Shuige Tea House

Try out the Shuige Tea House, a relaxing little haven

Mention the words ‘tea house’ to most foreigners in Beijing and it’ll probably conjure memories of the smiley-faced Chinese ‘students’ who invited them to come and try a local brew at a quaint little place near Tiananmen… and then scammed them out of a huge chunk of cash.

But an afternoon spent enjoying tea at the modern and sophisticated Shuige Tea House should be enough to expunge such memories.

Ornate sofas provide rather regal seating options, but it all adds to the charm of the place. It’s also worth checking out the enormous sea turtles that flap about in the glass tanks lining the main room.

Those without a good grasp of Chinese are advised to bring along someone to translate becausethe fuwuyuan have a lot to say about the aroma, taste and look of the teas they serve.

While the Xihu Longjing green tea (38RMB per person) is presented in a clear glass beaker and left to infuse with boiling water, the process of its cultivation and the properties of the tea are explained, before being decanted into a small tea set.

The serving of tea lasts for a considerable amount of time, especially with the constant hot water top-ups, and what begins as a diversion to take a break from the summer sun can soon turn into a leisurely afternoon. Simon Fowler

Shuige Tea House 14 Dongdaqiao Lu, Chaoyang district (6567 2860). Open 9am-midnight. Tea 38-108RMB/person. 水阁茶楼, 朝阳区东大桥路14号