Our Story
This text is part of the IAK digital archive. It is meant to be read slowly and revisited over time.
In the digital age, culture should not remain confined to memory alone. It continues its dialogue between East and West, ancient and modern, through presence, encounter, and time lived together.
For more than two decades, this path of cultural exchange has been initiated, sustained, and personally carried through real relationships and long-term commitment. It did not arise from an abstract concept, but took shape naturally through lived experience and ongoing human connection.
In 2002, in Shanghai, cultural exchange was already unfolding in an open, vibrant, and international form. People from diverse cultural backgrounds gathered frequently around tea, music, ideas, and everyday life, forming a living and active international community within the city. These encounters were not isolated events, but a sustained way of living together through which trust and cultural warmth gradually accumulated.
From 2012 onward, in Hamburg, Germany, the openness of the harbor city and the resonance of music allowed this cultural network to continue growing within a European context. Different languages, backgrounds, and experiences converged, creating new connections and echoes across a broader cultural landscape.
Since 2017, in Bad Ragaz, Switzerland, cultural exchange has entered a different rhythm. Weekly and monthly gatherings have taken place amid mountains and fresh air, allowing relationships to shift from high-density interaction to a form of cultural presence that invites long-term return and continuity. Dialogue settled into time, and relationships deepened through repetition.
In 2022, these connections spanning years and regions formally took root in Switzerland with the founding of the IAK Culture Association. Yet the essence of IAK has never been bound by institution or geography. Across China, Germany, Switzerland, and beyond, this cultural network carried by trust, continuity, and personal presence has remained alive.
The IAK website and app are not designed for display or operation, but serve as quiet points of access to this living network of relationships. They exist as a breathing bridge where ancient and modern, East and West, meet again in the present. Through this bridge, those who approach IAK may sense, with a single touch, the warmth of culture carried across time.
Our association is entirely run by dedicated volunteers, whose devotion brings our mission of cultural dialogue and exchange to life.
Our Inspiration
The Spirit of Health & Happiness：Embracing Nature’s Balance, Fulfilling the Wish of Compassion
True well-being is not only physical health, but a harmonious resonance of heart, mind, and nature.
IAK is a bridge between East and West, bringing ancient wisdom into modern life, and inspiring transformation through cultural dialogue.
May we walk together, honoring nature’s way,and practicing a compassionate heart.
Our Location / Headquarter
At the Heart of Europe · A Starting Point for Dialogue
The IAK Culture Association is headquartered in Bad Ragaz, in Switzerland’s canton of St. Gallen, between the Rhine Valley and the shores of Lake Walensee. Here, Alpine peaks reflect in the lake, healing springs flow, and centuries of culture converge. The Abbey of St. Gall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a symbol of Europe’s intellectual and spiritual traditions, while Ragaz itself is renowned for wellness, its international character, and the high quality of Swiss life.
In this meeting place of nature and culture, IAK is rooted locally yet oriented globally:
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From Bad Ragaz, we open our arms to both Eastern and Western traditions;
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At the crossroads of past and present, we build a platform for international dialogue;
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Grounded in Switzerland, we connect Asia, Europe, and the wider world, weaving a cultural network for the future.
Why the Name IAK?
IAK stands for “Interessensgemeinschaft Asiatische Kultur” — the Association for the Appreciation of Asian Culture.
Asia has nurtured the world’s richest and most profound cultural and spiritual traditions. It is the shared cradle of human civilization—Daoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all originated on this land. From the Yellow River to the Ganges, from the Silk Road to the Middle East, Asia carries deep and diverse cultural wisdom.
We believe: Asian culture is not only for Asia—it is a shared spiritual legacy for all of humanity. IAK presents it with respect, inclusion, and a modern touch.
Our Mission & Values
Returning to the origins of culture, embracing wisdom across time, and integrating knowledge from East and West.
At IAK, we believe that health, happiness, and culture are inseparable.
Our mission is to protect cultural heritage while fostering communication and understanding between different communities.
We offer a range of activities and resources, bringing together the passion and dedication of our volunteers, ensuring that cultural exchange between past and present, East and West, continues to flourish here.
Milestones
2002 — First international cultural gathering in Shanghai
2012 — Moved to Hamburg, hosting cultural salons and community celebrations
2017 — Settled in Bad Ragaz, expanding the international network
2022 — Official founding of the IAK Culture Association Switzerland
Our Pillars
Culture — Connecting ideas and traditions across time and continents
Arts — Gathering through music, poetry, and the beauty of heritage
Wellness — Integrating ancient breathing practices with modern science
Community — Building friendships that cross borders
At a Glance
20+ years of cultural gatherings and events
Friends from 30+ countries
12 annual cultural and wellness programs
Partnerships with 6 international cultural and wellness organisations
