The CCC presents exhibitions that range from traditional Chinese art forms to contemporary work by Chinese American and Asian American artists. This range is deliberate: the center positions itself as a bridge between the Chinese cultural heritage that immigrant communities brought to San Francisco and the evolving identity of Chinese Americans who are creating new artistic traditions. Exhibitions often address the tensions and connections between these two orientations -- honoring tradition while embracing contemporary expression.

Beyond gallery exhibitions, the CCC runs walking tours of Chinatown, cultural workshops, and educational programs that serve both the local community and visitors. The walking tours, led by community members, offer an alternative to the tourist experience of Chinatown, focusing on history, architecture, and the living culture of the neighborhood rather than shopping and restaurants. The center also hosts performances, lectures, and community events that bring Chinatown's residents into dialogue with the broader San Francisco arts community.

The Chinese Culture Center's location inside a corporate hotel is an apt metaphor for its mission. It occupies space within an institution that serves international travelers and business people, using that position to present Chinese American culture to audiences who might not otherwise seek it out. At the same time, it serves the Chinatown community as a cultural resource, a gallery space, and a gathering place. This dual audience -- internal and external, local and global -- shapes the center's programming and gives it a perspective that purely community-focused or purely tourist-oriented institutions cannot achieve.