Cultural hub wins fans around the world for long-spout tea ceremony

"I tried the long-spout teapot for the second time, and this time my experience of Chinese tea culture was deeper and more profound."

That was how Edir Stephen, a visiting journalist from South Sudan Television, described his participation in a performance of the famed long-spout teapot ceremony in the Laoshe Teahouse in Beijing, described by some as the most famous teahouse in the capital.

Some say this dramatic type of tea ceremony probably has its roots in the crowded teahouses, where customers sat close to each other on rows of long benches.

The exceptionally long-mouthed kettle allowed waiters to walk between the rows and refill with hot water, while not disturbing conversations.

Laoshe Teahouse, named after Lao She, one of China's most influential novelists of the 20th century, was founded in 1988.

It is a place that incorporates diverse Beijing cultural elements such as Chinese tea culture, quadrangle courtyards and Beijing snacks, and it offers traditional cultural performances including acrobatics, Peking Opera as well as shadow puppetry.

To date, the iconic teahouse has attracted the leaders of over 170 countries and more than 6 million tourists from home and abroad, who have been entranced by the capital's distinct culture.

The South Sudanese TV journalist said he found Beijing culture to be very special .

"There are some aspects which are similar to our culture and it is very interesting to be invited to join in the performance at the shows," he said.

Beijing is a city rich in culture and tea ceremonies are just the tip of the iceberg.

The charm of Peking Opera, for example, is best enjoyed at the capital's historic Liyuan Theater.

Before or after taking in a show, audience members can learn more about the opera's history in China and many of the great actors and actresses that have tread the boards in the theater.

Home of the national troupe for Peking Opera, the theater has staged countless of memorable performances including Crossroads, Farewell to My Concubine and The Heavenly Maids Scatter Blossoms.

"I live in Beijing but I've never had a chance to see all the performances in the same place at the same time," a journalist from Russia Today said.

Her thoughts were echoed by Philipp Gerlach, a visiting German businessman.

"It is very interesting to see so much diversity of different shows together and the performances particularly attracted me," he said, adding that it is very interesting to see colorful life in Beijing.

(China Daily 09/03/2018 page24)