A new era, steeped in tradition

A heartening trend is now taking shape.

"More and more ordinary people are walking in nowadays," she observes.

As public demand for quality of life and cultural experiences grows, the once seemingly lofty tea banquet is gradually reaching a broader audience.

With a peak daily capacity exceeding 100 guests, the tea banquet remains the core offering.

Yet, the process itself has transformed into a composite cultural service that encompasses ritual learning, artifact appreciation, tea education, and gourmet experiences.

Liu's story is part of a broader national revival of teahouse culture, backed by striking market figures.

At a recent teahouse industry conference in Beijing guided by the China General Chamber of Commerce, Meituan Research Institute, under the Meituan on-demand service platform, reported that nearly 180,000 teahouses were registered on its platform as of 2025.

Since 2019, the number of new teahouses listed annually has surged from 4,200 to 38,000, an impressive compound annual growth rate of 44.2 percent, the report states.

The data paints a vivid picture of a rapidly diversifying industry. High-end cultural teahouses now see an average customer spend exceeding 300 yuan ($42.9), while mainstream venues thrive in the 100-300 yuan range.

Growth is not limited to major cities. In third — and fourth-tier cities, teahouse numbers are expanding by 15 percent annually.

Traditional tea remains central, as over 60 percent of venues focus on classic tea service.

But shifting consumer behavior is reshaping the sector. The demand for social and group gatherings has become a core driver, alongside a rising appetite for ritualistic and immersive experiences, the report reveals.

Jiang Ming, Party secretary of the China General Chamber of Commerce, emphasizes that the teahouse sector serves as a key hub for realizing the value of the tea industry, a living vehicle for the transmission of tea culture, and an important scenario for service-based consumption.