On May 29, the 2025 Beijing Chaoyang International Tea Culture Week officially opened. This year’s festival, with a main venue at the Junwangfu Hotel, and a satellite venue at the China Central Place, created a tea culture feast that blends tea tasting, opera appreciation, cultural experiences and consumption.
The Junwangfu Hotel, a cultural landmark near Liangma River, features Qing Dynasty architecture and traditional Chinese gardens. During the festival, the hotel is filled with the rich aroma of tea. Visitors purchased tickets to immerse themselves in the “Royal Tea Gathering” and enjoyed the leisurely atmosphere of “a view with every step, a tea with every seat”.
The tea market brought together more than 70 modern tea brands, offering international flavours from New Zealand, Nepal, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Azerbaijan, as well as regional specialties from Yunnan, Guizhou, China’s Taiwan region and others. The market also features tea-themed cultural and creative products.
At the “Floating Fragrance Tea Market” located in the sunken garden of The Ritz-Carlton at China Central Place, more than ten food and beverage businesses, renowned tea companies, and emerging tea drink brands offer special tea drinks, DIY tea-blending experiences and tea art performances.
Sipping tea while enjoying opera—tea in the teahouse, opera on the stage—reflects the romantic lifestyle of ancient Chinese society and has become a novel form of social interaction today. As the scent of tea wafted through the air, the Junwangfu Hotel echoed with traditional melodies and captivating performances. Peking Opera, Yue Opera, Nanyin music, and folk instrumental ensembles took the stage in turn. Between performances, visitors experienced Song-style whisked tea, Chaozhou gongfu tea and the craftsmanship behind West Lake Dragon Well tea at the Yinan Hall, gaining a deeper appreciation for the cultural richness of tea.
From “Tea and the World” to “Tea and the City” and “Tea and Culture”, Chaoyang District has hosted the Tea Culture Festival for three consecutive years, consistently promoting the theme: “Sharing a Cup of Fine Chinese Tea with the World”. The event continues to elevate Chinese tea as a cultural symbol that speaks to the world.
Once, the fragrance of tea travelled the ancient Tea Horse Road and the Silk Road to reach distant lands. Today, tea is grown in more than 60 countries and regions, with over two billion people worldwide enjoying it.