo, they’re also great swimmers! You’ve probably heard of Kung Fu Panda, the character based in China with legendary fighting skills – and an appetite to match!

4. Chinese Zodiac Animals Printable Headbands

If you’re curious about the Chinese zodiac and the animals in it, check out our set of 12 animal headbands. The Chinese zodiac features 12 animals in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year corresponds to an animal, and it is believed that you share some traits with the animal of the year of your birth!

5. Chinese Diorama Printable Craft

China has an absolute love for skyscrapers, and it is estimated that 60% of the world’s high rises are in China. In fact, half of the world’s 20 tallest skyscrapers are in China! At the same time, more than 30 million people in China live in caves in the Shaanxi province. Today we’re not doing skyscrapers or caves – we’ll stick to this cute Chinese village project from Woo Jr.!

6. Polymer Clay Lucky Fortune Cat

The maneki-neko or ‘beckoning cat‘ is actually of Japanese origin, based on the calico Japanese Bobtail cat. However, this cat also exists in China, making it a major part of Chinese traditions too, especially during the Chinese New Year. The presence of the cat is believed to usher in good fortune, and who can’t use some extra luck? We certainly can, which is why we’re going to add this clay cat craft from Baker Ross to our list of China crafts for kids!

7. Fortune Cookies Papercraft

Including fortune cookies in this list of China crafts for kids feels a little like cheating, because fortune cookies didn’t exactly originate in China! In fact, they’re believed to have been created in the United States by Japanese immigrants. But that version was different – it didn’t have any messages and was had as a snack with tea. However, the Chinese version includes a little paper that tells your fortune, and is considered more of a dessert. Enjoy making these paper fortune cookies from In the Playroom!

8. Ancient China Ming Dynasty Craft

The Ming Empire was founded by a poor peasant named Zhu Yuanzhang, but grew to become one of China’s strongest empires. China experienced one of its most prosperous periods of cultural and economic growth under the rule of the Ming dynasty. During the Ming era, China built the Forbidden City, the Grand Canal and the Great Wall. They promoted all kinds of arts – painting, textiles, literature and porcelain. Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool shows us how to recreate a design from the Ming empire with this project.

9. Chinese Dragon Puppet Craft Activity

When we think of dragons, we think of monsters that breathe fire. However, Chinese dragons are completely different! They breathe clouds and are believed to be magical creatures that bring good fortune and prosperity. That’s why you find dragon dances during major festivals, where dragons are held up on sticks and twisted through the air. Here’s how you can make a quick sample with the instructions at Teach Starter!

10. Chinese Rattle Drums

The Chinese Rattle Drum, also called the pellet drum, originated in China and became popular during the Song Dynasty. It wasn’t just a children’s toy; it was also used in music and during rituals and festivals. It was also a great way for street vendors to peddle their wares! Here’s your chance to make your own noice with this DIY rattle drum from Artsy Momma!

11. DIY Round Chinese Paper Fan

For most of us, a hand fan is simply a way to cool off in the heat. However, for the Chinese, hand fans have been an integral part of their heritage, and are much more than just a summer gadget; they were also used for ceremonies and rituals. Hand fans are also a stylish accessory when worn with the hanfu, and used to reflect the user’s status in the past. Traditionally, fans were made with silk, bamboo and even feathers, but today you’ll find them made in all kinds of materials, including paper, like this one at Little Passports!

12. DIY Chinese Pagoda Garden

Pagodas first appeared in China when Buddhism set foot in the country, and since then, they’ve become a symbol of Chinese architecture. Pagodas usually have a foundation that is square, circular or polygon-shaped and traditionally have an odd number of levels or floors. Baker Ross creates a little vignette here with a pagoda, along with some rocks and a flowering tree.

13. Great Wall of China 3D Craft

You absolutely can’t have a list of China crafts for kids without mentioning The Great Wall, one of the seven wonders of the world! It’s the longest wall in the world, measuring a whopping 3,460 km. This massive wall took 22 centuries to build – that’s a really long time! And to think that this architectural wonder was held in place by using sticky rice to stick the bricks together! Learn more about this amazing wall as you make this craft from Raise Curious Kids.

14. Ming Vases Printable Worksheets for Kids

The characteristic blue and white palette of Ming ceramicware was inspired by Islamic art, but the Chinese added their own motifs and styles. Eventually, the Dutch from Delft, Holland, copied the same palette to create their own style of pottery. In China, potters used locally sourced clay and imported Persian cobalt to craft their pieces. Ming ceramics were a luxury item, used by royalty and as gifts for foreign diplomats. However, you don’t have to pay a bomb to enjoy this Ming vase-inspired art project from Piqolo Kids!

