There is a popular Chinese saying: ¡°If I¡¯m not in the teahouse, I¡¯m on the way there¡±, which indicates the importance of the tea for Chinese. Chinese teahouse is the traditional ancient cafes of the east for getting together and chewing the fat and generally passing the time. Nowadays, the tradition has been revitalized and becoming more and more fashionable. It is not only a place for people to sip tea, but also to experience the Chinese culture, hold social activities and conduct the business negotiations. Laoshe Teahouse is the most popular of its kind.
Located on the southwest of Tiananmen Square, Laoshe Teahouse was named after Laoshe, a renowned writer known as people¡¯s artist. With a business area of 2,600 square meters, the three-story teahouse combines the styles of north and south China. Howbeit, the main house follows the traditional style with varied designs, blending traditional art and modern technology. Lush grass and singing birds add to its natural gracefulness and liveliness.
Tea house recreates the charm of old Beijing, which makes it a must for foreigners from around the world to appreciate the Beijing Opera, drama, acrobatics and other Beijing folk arts. In one word, it has become a comprehensive cultural enterprise which blends Chinese opera, food, tea and Beijing culture. When you watch the show, it is accompanied by such refreshments as famous kinds of tea, court and local snacks, and Beijing-style delicacies.
Since its open, Laoshe Teahouse has received 47 foreign leaders including important people such as Present Mr. Bush of United States, former United States Secretary of State Dr. Kissinger, Singapore Senior Minster Li Kuan Yew and so on., wives of ambassadors from more than 40 countries, larges of celebrities and more than 3 million tourists from home and abroad. It has become a special window display the Chinese culture and a bridge of friendship between China and other countries.
Generally, about 100 Yuan is enough to drink tea and watch a performance in the Laoshe Teahouse.
A introduction of Lao She
Lao She, a Manchurian, is well-known as the ¡°people¡¯s artiest¡±. His real name is Shu Qingchun and is the author of ¡°Camel Xiangzi¡± also known as ¡°Richshaw¡± in the US where he was a visiting professor. In US the ¡°Came Xiangzil¡± was a bestseller. In his earlier years, he also taught Chinese at the Oriental school of London University. Teahouse is one of his works as the style of drama. The drama displayed Mr. Lao She¡¯s talent of Beijing dialect, described the customers with their bird cages and their pipes enjoying the tea and cackles. His other famous works are Crescent Moon, City of Cats, The Yelllow Storm, the Drum Singers, and Four Generations under one roof. However, though his congential and congratulation to the Chinese Literature, he was forced by the Gang of Four to suicide by drowning in 1966, at the age of 67. His other famous works are Crescent Moon, City of Cats, The Yellow Storm and the Drum Singers and so on.
A brief description of the drama ¡°Teahouse¡±
Published in 1957, Teahouse is the crest of the Lao She¡¯s dramatist career and a monumental work in the history of modern Chinese Drama. The theme of the work reflects not only the social transform in some certain period, but also the Chinese culture of Teahouse.
As the carrier of this drama, the Teahouse held all kinds of people with different classes, different character. Through a schematic description of what happened to a teahouse in Beijing and the fate of the boss of the teahouse-Wang Lifa, the Teahouse was the witness of then social turmoil and the seamy side of society. The first act introduced the corrupt and moribund of Qing Dynasty after the Reform Movement of 1898. The second act described the dogfight between warlords in the initial year after the founding of the People¡¯s Republic of China. During this period, the ordinary people could hardly make a living. The third act pictured the Kuomingdang¡¯s cruel government in Beijing after the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan.
The drama shaped 70 figurs lifelikely living in a 50-year-long period that span three dynastic periods. It is a epic play with a high degree of artistic condensation, conspicuous national characteristics and a strong sense of history and life.
Add: No.3, Zhengyang Market, West Street, Qianmen, Xuanwu District
Tel: 010-63036830
Open time: 10:00am-01:00am
