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Experiencing local life down to a tea
By Xu Wenwen |
July 26, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
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EXPERIENCING local's life is one of the best ways to really get a feel for a place, and to experience an aspect of how people in Hangzhou live, immersing oneself in a teahouse for several hours is an indispensable activity.
Due to the city's popular tea culture, nothing is more representative than the teahouses that line the West Lake and huddle in the valleys of surrounding hills in the city known for the prestigious Dragon Well (Longjing) tea.
Teahouses are public places where people come to relax, enjoy tea, talk about business, kill time, exchange information, or listen to operas or music performances. They can be compared to local pubs in the West.
Brews of tea are not cheap, but the price of a pot buys hours of lazing around, a favorite activity for locals and visitors alike.
Shanghai Daily picks a selection of Hangzhou teahouses, from those in bustling urban areas, to others around waters and nestled in hills, to profile Hangzhou people's leisure life.
He Cha Guan
The location of a teahouse signifies its position in the industry, and the new branch of He Cha Guan, situated in the picturesque Fayun Village as a neighbor to Lingyin Temple and the prestigious five-star resort Aman Fayun, has no problem attracting customers.
He Cha Guan is one of the earliest teahouses in the city, and its other branch is on Qiushi Road in the Huanglong Block, a commercial area.
Both of the branches feature an antique business, as the owner Pang Yin is an antique collector, and her original intention to open the teahouse was because of her desire to share her collection with more people.
Pang found herself in love with tea after opening her first teahouse in the late 1990s. To perfect her knowledge of tea, she visited tens of mountains with tea plantations in the country to learn about the nature of tea.
She soon became an expert, who not only gives classes at a college but also designs tea sets and studies tea dessert menus.
On the menu at her teahouse, milk cake goes with Dragon Well tea as it can emphasize the tea's delicacy and sweetness, and a Hangzhou local's rich-flavored butter cakes complement the strong taste of Dahongpao, an oolong tea.
Meals are also served at He Cha Guan, but not according to any menu.
All the dishes are cooked with the freshest local ingredients that the chef finds in the market each day.
Classes about tea are given in the teahouse, which many celebrities have attended.
Address: No. 15, Fayun Lane and 42 Qiushi Rd
Average consumption: 100 yuan (US$16)
Class reservation: (0571) 8797-9556
Yunhe Academy
Scholars gathering together at cultural places is a tradition among ancient Chinese literati, and Yunhe Academy frequently revives the customs via salons of tea, art, music, tai chi and reading.
The teahouse situated in the Fuyi Warehouse at the bank of the Grand Canal is called an academy because it boasts more than 1,000 books, including many ancient ones, such as a rare set of thread-bound editions of "The Imperial Collection of Four" ("Siku Quanshu").
It also looks like an ancient Chinese academy due to its quaint style and layout - there are rooms for reading, art and appreciating music, and of course for tea ceremonies. Tea can be sipped in these rooms and a corridor alongside a lovely garden.
Every weekend, the teahouse invites musicians, artists and dietitians to give classes, and the entrance fee is from 30 yuan to 50 yuan. Sometimes, art exhibitions and small conferences are also held there.
Address: Fuyi Warehouse, No. 8, Xiawan Lane
Average consumption: 100 yuan
Tai Chi Teahouse
Spinning a long-spouted teapot around their body, waiters pour tea from a distance into cups in an elaborate tai chi-style, assuming poses, circling the vessel around their head and balancing the long spout on their shoulders - it's a must-see in Hangzhou and an icon of the Tai Chi Teahouse nestled on Hefang Street, a quaint commercial street.
The waiters wear long blue gowns and black skullcaps, a typical costume from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and the history of their impressive serving skills can be traced back to the 18th century when the tea acrobatics were invented by tea master Zheng Xiangdong.
The tricks using brass pots with extremely long spouts allow visitors not only to enjoy a performance but make the tea taste better as it is fully stirred.
The teahouse doesn't serve meals, but snacks and fruits are available.
Address: 184 Hefang Street
Average consumption: 50 yuan
Qingteng Teahouse
Qingteng Teahouse standing aside the No. 1 Park of the West Lake is a landmark of the city, and one of the earliest teahouses in Hangzhou.
Praised as one of the top 10 teahouses in Hangzhou, it features stone tables, compartments boasting views of the West Lake, and provides many tea and buffet options.
