Chengdu has the largest number of  teahouses in China, and long taken credit for the most comprehensive ones, showcased in the all kinds of sizes, multifarious designs and layouts, warm and attentive services with authentic tea at different prices, exquisite tea sets, and various fun and refreshing entertainment originated from Sichuan traditional culture and folk customs and arts. There’s no better way to experience the quaint and exotic Sichuan tea culture than to follow in the locals’ footsteps to the countless teahouses in Chengdu.

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Chengdu Tea Culture
The Chengdu teahouse is gem of Chinese tea culture, and the most important part of locals’ daily life: for leisure, relaxing, chatting, meetings, as well as being the court of civilians in the old days. Tea house is to Chengdu people what café is to Western people.
Chengdu teahouses are both indoor and outdoor, mostly with tranquil ambience. The big, well furnished tea houses can house up to 1000 guests, while the little ones are with only several small square tables and bamboo chairs. Some of them are century-old converted from a museum or a temple, some are fancy, renovated, and eye-catching, and some are hidden gems in the remote corners. The teas mostly served include jasmine, Dragon Well, and Bi Luo Chun.

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What to do in the teahouse?

Tea houses are far more than places for drinking tea, they are places for bǎi lóng mén zhèn (摆龙门阵), which means chatting and gossiping. Besides, people come here to smoke, watch TV, read newspaper, play cards or chess, play Majiang, and just kill the time. 

The forms of teahouse services are becoming increasingly diverse. Tea enthusiasts gather together to enjoy the wonderful performances of Sichuan opera, Chinese dulcimer, puppet show, acrobatic tricks, or the traditional form of storytelling when sipping the tea. People can also try a special and efficient way of cleaning up ears.

Another performance visitors should not miss is the Chengdu tea ceremony, the “Tea Doctors” serve the tea with unique teapots and their surprising, creative skills.

Teahouses in Chengdu

Heming Teahouse (鹤鸣茶社)
it is a riverside outdoor teahouse, and one of the most popular teahouses in Chengdu.​
Add; located inside the People’s Park,Chngdu

Shunxing Ancient Teahouse (顺兴老茶馆)
it is the best one for Sichuan Opera, combined with offering delicate Chengdu snacks.

Yuelai Teahouse (悦来茶馆)
It is a cheap alternative, with free Sichuan opera performances from 14:00 to 16:00 every Tuesday and Saturday.

 

Laozhaiyuan (老宅院)
off the main track of the Wide and Narrow Alleys (宽窄巷子), this humble 200-year-old teahouse is a peaceful escape without anything flashy, just tea.