China · TEA TASTINGS

The 11 Best Tea Tastings & Tea House Visits in China

11 tours  ·  from $9 a head

Tea here is a two-hour sit-down, not a takeaway cup. The 11 below cover the Chengdu park houses, the Hangzhou plantations and the ceremony sessions in Beijing and Shanghai, with prices and how many pours you get.

Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience - Arriving on Jiànnèi Avenue near Chang An Grand Theater
Tea Tastings, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing

Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience

1.Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience

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

Meet an English-speaking host and tea master in Beijing for a 30-minute to 3-hour Chinese tea ceremony. Taste five teas, including Oolong, Pu-erh, green, jasmine, and flower tea, while learning water temperature, steeping, and pouring. Richard Li and Feye are among the hosts praised for clear explanations. Tea purchases are optional.

“The lesson was incredible and the teacher was very polite. It was one of the highlights of my stay in Beijing. I will strongly recommend this activity.”

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Beijing Culture: Tea Ceremony, Heritage Instrument & Calligraphy - Tea ceremony: learning through taste and ritual
Calligraphy & Craft Classes, Calligraphy and Craft Classes in Beijing, Historical Tours, Tea Tastings, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing

Beijing Culture: Tea Ceremony, Heritage Instrument & Calligraphy

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

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

Spend 2.5 hours at Beijing’s private 813 Creative Park venue learning tea ceremony, calligraphy, and Guqin music. A bilingual guide with a master’s degree in history and sociology explains the rituals, while cultural specialists lead the hands-on sessions. Tea snacks, traditional clothing, photos, and a small group of up to eight are included.

“I didn’t expect to feel so moved. Playing the Guqin while the master guided my fingers felt like stepping into another time. It was quiet, personal, and completely different from anything else in my itinerary.”

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Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop - Meeting Vivian at MingCha Tea House
Food & Drink, Tea Tastings, Tour Reviews, Tours in Hong Kong, Workshops

Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop

3.Tea Tasting and Pairing Concept Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · from $65

Meet tea master Vivian at MingCha Tea House in Chai Wan for a 90-minute, hands-on workshop. You’ll taste four premium teas, practice Gongfu brewing with traditional tea ware, examine tea leaves before and after steeping, and pair the cups with dried nuts, chocolate, and flower honey toast. A family-friendly option and two start times are available.

“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 - Starting at the Garden Hotel on Maoming Road
Cycling Tours, Food & Drink, Tea Tastings, Tea Tastings in Shanghai, Tour Reviews, Tours in Shanghai

Biking Real Shanghai& Tea Tasting Experience

4.Biking Real Shanghai& Tea Tasting Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 45 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $88

Ride through Shanghai with a guide such as Ellen or Helen, passing Old Town back alleys, the Former French Concession, Fuxing Park, and other central districts. Your group is limited to six, with a bike, helmet, bottled water, photos, and a traditional tea tasting included. Expect local streets, city history, and a relaxed look at everyday Shanghai life.

“An excellent tour with a great guide, Ellen was friendly, knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any questions we had. The food was really good with lots of variety across three stops. Thanks, Ellen!”

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Chinese Tea ceremony in Beijing Hutong courtyard - Arriving near the Forbidden City
Hutong Tours, Tea Tastings, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing

Chinese Tea ceremony in Beijing Hutong courtyard

5.Chinese Tea ceremony in Beijing Hutong courtyard

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

Meet English-speaking hosts, including Limeng, in a traditional Beijing Hutong courtyard about 150 meters from the Forbidden City’s east gate. Choose green, black, wulong, or Pu’Er tea, learn how to brew and drink it, and enjoy small snacks. The one-hour visit also offers an easy look at local family life and nearby historic sites.

“It was really good! We learned a lot of new things about tea! Very interesting flavours and how to drink tea! Our guide helped us so much before and after our tour!! Thank you so much for telling us were to eat the best (and not touristic!!) Beijing Duck!!”

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Afternoon Tea and Dessert Tour on the Huaihai Road in Shanghai - Tea ceremony near Xintiandi
Dessert Tours, Tea Tastings, Tea Tastings in Shanghai, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Shanghai

Afternoon Tea and Dessert Tour on the Huaihai Road in Shanghai

6.Afternoon Tea and Dessert Tour on the Huaihai Road in Shanghai

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $82

Spend three hours with a local guide, possibly Jim, walking Huaihai Road and the Former French Concession. You will taste mooncakes at two pastry shops, watch a tea ceremony with several Chinese teas, and finish with Cantonese sweets such as milk pudding, mango purée, and almond tofu. Groups are limited to 10 per booking.