15. Chinese Dragon Mask

Dragons are so intricately tied to China that a dragon is often used as a symbol to represent the country. In fact, many Chinese emperors believed they were direct descendants of dragons! They wore robes with dragon symbols on them and even today, Chinese people refer to themselves as “Descendants of the Dragon“. If you fancy becoming a dragon yourself for a day, try out this dragon mask from First Palette!

16. Chinese Brush Painting for Kids

Chinese brush painting is quite distinctive, especially with regard to the brush strokes. The technique has been around since 4000 BC, the subjects being mainly from nature – birds, flowers, or landscapes. The painting technique isn’t just random strokes of the brush; each stroke represents the artist’s state of mind and should capture the essence of the subject. Practice this ancient painting technique with a tutorial from Teach Kids Art.

17. Simple DIY Paper Chinese Lanterns

A list of China crafts for kids without Chinese lanterns? No way! Welcome to Nana’s has a fun project that shows us how to make different types of Chinese lanterns. These are paper lanterns, although traditional lanterns are made from silk and bamboo. Chinese lanterns can be square, spherical or rectangular. They can also be hanging, floating or flying, and most of them are red and gold.

18. Chinese Style Ancient Painting Activity

We love that this list of China crafts for kids teaches us a lot about traditional Chinese arts. For instance, this ancient painting project from First Palette features some Chinese calligraphy. Chinese calligraphy is well-known and has been included in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists. According to China’s copyright law, calligraphy can also be registered as fine art.

19. Ancient Chinese Pagoda Art Project

Leah Newton Art brings us a fun and easy pagoda art project for young kids. China has over 25,000 Buddhist pagodas, the tallest being Tianning Temple of Changzhou. Besides being religious symbols, pagodas were also used as observatory decks, since they offered stunning views from the top. While they can be built from wood, brick or stone, wooden pagodas are believed to be able to resist earthquake damage.

20. Chinese Scroll Painting Activity

Want to gift someone a Chinese art-themed handmade gift? These China crafts for kids are a great source of ideas, especially this scroll painting from Baker Ross! Scrolls have been used in China for several years now as a traditional way to display paintings and calligraphy. The art was done on silk, and two wooden bars were attached at the top and bottom. The top bar was called tiangan, and the bottom bar, called digan, was weighted to help the scroll hang properly.

21. Pretend Play Noodles Foam Craft

When we think of Chinese food, noodles is often the first thing that comes to mind, right alongside fried rice! While noodles, rice and soup are Chinese staples, the country has a different culinary style for each of its 34 provinces. Noodles do feature prominently – the World Instant Noodles Association estimates that 38.97 billion instant noodles were sold in China in a year! In fact, in 2005, archaeologists discovered a 4,000-year-old bowl of noodles at the Lajja archaeological site, which was still intact! Celebrate this iconic dish with a pretend play food craft from Craft Project Ideas!

22. Temple of Heaven Coloring Page Printable

Did you know that China has the highest number of UNESCO sites in the world, along with Italy? The most popular ones are The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City in Beijing, the Terracotta Army and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. This last temple is actually a complex of buildings and gardens, and is said to represent the relationship between humans and God. Learn more about this fascinating place as you color in this printable from Coloring Life.

23. DIY Handmade Chinese Doll Tutorial

Handmade Charlotte brings us a Chinese doll, a gorgeous addition to this list of China crafts for kids. The doll is dressed in a traditional Chinese outfit in red, the luckiest color in Chinese culture. In fact, most Chinese brides choose red for their traditional bridal dresses, like Qipao or Qun Gua. These dresses often feature stunning embroidery of Chinese symbols like dragons.

24. Ancient Chinese Paper Making for Kids

Learn all about the mightly Red Dragon nation with these fun China crafts for kids! Learn about pagodas, brush painting, Ming vases and more!

Can you imagine a world without paper? Well, we have the Chinese to thank for that! Before paper was invented during the Han dynasty, common people used parchment, while the rich used silk. The invention of paper meant that everyone could now learn and write, and soldiers also made armour out of it. China is also responsible for inventing toilet paper, but it could only be used by royalty! Have fun creating your own paper with the instructions from Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool.

25. Chinese Firecrackers Craft for Kids

We wind up our list of China crafts for kids with a bang – a firecracker craft from Chalk Academy! Most people don’t know that firecrackers were invented in China, and the story behind them is quite interesting. When hollow bamboo stalks were tossed into a fire, they would explode with a loud noise, and due to this, firecrackers were called baozhu, meaning ‘exploding bamboo’. Initially, firecrackers were used to scare away evil spirits. Later, they became a part of Chinese New Year celebrations but are now being phased out due to pollution concerns.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of China crafts for kids and learnt a little about Chinese history, culture and heritage along the way! Learning through doing is the best way, especially for kids. We hope for a world where children everywhere are curious to learn about other cultures and expand their horizons – what a wonderful world that would be!

If you’d like to check out crafts based on other Asian countries, here you go: