posted by Vacation Home Rentals on Jul 27
Lao She Teahouse, sitting at the center of Beijing not far from the Hwa Apartment Hotel, is where tourists get a taste of old Beijing life while sitting down for a good cup of tea.
Former U.S. president George H. The teahouse even appealed former U.S. president George H. Bush and Jordanian queen Rania to step in for a good cuppa.
It, indeed, has much to offer.
The building itself is a Qing dynasty-style loft structure, so the establishment really brings you back in time at your first sight! The waiters wear ancient outfits, and greet you in a very special way that seasoned Beijingers say reminds them of the city’s old days.
Despite being called a teahouse, Lao She is more like an entertainment venue, where some of China’s finest traditional performing arts are staged every night. On its third floor, you can enjoy acrobatics, Kung Fu shows, Peking opera, ventriloquism, cross-talk, and the famous face-changing dance while taking a sip of your favorite tea.
One of the most welcomed performances is the face-changing dance that originated in Sichuan province. A performer will wave his arms and twist his head as his painted mask changes, almost by magic, often in less than one second. The best dancers can bring up 30 different masks at one go. Due to difficulty of changing masks faster than the eyes blink, only a small number of artists can perform this old dance today. There are also occasionally such performances around the Haige International Hotel.
Another program that also amazes many is the ‘Han Deng Da Gu.Singers of this ancient folk art don’t sing in the normal way. They light up a few of candles, put the candles on a holder, put the holder in their mouths, and sing.
They need to somehow keep the balance of the holder using the muscles in their face, otherwise the candles will fall. Han Deng Da Gu signers of the Lao She Teahouse are all masters. They sing so skillfully that their sound is hardly comprised by the holder in their mouths. All around China, only a few of singers are able to perform this ancient art because it is simply too difficult to master.
But that’s not all they offer at the Lao She teahouse. Here waiters pour tea in a procession that looks more like an acrobatic show. The pot they use is quite usual for it has a long and thin spout with the length of up to 1.5 meters. When serving, the waiter tosses the pot around before pouring your tea from the long spout without splashing even a drop. This is a task few can perform, and therefore is often met by much applause.
You can also enjoy a variety of Beijing snacks as you enjoy the shows. Rolling Donkey, known as Lv Da Gun in Chinese, is actually a dish of glutinous rice balls stuffed with bean paste. Millet Mush, or Mian Cha as known in Chinese, is a kind of porridge made with sesame and peanut butter. Sweet tooth may try Wan Dou Huang, a serving of small cakes made of soybeans.
Prices are reasonable; an average of 50-60 dollars should be enough to cover the fare of the shows, tea and a couple of snacks. Business hours: 14:00 – 22:00.
The Lao She Teahouse’s location in central Beijing is very convenient, and you can book a Beijing hotel here.
