Laoshe Teahouse

Tea has been a deeply-rooted part of Chinese life since it first rose to popularity more than 1-thousand years ago, during the Tang Dynasty. There's white tea for spring, green tea for summer, oolong tea for autumn, and black tea for winter. And with tea there are always teahouses popular with locals and visitors alike, from farmers and workers to celebrities like former US President George W. Bush and Queen Rania of Jordan. On today's China Cool, we take a close look at one of the most popular teahouses in Beijing -- the Laoshe Teahouse.

A 10 minute walk from Tiananmen Square, Laoshe Tea House is a hot spot for both foreign tourists and local people. Spend just two hours here at Laoshe Teahouse, and you'll experience the authentic life of old Beijing: sipping cups of tea and munching on local snacks, while watching a revue of the most popular Chinese traditional performances.

The tea house is named after renowned Chinese writer Lao She famous for his drama "Teahouse", a vivid portrayal of the social dimensions of old Beijing.

Laoshe Teahouse was founded in 1988. It soon became popular in Beijing for offering "Dawancha" or "big-bowl tea", a tradition that has been running for more than 2 decades. The best part is that the price has never changed. Today, you can still get a bowl of refreshing tea for only two Chinese cents. And if you don't have the change, don't worry a cup of tea will be served for free. The open air tea service is a tradition dating back 17-hundred years just one part of the rich tea culture in Beijing.

Teahouses, however, are not only about tea. Story-telling is one of the biggest attractions for visitors. The art form became popular at the end of the Qing Dynasty. At its peak, there were more than 180 teahouses with story-tellers in the capital. Over time, the entertainment expanded to include traditional operas, folk art, acrobatics, magic, and martial arts just to name a few. Famous artists from different schools of traditional Chinese opera also often performed on the teahouse stage.

Located in the Qianmen area, Laoshe Teahouse also keeps the old Xuannan culture alive today. Xuannan refers to the area from Xuanwu Gate to Guan'an Gate in the old city of Beijing an area with more than 800 years of history.

Teahouses also offer a chance to see some old folk arts from all over China that are on the verge of disappearing.

Take shadow puppets, for instance. Their history goes back to the Western Han Dynasty, more than 2-thousand years ago in Shaanxi province. It's one of the earliest art forms using light and shadow. Made with donkey skin, the art has been collected by museums inside and outside of China. It's also a favorite souvenir for visitors and a special gift presented for many VIP visitors at Laoshe Teahouse like the presidents, prime ministers and celebrities who have visited here since the tea house opened.

Every night, a 90-minute long extravaganza is staged at Laoshe teahouse. The highlight is the Kungfu tea, a combination of tea and martial arts, two Chinese icons. Many wonder why the tea is held in a long-spouted pot? And why they are made of bronze? You'll just have to check it out for yourself at the teahouse.