China · TEA HOUSES & TEA CEREMONIES

The 9 Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies Tours in China That Earn Their Price

9 tours  ·  from $9 a head

Good tea houses & tea ceremonies tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 9 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.

Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience - Watching the tea master prepare each cup
Beijing Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Beijing, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews

Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience

1.Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 74 reviews · 30 minutes - 3 hours · from $9Our pick

Learn the art of Chinese tea in Beijing with an English-speaking tea master, five tastings, careful brewing, and optional tea shopping.

“We had a lovely experience at this tea ceremony. They were very accommodating. We were late, but they still served us. They even offered us complimentary welcome gifts. Feye was also a great host! She had a great sense of humor, comprehensive knowledge about Chinese tea, and did so all in English! I would recommend this to a friend, and come again!”

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Beijing Culture: Tea Ceremony, Heritage Instrument & Calligraphy - Hearing the Guqin before you touch it
Beijing Tours, Historical Tours, History Tours in Beijing, Tea Ceremonies in Beijing, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews

Beijing Culture: Tea Ceremony, Heritage Instrument & Calligraphy

2.Beijing Culture: Tea Ceremony, Heritage Instrument & Calligraphy

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $78Top rated

Brew Chinese tea, play the ancient Guqin, and practice calligraphy in a small, thoughtful Beijing workshop led by cultural masters.

“Unlike museums where you just look at artifacts, here you touch the culture. You write with a brush, drink the tea you brew, and feel the strings of a thousand-year-old instrument. Totally unforgettable.”

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Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop - Four cups, four different personalities
Food & Drink, Food Tours in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Tours, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews, Workshops

Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop

3.Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $65

Taste four premium Chinese teas, learn gongfu brewing, and pair green, red, and oolong teas with chocolate, nuts, and honey toast in Hong Kong.

“I loved this experience. We tried four different teas and learned about how to brew and serve a proper cup of tea. Oue tea master was knowledgeable, engaging and most of all, kind. She helped us get a taxi back to our hotel and waited with us until it arrived.”

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Biking Real Shanghai& Tea Tasting Experience - Meeting at the Garden Hotel
Bike Tours in Shanghai, Cycling Tours, Food & Drink, Food Tours in Shanghai, Shanghai Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Shanghai, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews

Biking Real Shanghai& Tea Tasting Experience

Chinese Tea ceremony in Beijing Hutong courtyard - What happens during the one-hour ceremony
Beijing Tours, Hutong Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Beijing, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews

Chinese Tea ceremony in Beijing Hutong courtyard

5.Chinese Tea ceremony in Beijing Hutong courtyard

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 26 reviews · 1 hour · from $31

Share Chinese tea in a Beijing hutong courtyard near the Forbidden City, with local hosts, four tea styles, snacks, and cultural insight.

“The Chinese tea ceremony in a traditional Hutong courtyard was such a special experience. I enjoyed two unique teas and learned so much about Chinese tea culture — including which teas to drink in which season, how they affect the body, and the deeper meaning behind the ceremony itself. It was peaceful, informative, and beautifully presented. We ended the experience with a short walk to a hidden Hutong just steps from the Forbidden City — a perfect way to soak in the atmosphere and history of Beijing. Truly a memorable and authentic moment. Highly recommended!”

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Private Beijing Markets Tour with Tea Tasting at Hongqiao Pearl Market - What the $88 price really buys you
Beijing Tours, Food & Drink, Food Tours in Beijing, Market Tours in Beijing, Markets, Private, Shopping Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Beijing, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews, Tours

Private Beijing Markets Tour with Tea Tasting at Hongqiao Pearl Market

6.Private Beijing Markets Tour with Tea Tasting at Hongqiao Pearl Market

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $88

Explore Beijing’s Panjiayuan and Hongqiao markets with a private guide, tea tasting, bargaining tips, hotel transfers, and lunch at your own cost.

“Good way to do bargain shopping with a helpful local. We have bought many wonderful souvenirs and products for reasonable prices. This is highly recommended for those who need help bargaining Chinese style.”

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3-Hour Shanghai Yu Garden &Old Town Private Tour with Tea Tasting - Walking through Shanghai’s Old Town
3-Hour Experiences, Food & Drink, Food Tours in Shanghai, Private, Shanghai Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Shanghai, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews, Tours, Yu Garden Tours

3-Hour Shanghai Yu Garden &Old Town Private Tour with Tea Tasting

7.3-Hour Shanghai Yu Garden &Old Town Private Tour with Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $80

Explore Shanghai’s Yu Garden and Old Town with a private guide, local transport, Qing-era architecture, market streets, and a tea tasting.

“I had a wonderful trip going to Yu Yuan. May was an excellent tour guide anc very knowledgeable. she was wonderful about explaining elements of the Chinese garden and architecture, which I find fascinating. . She gave me a very good toRead more”

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City Tours, Food & Drink, Food Tours in Shanghai, Lunch Experiences, Private, Shanghai Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Shanghai, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews, Tours, Water Town Tours

Private Shanghai City and Zhujiajiao Combo Tour with Boating, Tea Tasting, Lunch

8.Private Shanghai City and Zhujiajiao Combo Tour with Boating, Tea Tasting, Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $228

Review of a private Shanghai and Zhujiajiao tour with a canal boat ride, tea tasting, local lunch, hotel pickup, and flexible sightseeing.

“I was in Shanghai for Mid-Autumn. Jenny warned me that traffic in and out of town will be heavier than usual. In discussion, she made it possible to start the tour a little earlier to minimize the time on the road.”

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Shanghai: Song Dynasty Tea Ceremony Experience - Why Song Dynasty tea feels different from a standard tea tasting
Shanghai Tours, Tea Ceremonies in Shanghai, Tea Houses & Tea Ceremonies, Tour Reviews

Shanghai: Song Dynasty Tea Ceremony Experience

9.Song Dynasty Tea Ceremony Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $78

Learn to whisk powdered tea in the Song Dynasty style during a private 1.5-hour Shanghai ceremony with an expert tea master.

“I had never experienced tea like this before. The host explained the philosophy behind Song tea, and as we practiced whisking, I could feel the meditative rhythm. A unique mix of art, mindfulness, and taste.”

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Where to go in China

Start with a city. Or start with the thing you came for.

The big four

Great WallForbidden CityTerracotta ArmyPandasSummer Palace

By boat

Boat TripsLi RiverYangtzeHong Kong HarbourWater Towns

Eating and drinking

Food ToursCooking ClassesTea CeremoniesPeking DuckMarkets

Out of the city

Wall HikesGlass BridgeRice TerracesYellow MountainMing Tombs