Lao She Cha Guan (Teahouse) 老舍茶館
Anne Lin
Founded in 1988, the Lao She Teahouse has from its humble beginnings expanded and transformed into a cultural institution which has entertained the likes of world leaders and other VIPs from all around the world.
The photo gallery room is proud evidence of the many international dignitaries that the teahouse has been graced with over the years.
The name is borrowed from a well-known play written by the celebrated writer, Laoshe called 'The Teahouse'.
The Teahouse
The play depicts the diverse people in old Beijing society who go along in their daily lives smoking pipes, enjoying gossip and showing off their bird cages while relaxing in an ordinary teahouse where they happen to like spending their time.
So on this note, this multi-levelled tourist establishment is one that has many spaces for people from "all walks of life", it is a restaurant, teahouse, shop and theatre, where it is able to bring together locals and tourists alike to be thrilled by the entertainment schedule that ranges from folk music recitals, opera concerts, shadow plays to zither performances.
And being located just a 'stone's throw' away from the recently refurbished Qianmen Pedestrian Street, Lao She Cha Guan is a good place for the busy tourists to literally 'see it all' at this tea house. Indeed, it certainly felt a bit like a 'whopper' Chinese cultural experience squeezed into a tea tasting session.
Patrons drink out of yellow Sancai cups (三才杯); tiny bowl-like tea cups sitting on a yellow saucer with a lid or cover. They explained that the cup has three parts to represent different things; the bowl is the human, the lid is the heaven and the saucer is earth.
However, such an attraction is not without its price, so it can be considered an expensive trip (we sat in 220RMB seats), but this one-stop-shop that offers people a comprehensive introduction to the plethora of artistic pursuits and talents originating from China is worth visiting if you're a tourist with limited time.
A note of advice is to make sure you eat beforehand as the tea ceremony only comes with assorted plates of snacks (not a meal), which really disappointed us when we realized how expensive the show was. The accompanying watermelon seeds, sweetened treats and biscuits with the tea tasting was not substantial enough to keep our hunger pains away throughout the roughly hour and half show.
Despite this, it is clear that this well orchestrated and managed attraction will continue to draw in tourists interested in Chinese folk art or those travellers simply looking for a tea break.
Lao She Cha Guan Access
The closest subway station is Qianmen.
Hours of operation: 10.30 am - 1.00 am
Address: No 3 Qianmen Avenue, West Beijing 100051
北京前门西大街，三号数
Tel: 6303 6506
Cost: Theatre (third floor) is on show every evening, and ranges from 180RMB - 380RMB depending on where you're seated.
Text + images by Anne Lin
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