(Modern Weekly)
Updated: 2006-05-25 09:49

Compared with boisterous and lively bars, teahouses are quiet and gentle. Are you a bar person or a teahouse person? Do you enjoy the hustle and bustle and competition of urban life, or are you content with what you have and prefer to sit quietly in one place?

If you're a teahouse type, here are three unique downtown places to try.

1. Charen Daoguan-tea lovers' house
Owner and tea lover Feng Xu is a sophisticated Manchu Beijinger. The Manchu are a Chinese minority which ruled during the Qing Dynasty from 1644-1911. One of his ancestors is said to have been a high official of the dynasty but Fengxu doesn't mention this past glory and says it's just a rumor.

Feng granduated from The Central Academy of Drama, a cradle of many Chinese stars, and acted in some of China's earliest avant-garde plays. He once worked for a big entertainment company, mingling with famous people everyday. But he's getting fed up with his career, and spends more and more time at his cute teahouse.

There is a shelf displaying old tea biscuits, tea bricks and tuo tea (bowl-shaped blocks of tea leaves) including some precious 1970s' Puer tea. Traditionally, Chinese tea leaves are pressed into solid blocks of different shapes, such as biscuits, bricks, and bowls to make the tea easier to preserve and transport.

Photos of old and new Beijng cover four walls, some of which were taken by Feng and there is a glass cabinet displaying Feng's collection of tea bowls, teacups, saucers, and traditional Chinese paper fans.

Location: No.1 Building, Dushixinhaian Community, No.18, Futongxi Dajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang

2. Laijinyu Xuan - a cozy room for old and new friends
As indicated by its name, Laijinyu Xuan (or 'new friends house'), has been a meeting place for Chinese literati for several decades.

Situated inside Zhongshan Park, Laijinyu is distinctive for its classic decoration. Originally built as a club for the park's board members, Laijinyu has features typical of the houses of Beijing's old rich families. There are plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum patterned woodcarvings throughout the beautiful building. Although it doesn't shine with splendour, Laijinyu impresses with its unique tranquility and simplicity. Guests can see a gate of the Forbidden City from the vast courtyard.

Location: Zhongshan Park, No.4, Zhonghualu, Dongcheng
Tel: 010-66019978

3. Minghui Chayuan (Minghui Yard)
Situated inside Dajuesi (Dajue Temple), Minghui Chayuan combines traditional Chinese tea art and new Taiwanese tea art. It has six teahouses and each has different scenery from the windows.

Every year when the yulan magnolias blossom, the Yulan Festival is held featuring traditional tea ceremony performances, demonstrations of the processing of Minghui tea leaves, and zither performances.

Location: inside Dajuesi, Beianhe, Haidian
Tel: 010-62461567/68/69