Visitors to Chengdu will find
there are a lot of teahouses scattered throughout the city. Drinking tea has
become quintessential part of Chengdu people's daily life. Because of this,
Chengdu has formed a special tea culture all its own which attracts visitors
from across China, and around the globe.
For Chengdu locals, it is very
important to have the proper atmosphere to enjoy their tea. For most people,
the perfect place would be a teahouse. The most popular location for teahouses
in Chengdu is along the south bridge of Dujiang Weir, where the scenery is
wonderful and the weather is pleasant.
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Hot pot of Chengdu |
There is a kind of teapot that is
unique to Chengdu. It is made of brass and has a spout that is approximately
three feet long. The people in the teahouses that can use this style of teapot
are called "Tea Doctors". The use of these teapots is an art in
itself. The Tea Doctors spin the teapots and it resembles traditional martial
arts. Because of the long spouts, the tea can be shot a very long distance. The
Tea Doctors can shoot the tea from across the room into a small teacup without
spilling a drop. Visitors, who have the opportunity to witness this performance
of pouring tea, will never forget it. This is something unique to Chengdu. The
Tea Doctors besides being experts in the art of tea are also very familiar with
the local culture and area and are the perfect source to find out about
Chengdu's local customs, and places to visit.
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Chengdu Panda Sanctuary |
The design and layout of the
teahouses vary according to the owner's tastes. Some teahouse owners prefer a
simple and rustic teahouse, while others design teahouses in an opulent style
that even the ancient emperors of China would be comfortable in. No matter the
style, the tea in each one is of the highest quality. Each Chengdu local has
his or her favorite teahouses to visit, ones that they feel most comfortable
in. Besides tea, teahouses in Chengdu also have various local snacks or entire
meals on the menu. Since many of Chengdu's locals spend many hours in the
teahouses, food is a necessity.
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Panda of Chengdu |
One of the most unique parts of
Chengdu's teahouses is the community atmosphere. Everyone from infants to the
elderly come to the teahouses to relax, do business, chat with friends, or just
drink tea. Many elderly come to the teahouses early in the morning and do not
leave until late at night. Normally when somebody decides to leave, they give
what remaining snacks they have to the table. It is the perfect place to meet
new friends. There are also people wandering the teahouses offering to clean
out patron's ears, or cut their fingernails. They wander through the crowds
with handfuls of metal tools that they use. It may look a little scary, but it
a wonderful experience.
Chengdu has one of the few
remaining bastions of true teahouse culture left in China. It is a wonderful
experience for Locals, and visitors. It is something that should not be missed
because the only way to truly understand it is to experience it.
You can visit
http://www.shanghaifocus.com to get more information about this.
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