For a nice change-of-pace to visiting Beijing’s main tourist attractions, you can find it quite enjoyable to sit inside a Beijing's tea house, especially one residing in the old residential courtyards - "Hutongs" - scattered throughout the former Inner Beijing.

The Terrace Tea House situates in a typical Beijing Hutong, just outside the east gate of the Forbidden City. This parlor provides a resting and refreshing place for travelers coming afar to experience local Chinese lives and traditions.

Despite its moderate size, the Terrace Tea House is neat both in configuration and interior decoration. They serve a large variety of your favorite teas, along with local delicacies and deserts. Order a tin of their oolong teas (RMB110 and up), and the server will treat to a Chinese tea ceremony. Each “tin” of tea makes about four pots, each serving 3-4 people. If you cannot finish it, you can keep it in the restaurant for the next visit, or bring the rest home.

I sat on the 2nd floor terrace, in a peaceful environment, listening to relaxing music, enjoying a nice view, and had my tea served in traditional Chinese style. Refills are always free of charge as long as the cup is left open. And the assistants speak basic English, so you can enjoy your stay without any communication problem.

What I appreciate

Tea Ceremony

What customers appreciate

Various high-grade teas and Chinese Tea Ceremony

Passerbys can be attracted to Candlelight Teahouse, for this tea house is housed in a traditional Chinese-style building, and has a very large, beautiful, and traditional courtyard. An island of beauty lost in modern surroundings.

The very spacious courtyard features a lawn, trees, sunflowers, a rockery and a pond, a stone-paved narrow path, even two lovely peacocks raised in a large cage. Except in winter, patrons can choose to sit under the porch, or in the courtyard and enjoy a fragrant Chinese tea.

The teahouse also offers nine private rooms to those of its customers who wish to taste their tea alone or with a small party. The price of a private room is RMB 30 per hour, and RMB 150 if you don’t want your time to be metered during business hours.

Candlelight Teahouse specially recommends specific varieties of teas: Xihu Longjing, Biluochun, Tie Guanyin, Dongding Oolong, and Dahongpao. Prices for a serving range from RMB 50 to RMB 500.

What customers appreciate

Excellent Chinese teas, beautiful and spacious courtyard, peacocks.