Considering its bustling business, calling in advance to reserve seats is recommended.
Address: 32 Liuying Rd
Average consumption: 100 yuan
Due to the city's popular tea culture, nothing is more representative than the teahouses that line the West Lake and huddle in the valleys of surrounding hills in the city known for the prestigious Dragon Well (Longjing) tea.
Teahouses are public places where people come to relax, enjoy tea, talk about business, kill time, exchange information, or listen to operas or music performances. They can be compared to local pubs in the West.
Brews of tea are not cheap, but the price of a pot buys hours of lazing around, a favorite activity for locals and visitors alike.
Shanghai Daily picks a selection of Hangzhou teahouses, from those in bustling urban areas, to others around waters and nestled in hills, to profile Hangzhou people's leisure life.
He Cha Guan
The location of a teahouse signifies its position in the industry, and the new branch of He Cha Guan, situated in the picturesque Fayun Village as a neighbor to Lingyin Temple and the prestigious five-star resort Aman Fayun, has no problem attracting customers.
He Cha Guan is one of the earliest teahouses in the city, and its other branch is on Qiushi Road in the Huanglong Block, a commercial area.
Both of the branches feature an antique business, as the owner Pang Yin is an antique collector, and her original intention to open the teahouse was because of her desire to share her collection with more people.
Pang found herself in love with tea after opening her first teahouse in the late 1990s. To perfect her knowledge of tea, she visited tens of mountains with tea plantations in the country to learn about the nature of tea.
She soon became an expert, who not only gives classes at a college but also designs tea sets and studies tea dessert menus.
On the menu at her teahouse, milk cake goes with Dragon Well tea as it can emphasize the tea's delicacy and sweetness, and a Hangzhou local's rich-flavored butter cakes complement the strong taste of Dahongpao, an oolong tea.
Meals are also served at He Cha Guan, but not according to any menu.
All the dishes are cooked with the freshest local ingredients that the chef finds in the market each day.
Classes about tea are given in the teahouse, which many celebrities have attended.
Address: No. 15, Fayun Lane and 42 Qiushi Rd
Average consumption: 100 yuan (US$16)
Class reservation: (0571) 8797-9556
Yunhe Academy
Scholars gathering together at cultural places is a tradition among ancient Chinese literati, and Yunhe Academy frequently revives the customs via salons of tea, art, music, tai chi and reading.
The teahouse situated in the Fuyi Warehouse at the bank of the Grand Canal is called an academy because it boasts more than 1,000 books, including many ancient ones, such as a rare set of thread-bound editions of "The Imperial Collection of Four" ("Siku Quanshu").
It also looks like an ancient Chinese academy due to its quaint style and layout - there are rooms for reading, art and appreciating music, and of course for tea ceremonies. Tea can be sipped in these rooms and a corridor alongside a lovely garden.
Every weekend, the teahouse invites musicians, artists and dietitians to give classes, and the entrance fee is from 30 yuan to 50 yuan. Sometimes, art exhibitions and small conferences are also held there.
Address: Fuyi Warehouse, No. 8, Xiawan Lane
Average consumption: 100 yuan
Tai Chi Teahouse
Spinning a long-spouted teapot around their body, waiters pour tea from a distance into cups in an elaborate tai chi-style, assuming poses, circling the vessel around their head and balancing the long spout on their shoulders - it's a must-see in Hangzhou and an icon of the Tai Chi Teahouse nestled on Hefang Street, a quaint commercial street.
The waiters wear long blue gowns and black skullcaps, a typical costume from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), and the history of their impressive serving skills can be traced back to the 18th century when the tea acrobatics were invented by tea master Zheng Xiangdong.
The tricks using brass pots with extremely long spouts allow visitors not only to enjoy a performance but make the tea taste better as it is fully stirred.
The teahouse doesn't serve meals, but snacks and fruits are available.
Address: 184 Hefang Street
Average consumption: 50 yuan
Qingteng Teahouse
Qingteng Teahouse standing aside the No. 1 Park of the West Lake is a landmark of the city, and one of the earliest teahouses in Hangzhou.
Praised as one of the top 10 teahouses in Hangzhou, it features stone tables, compartments boasting views of the West Lake, and provides many tea and buffet options.
Considering its bustling business, calling in advance to reserve seats is recommended.
Address: 32 Liuying Rd
Average consumption: 100 yuan
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