“Great tour - learned a lot about different types of tea, and about how tea is properly prepared and served. Desserts were great and made a nice compliment to the tour. Would highly recommend.”

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3-Hour Shanghai Yu Garden &Old Town Private Tour with Tea Tasting - Walking through Old Town and Nanshi
3-Hour Experiences, Food & Drink, Old Town & Ancient Village Tours, Private, Tea Tastings, Tea Tastings in Shanghai, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Shanghai, Yu Garden & the Bund 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

Meet your English-speaking guide at your downtown Shanghai hotel and ride to Yu Garden for classical pavilions, ponds, and Qing Dynasty design. Continue through Old Town’s market lanes, then enjoy a tea tasting. The private format allows a flexible pace, with guides such as Annie, Sunny, Sunni, and May mentioned by name in past bookings.

“This was an excellent tour. The guide was pleasant and very knowledged. One of the best tours ever. I would highly recommend this tour.”

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Food & Drink, Lunch Experiences, Private, Tea Tastings, Tea Tastings in Shanghai, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Shanghai, Water Town Tours, Water Town Tours in Shanghai

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

Start with a private guide and driver at your Shanghai hotel, then visit Zhujiajiao for a boat ride, tea tasting, snacks, and lunch. Return to Shanghai for Nanshi, Yuyuan Old Street, and Tianzifang. Guides such as Ella can adjust timing, including an earlier start during busy holiday periods.

“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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Beijing: Temple Of Heaven+Tai Chi Class+Tea Ceremony - Starting with Tai Chi among Beijing’s morning exercisers
Tai Chi Classes, Tea Tastings, Temple of Heaven Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Beijing, Workshops

Beijing: Temple Of Heaven+Tai Chi Class+Tea Ceremony

9.Temple Of Heaven+Tai Chi Class+Tea Ceremony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 6 hours · from $129

Spend six hours at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven with a private English-speaking guide, a 30 to 40-minute Tai Chi lesson, and a traditional tea ceremony near the temple. Guides such as Candice, Alice, Simon, Jaki, Jackie, and Lisa have led this experience. Hotel pickup is included within Beijing’s Fourth Ring Road.

“Excellent experience!! The Tai Chi class was so fun and informative. Simon is an incredible guide and knows so much about Temple of Heaven as well as China’s history. Highlight of the trip was the tea ceremony where we had really wonderful teas. Really engaging and would go again.”

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4-Hour Shanghai Best Garden and Temple Tour with Tea Tasting - Jade Buddha Temple: a calm start
Food & Drink, Tea Tastings, Tea Tastings in Shanghai, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Shanghai

4-Hour Shanghai Best Garden and Temple Tour with Tea Tasting

10.4-Hour Shanghai Best Garden and Temple Tour with Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 4 hours · from $99

Spend four hours with an English-speaking guide such as Ruby, Sunny, Mabel, or Sammi at Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple, Old Town Bazaar, and Yu Garden. Expect temple rituals, Qing-era streets, garden rockeries, and a tea tasting of several local varieties, with downtown pickup and private transport or local Uber and metro options.

“It was a very interesting tour of Chinese culture. Sunny, our tour guide, gave us a lot of information and introduced us to the traditional enjoyment of tea. I highly recommend this tour.”

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Guilin: City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting - The short drive toward Yao Mountain
City Highlights Tours, Food & Drink, Tea Tastings, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Guilin

Guilin: City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting

11.City Tour with Elephant Hill & Ming Tea Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · 4 hours · from $46

Begin with hotel pickup in Guilin, then visit Elephant Trunk Hill for riverside views and local legends. Continue to a former Ming Dynasty royal tea garden near Yao Mountain for a guided tea-making visit and tasting. Your private driver returns you to the hotel after four hours. Molly may lead the tour, with English, Chinese, or Traditional Chinese available.

“Good tour to Elephant Hill and nice tour of the tea plantation with explanations and tasting. A bit expensive, considering that admission to Elephant Hill is free and the tea plantation seems like a marketing thing.”

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