A child at a training course held by Han Calligraphy Education this summer in Beijing. [Photo by ZOU HONG/CHINA DAILY]

Appeal to children

In order to meet these special demands, Li Xiaoya said they had developed a comprehensive teaching system for young learners.

It divides all the required calligraphy techniques into smaller modules that are taught to children one at a time, using simple, understandable words.

"We also hold a strong belief that when learning calligraphy, children should learn how to use their eyes to observe before they use their hands to write. They should know what calligraphy is good and what is not good enough," Li said.

As well as classroom teaching, HCE also organizes events to make calligraphy more appealing to youngsters.

During the summer vacation, for example, the institute took young learners to Xi'an, Shaanxi province, to visit the Beilin Museum, or Forest of Stone Steles, which houses the works of many well-known calligraphers from ancient China.

"We also hold exhibitions annually to display our students' works," said Ning Kejun, another HCE teacher. "The exhibitions make them very proud and more confident in their learning of calligraphy."