China · TEA CEREMONIES
Good tea ceremonies tours fill up weeks ahead; the great ones go first. Below: the 12 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Taste 5 Chinese teas in a traditional Beijing ceremony. Learn brewing temperature and steeping timing in English, 30 min to 3 hrs.
“Excelent experience with our guide Richard. He was extremely helpful, nice, and competent, taking care of all the details. Our children of 10 and 13 years old were also very pleased with the activity. Highly recommended!”
Join a 90-minute Hong Kong tea tasting in Chai Wan with four premium teas, gongfu brewing practice, and food pairings for $65.60.
“Very informative and fun. We learned a lot about tea and tea preparation. Vivian was an amazing hostess.”
Small-group bike ride through Shanghai’s Old Town and French Concession, with a guided tea tasting to end your 3.5-hour adventure.
“An excellent tour with a great guide, Ellen was friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any questions we had. The food was really good with lots of variety across three stops. Thanks, Ellen!”
Small-group Shanghai bike tour through the French Concession and Old Town, finishing with a guided Chinese tea tasting. 3.5 hours.
“local experience was very valuable to me. bike tour seems one of the best way to enjoy the city and to feel the city vibe closely without traffic. Ray was terrific guide!”
Taste Chinese tea and learn the ritual in a Beijing Hutong courtyard near the Forbidden City, with small-group guidance in English.
“The tea ceremony was an unforgettable experience. We learned how to brew tea properly so that it tastes good and has health benefits. It turns out that for tea to taste good, it is not enough to pour boiling water over and wait 3 minutes for it to brew. I have just acquired a valuable skill that no one will take away from me. From today, the taste of my tea has reached a higher level.”
Private half-day Beijing markets tour with pickup, Panjiayuan antiques, Hongqiao Pearl tea tasting, and help bartering for deals.
“Had a great time exploring the markets in Beijing. Very interesting to see local goods and unique items we never knew about. Our tour guide, Lucy, was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of insight, not just about the items at the marketRead more”
Private walk through Shanghai Old City with Yuyuan Garden entry and tea tasting, plus market time in Nanshi, with hotel pickup in downtown.
“A great tour of the Yu garden and tea ceremony. Annie was an excellent guide and provided lots of useful information.”
Temple of Heaven, a 30 to 40 min Taiji class, and a Beijing tea ceremony, guided in English with skip-line entry and pickup.
“Excellent experience!! The Tai Chi class was so fun and informative. Simon is an incredible guide and knows so much about Temple of Heaven as well as China’s history. Highlight of the trip was the tea ceremony where we had really wonderful teas. Really engaging and would go again.”
Private Guilin half-day tour: Elephant Trunk Hill photos, Ming royal tea garden tasting, and a smooth hotel pickup in an air-conditioned car.
“The tour was really informative and interesting. Molly is a wonderful guide. I learned a lot about Guilin and Chinese tea culture. I strongly recommend this activity.”
Reserve a guided Beijing tea ceremony near Tiananmen, choose tea leaves, and enjoy a 2-hour ritual with English support at 10:00 or 3:00.
“It was very interesting and informative. It was nice to get a little insight into the culture. Our hosts were very friendly and welcoming. We would do it again, although the price is not cheap.”
Private Qibao Ancient Town walking tour from Shanghai with tea tasting and a calligraphy lesson, plus hotel pickup and English guide.
“What a great experience and how much learning within a short time. After a stroll through the water city, we stopped at the teahouse next to the temple. There the tea tasting and calligraphy course where happening. Sunny is caring, warm-hRead more”
Private Tiananmen Square night walk with Qianmen Street and a Lao She Teahouse show. Hotel pickup, tea, snacks, and tickets included.
“Very nice and friendly person. Good to learn more about Beijing. Nice chance to see chinese culture.”
Every kind of day out, and the best of each.
