Recent call to early childhood colleagues in the UK and other countries to provide training for early years professionals in China with particular emphasis on learning through play and restructuring the physical environment to support young children’s physical and psychological development have shown the extent to which imported pedagogies, ideas and curriculum models including High/Scope, Reggio Emilia, Montressori and developmentally appropriate practice are being explored and developed within Chinese setting. But the pedagogical models are adapted to ‘fit’ Chinese values and expectations. In looking to other cultural contexts for ideas and guidance about play or ‘learning through play’ we can learn much from the critical reflection of t our Chinese colleagues about the extent to which non-indigenous, play-based pedagogies and principles are transferable in whole or part.